Equipment-Specific RBI Applications Flashcards
6 cards from real API-580 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Equipment-Specific RBI Applications flashcards as text
What unique inspection challenges do heat exchangers present in an RBI program?
Answer: Multiple damage mechanisms on tube and shell sides due to different process fluids
Heat exchangers face different damage mechanisms on the tube side versus the shell side due to exposure to different fluids, temperatures, and flow conditions, requiring inspection strategies tailored to each side.
How should atmospheric storage tanks be addressed in an RBI program?
Answer: By evaluating both internal corrosion of the floor/shell and external corrosion of the bottom
Storage tanks require evaluation of internal corrosion (floor and lower shell from product side), external corrosion (tank bottom from soil side), and structural integrity of the roof and shell, per API 653 standards.
What is the primary concern for piping systems in an RBI assessment?
Answer: Localized corrosion and erosion at flow changes, welds, and dead legs
Piping is particularly susceptible to localized damage at elbows, tees, reducers, welds, dead legs, and injection points where flow changes, turbulence, or stagnant conditions accelerate corrosion and erosion.
Why do pressure relief devices (PRDs) need RBI evaluation?
Answer: Their failure to operate when needed can lead to catastrophic overpressure events
PRDs are the last line of defense against overpressure. If they fail to open when needed (fail to danger), catastrophic vessel rupture can occur, making their reliability critical to overall plant safety.
How does insulation affect the RBI assessment of piping and equipment?
Answer: Insulation can trap moisture and hide corrosion under insulation (CUI)
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a significant damage mechanism where moisture trapped beneath insulation accelerates external corrosion, particularly in carbon steel operating between 10°F and 350°F (-12°C to 175°C).
What special considerations apply to RBI for equipment in cyclic service?
Answer: Fatigue cracking must be evaluated in addition to corrosion-based damage mechanisms
Equipment in cyclic service (frequent pressure or temperature cycling) is susceptible to fatigue cracking, which must be assessed alongside corrosion and other damage mechanisms, potentially requiring crack detection inspections.
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