A Quick Guide to API 570 Certified Pipework Inspector Syllabus

Example Questions and Worked Answers

Clifford Matthews

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781845695699
• eBook ISBN: 9781845696849
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Operations
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The API Individual Certification Programs (ICPs) are well established worldwide in the oil, gas, and petroleum industries. This Quick Guide is unique in providing simple, accessible and well-structured guidance for anyone studying the API 570 Certified Pipework Inspector syllabus by: - Summarising and helping them through the syllabus - Providing multiple example questions and worked answers Technical standards covered include the full API 'body of knowledge' for the examination, i.e. API570 Piping inspection code; API RP 571 Damage mechanisms affecting fixed equipment in the refining industry; API RP 574 Inspection practices for piping system components; API RP 577 Welding and metallurgy; API RP 578 Material verification program for new and existing alloy piping systems; ASME V Non-destructive examination; ASME IX Welding qualifications; ASME B16.5 Pipe flanges and flanged fittings; and ASME B 31.3 Process piping. - Provides simple, accessible and well-structured guidance for anyone studying the API 570 Certified Pipework Inspector syllabus - Summarizes the syllabus and provides the user with multiple example questions and worked answers - Technical standards covered include the full API 'body of knowledge' for the examination

Section II

Welding

Chapter 7

Introduction to Welding/API 577

7.1 Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to ensure you can recognize the main welding processes that may be specified by the welding documentation requirements of ASME IX. The API exam will include questions in which you have to assess a Weld Procedure Specification (WPS) and its corresponding Procedure Qualification Record (PQR). As the codes used for API certification are all American you need to get into the habit of using American terminology for the welding processes and the process parameters.

This module will also introduce you to the API RP 577: Welding inspection and metallurgy in your code document package. This document has only recently been added to the API examination syllabus. As a Recommended Practice (RP) document, it contains technical descriptions and instruction, rather than truly prescriptive requirements.

7.2 Welding processes

There are four main welding processes that you have to learn about:

• Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)

• Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)

• Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)

• Submerged arc welding (SAW)

The process(es) that will form the basis of the WPS and PQR questions in the API exam will almost certainly be chosen from these.

The sample WPS and PQR forms given in the non-mandatory appendix B of ASME IX (the form layout is not strictly within the API 570 examination syllabus, but we will discuss it later) only contains the information for qualifying these processes.

7.2.1 Shielded metal arc (SMAW)

This is the most commonly used technique. There is a wide choice of electrodes, metal and fluxes, allowing application to different welding conditions. The gas shield is evolved from the flux, preventing oxidation of the molten metal pool (Fig. 7.1). An electric arc is then struck between a coated electrode and the workpiece. SMAW is a manual process as the electrode voltage and travel speed is controlled by the welder. It has a constant current characteristic.

Figure 7.1 SMAW process

7.2.2 Metal inert gas (GMAW)

In this process, electrode metal is fused directly into the molten pool. The electrode is therefore consumed, being fed from a motorized reel down the centre of the welding torch (Fig. 7.2). GMAW is known as a semi-automatic process as the welding electrode voltage is controlled by the machine.

Figure 7.2 GMAW process

Tungsten ine...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright page
• The Quick Guide Series
• How to Use This Book
• Section I: The Main Principles
• Section II: Welding
• Section III: NDE and Other Testing
• Section IV: Pressure Design
• Section V: Example Questions
• Appendix: Publications Effectivity Sheet For API 570 Exam Administration: 4th June 2008
• Index