TRAINING.

Overview

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Apply the key requirements of ASME B31.1 and ASME B31.3 with relevant interpretations for industrial pressure piping systems.
• Calculate the minimum wall thickness of piping components based on external loads, such as pressure and hydrostatic tests.
• Ensure compliance with the design, manufacturing, and inspection criteria established by ASME codes for safe piping systems.
• Evaluate the suitability of materials, welding, and testing procedures to meet industrial standards.
• Conduct and verify tightness tests for piping system integrity, including hydrostatic, pneumatic, and alternative leak tests.

Description
Piping systems are essential for transporting fluids in industries ranging from oil refineries to pharmaceuticals. ASME B31.1 (Power Piping) and ASME B31.3 (Process Piping) are recognized globally and provide detailed requirements to ensure safe and efficient piping designs. These codes cover various sectors such as chemicals, textiles, cryogenics, and high-pressure steam systems, making them fundamental to maintaining safety and operational efficiency.

The course explores ASME B31.1 and B31.3, covering material selection, impact testing, and pressure piping requirements. Participants will gain insight into key aspects such as external design constraints, welding standards, preheating, and heat treatment processes. Additionally, you'll learn about visual inspections of welds and requirements for conducting hydrostatic and pneumatic tightness tests.

Attending will give you a strong understanding of the Canadian regulations governing pressure piping and stakeholder responsibilities. You'll be equipped to handle the practical challenges faced by engineers, inspectors, and technicians in this field, applying ASME code knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios. This course will also help you build confidence in performing critical calculations and inspections necessary to ensure the safety and compliance of piping systems.

Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for engineers, inspectors, technicians, and contractors who work in industrial pressure piping.

It is particularly beneficial for professionals involved in industries such as oil refineries, chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, pulp and paper, and cryogenics, where the safe transport of fluids through complex piping systems is critical. Individuals responsible for designing, maintaining, or inspecting pressure piping systems will find the content valuable for ensuring compliance with ASME B31.1 and B31.3 standards.

Additionally, this course will benefit managers, project leads, and quality assurance personnel who are tasked with overseeing pressure piping systems and ensuring their reliability and safety.

Required Resources:
Participants are expected to bring their own copies of ASME B31.1 (latest edition) and ASME B31.3 (latest edition) for reference during the course. These materials are essential for understanding the course content and applying the knowledge in practical situations.

Please note: You can check other time zones here.

Syllabus

Day 1:  Centrifugal and Positive Displacement Pumps

• Characteristics of pumps in the industry
• Positive displacement pumps
• Centrifugal pumps, according to API standards
• Centrifugal pump characteristic curves: best efficiency point
• Cavitation prevention
• Pump structural elements: impellers, shafts, bearings, seals
• Flow control optimization
• Pump stations: pumps in parallel and in series
• Pumps for HVAC and other special applications

Day 2:  Centrifugal, Axial and Reciprocating Compressors

• Characteristics of compressors in the industry
• Main elements of centrifugal compressor construction
• Design and construction of impellers, bearings and seals
• System curves & performance characteristics
• Capacity control methods: analysis of efficiency
• Safety components: control of surge and stall
• Positive displacement compressors: Reciprocating & Rotary
• Criteria for selecting the optimum compressor
• Compressor stations and pipelines: design and layout

Day 3:  Pumps and Compressors: Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Piping systems: upstream (inlet) and downstream (discharge)
• Guidelines for installation, commissioning, start-up
• Auxiliary systems: pressure safety controls
• Lubrication system and cooling system
• Condition monitoring: vibration measurements
• Predictive maintenance management and reliability planning
• Inspection and performance testing
• Troubleshooting problems in the operation
• Fitness for service analysis (FFS) - API 579

Instructor

Guy St-Arneault, ing./ P.Eng.

Mr. St-Arneault specializes in designing and analyzing piping systems and pressurized equipment.

Mr. Guy St-Arneault graduated in mechanical engineering with a design option from École Polytechnique de Montréal (1992). He is a member of the Professional Association of Quebec (OIQ). He began his career in 1993 in the manufacturing field, where he worked until 1998 and then moved into piping and pressurized equipment.

Over the years, Mr. St-Arneault has developed strong expertise in mechanical integrity and finite element analysis.