Our experts help clients maintain safe and reliable operation of power piping systems by delivering thorough examination and field testing.
ASME Standards for Power Piping The American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) issued a revision to the B31.1
standard for power piping in 2007. This added requirements for inspection and record-keeping of covered piping systems. Tetra Engineering performs comprehensive power piping inspections according to the latest ASME
B31.1 standard.
Importance of Inspections Over time covered piping systems can develop defects that are not
immediately apparent. The early detection of compromised components is
important because otherwise minor defects can evolve into serious problems. The high pressure levels in power piping mean that failures can
cause costly equipment damage and pose serious safety risks
to personnel.
Tetra Engineering and ASME B31.1 Tetra Engineering has delivered quality inspection services for
over 30 years. Our engineers look for creep, fatigue, corrosion, flow accelerated corrosion (FAC), and other types of deterioration during
their inspections. Performing
periodic inspections is an important part of prolonging power piping
safety, reliability, efficiency, and profitability.
Field Inspections
The objective is targeted and judicious use of resources to detect damage in:
Attemperator Piping: Quench
cracking, dissimilar metal welds...
Selected FW Piping: FAC and
Erosion (often integrated into HRSG/Boiler FAC inspections)...
Piping fixtures: HT drain cracking
and wear, valve nozzle cracks...
CUI (Corrosion Under Insulation)
NDT Services
Development of
detailed inspection plans identifying suitable techniques and locations for NDT
according to specific plant design, process conditions and operating
history.
Detailed Visual Inspection
Evaluate condition of all pipe supports and pipe fixtures to ensure that they are operating as designed.
Inspection Data Record Keeping
PipeVue 2.0 is used to document inspection data for required
record keeping in accordance with ASME B31.1.
Engineering design of new piping layouts including improved
steam drain layouts
Engineering design of pipe hanger structural supports
Fitness-for-Service Assessments for Degraded Piping (ASME
FFS-1/API-579, …)
Pipe Stress Analysis
TETRA provides a full range of analysis services using industry-standard AutoPIPE™ software to predict stresses in piping and loads on equipment
resulting from thermal gradients, seismic, pipe and fluid weights, pressure,
and mounting/fixing strain. Project scope can cover analyzing entire sets
of external pipe runs from steam generators and other balance-of-plant, or
focused analysis on pipe sections after modifications, process upsets or
failures. Dynamic analysis for piping systems subject to vibration can be
performed as well if required.