INTRODUCTION
API-571
Damage Mechanisms Affecting
Fixed Equipment in the Refining
Industry
Body of Knowledge
The Body of Knowledge for the API 571 exam
consists of the entire API RP 571, 2nd edition
(2011) with the exception of the following
sections: 1.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.2.
The API 571 examination is 4 hours long.
There are 80 questions, all multiple-choice and
closed-book.
This examination has a set passing point of 70%, or
49 correct answers.
QUALIFICATION REQUIRED
Holder of a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification,
automatically qualify to take API 571 Corrosion and
Materials certification exam. OR
Education Minimum Years of Experience Required
Experience
BS or higher in
engineering or 1 year
technology
2-year degree or
certificate in
2 years Any experience in
engineering or
petrochemical
technology
industry
High school diploma
3 years
or equivalent
No formal
5 or more years
education
Code Content
Section 1 ( Scope)
Section 2 ( References)
Section 3 ( Definitions)
Section 4( Damage mechanisms in
all industries).
Section 5(Damage Mechanisms in Refinery).
Process Flow Diagrams PFDs.
SCOPE
This document incorporates information gathered
from major incidents in the refining and
petrochemical industry in pressure vessels, piping,
and tankage and is intended to provide guidance to
inspection personnel. The mechanisms are divided
into the following sections:
a) Mechanical and Metallurgical Failure
b) Uniform or Localized Loss of Thickness
c) High Temperature Corrosion
d) Environment Assisted Cracking
Failure of Equipment
Premature failures of critical components like
pipelines, vessels, boilers , heat exchangers and
related equipment are due to:
I. typically interaction of material properties
(Metallurgy of materials),
II. exposed environment (both within & outside
the equipment) and
III. Engineering applications for which the
equipment is used (service conditions like
pressure, temperature, fatigue etc.)
Section 4 Content
a)Mechanical and Metallurgical Failure
( 20 Mechanism)
b) Uniform or Localized Loss of Thickness
( 12 Mechanism)
c) High Temperature Corrosion
( 7 Mechanism)
d) Environment Assisted Cracking
( 8 Mechanism)
TOTAL …… 47
Section 5 Content
a)Uniform or Localized Loss of Thickness
( 12 Mechanism)
b) Environment Assisted Cracking
( 5 Mechanism)
c) Other Mechanisms ( 2 Mechanism)
TOTAL …… 19
Both in section 4&5 is 66 mechanism
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAMS (PFDs)
Code contains 14 pages for process flow diagrams
in Refinery and common damage mechanisms
locations.
Example.
Section 3 Terms & Definitions
Austenitic and Ferritic phases
Terms refer to metallurgical structure found austenite and ferrite phases
respectively.
Austenite normally with S300 series SS and nickel base alloys.
Ferrite with CS, low alloy steel and 400 series SS.
Section 3 Terms & Definitions
Austenitic stainless steels
300 series stainless steels including 304, 304L, 304H, 309, 310, 316,
316L, 316, 316L, 316H, 321, 321H, 347, 347H.
“L” & “H” suffixes refer to low and high carbon content respectively.
Low carbon contains < 0.03 C
Theses alloys are austenitic structure.
Ferritic stainless steels
Include 405, 409, 430, 422 and 446.
Duplex stainless steels.
A family of stainless steels that contain a mixed austenitic-
ferritic structure including alloy 2205, 2304 and 2507.
The welds of 300 series may also exhibit a duplex structure.
Martensitic stainless steels.
Include 410, 410S,416,420,440A,440B & 440C.
Diethanolamine DEA & Methyldiethanolamine MDEA
& Monoethanolamine (MEA)
Used in amine treating unit for remove H2S & CO2 from
hydrocarbon stream.
Hydrogen Induced Cracking
Stepwise internal cracks that connect adjacent hydrogen
blisters on different planes in the metal or to the metal
surface. No externally applied stress is required.
Stress oriented hydrogen induced cracking (SOHIC)
Cracks perpendicular to stress that are formed by link-up of small HIC
cracks in steel.
Tensile stress (applied or residual) is required to produce SOHIC.
Observed in base metal adjacent to HAZ oriented in through thickness
direction.
Also in susceptible steels at high stress points like crack tip or defects.
1.3 Organization and Use
The information for each damage mechanism is
provided in a set format as shown below. This
recommended practice format facilitates use of
the information in the development of inspection
programs, FFS assessment and RBI applications.
a)Description of Damage
a basic description of the damage mechanism.
b) Affected Materials
a list of the materials prone to the damage
mechanism.
c) Critical Factors
a list of factors that affect the damage mechanism
(i.e. rate of damage).
d) Affected Units or Equipment
a list of the affected equipment and/or units where
the damage mechanism commonly occurs is
provided. This information is also shown on process
flow diagrams for typical process units.
e) Appearance or Morphology of Damage
a description of the damage mechanism, with
pictures in some cases, to assist with recognition of
the damage.
f) Prevention / Mitigation
methods to prevent and/or mitigate damage.
g) Inspection and Monitoring
recommendations for NDE for detecting and
sizing the flaw types associated with the damage
mechanism.
h) Related Mechanisms
a discussion of related damage mechanisms.
i) References – a list of references that provide
background and informations.
Damage mechanisms that are common to a variety
of industries including refining and petrochemical,
pulp and paper, and fossil utility are covered in
Section 4.0.
Damage mechanisms that are specific to the refining
and petrochemical industries are covered in Section 5.
In addition, process flow diagrams are provided in 5.2
to assist the user in determining primary locations
where some of the significant damage mechanisms are
commonly found.
Example PFDs ( FCC UNIT)
THANKS
