Process Pipes - Allowable Stress vs. Temperature

Operating temperatures and allowable tension stresses according ASME B31.3 - Process Piping.

Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes

• A 53 Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc Coated, Welded and Seamless
• A 106 Seamless Carbon Steel Pipe for High-Temperature Service
• A 135 Standard Specification for Electric-Resistance-Welded Steel Pipe
• A 333 Seamless and Welded Steel Pipe for Low-Temperature Service
• A 334 Seamless and Welded Carbon and Alloy-Steel Tubes for Low-Temperature Service
• A 369 Standard Specification for Carbon and Ferritic Alloy Steel Forged and Bored Pipe for High-Temperature Service
• API 5L Line Pipe

• 1 psi (lb/in²) = 6895 Pa (N/m²)
• 1000 psi = 6.9 MPa
• T(^oC) = 5/9[T(^oF) - 32]

Example - Allowable Stress - 2000 psi vs. MPa

(20000 psi) (6895 Pa/psi) = 137900000 Pa

               = 138 MPa

Low and Intermediate Alloy Steel Pipes and Tubes

• A 335 Seamless Ferritic Alloy Steel Pipe for High-Temperature Service
• A 369 Carbon Steel and Ferritic Alloy Steel Forged and Bored Pipe for High-Temperature Service

Seamless Austenitic Alloys Steel Pipes

• A 269 Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubing for General Service
• A 312 Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipe
• A 358 Electric-Fusion-Welded Austenitic Chromium-Nickel Alloy Steel Pipe for High-Temperature Service

About B31.3 - Process Piping

B31.3 covers design of chemical and petroleum plants and refineries processing chemicals and hydrocarbons, water and steam. This Code contains rules for piping typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals.

This Code prescribes requirements for materials and components, design, fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, inspection, and testing of piping. This Code applies to piping for all fluids including: (1) raw, intermediate, and finished chemicals; (2) petroleum products; (3) gas, steam, air and water; (4) fluidized solids; (5) refrigerants; and (6) cryogenic fluids. Also included is piping which interconnects pieces or stages within a packaged equipment assembly.

B31.3 - Process Piping and Allowable Stress

For B31.3 Process piping, allowable stress is tensile strength at temperature divided by 3.

Note! for B31.1 - Power piping, allowable stress is tensile strength at temperature divided with 3.5.

Temperature ^oC
K
^oF

Length m
km
in
ft
yards
miles
naut miles

Area m²
km²
in²
ft²
miles²
acres

Volume m³
liters
in³
ft³
us gal

Weight kg_f
N
lbf

Velocity m/s
km/h
ft/min
ft/s
mph
knots

Pressure Pa
bar
mm H₂O
kg/cm²
psi
inches H₂O

Flow m³/s
m³/h
US gpm
cfm