API 571 Study Guide
API 571 Study Guide
API 571 Study Guide
Practice Questions
This following is a study aid that you can use to learn the details and content of API RP-571, Damage
Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry. There will be about 4-7 questions
from this document on your API exam. We do not spend time in class discussing this publication. So it is
important that you become familiar with this content in your personal study sessions.
The questions in this study aid are by damage mechanism. An answer key is given at the end of the study
guide. We suggest you read about the damage mechanism a couple of times before answer the questions.
We suggest that you do this study guide at least twice prior to the API exam.
A brittle fracture:
a)
b)
c)
d)
2.
3.
MSTS
Which of the following is not a critical factor that contributes to a brittle fracture?
a)
b)
c)
d)
6.
1955.
1962.
1973.
1987.
5.
Carbon steel
Chromes
300 series stainless steel
400 series stainless steel
All stainless steels
ASME Section VIII had few limitations concerning brittle fracture prior to:
a)
b)
c)
d)
4.
December 2005
8.
branched cracking.
intergranular cracking.
ductile tears.
cleveage.
Thorough inspections
Strict controls on selecting construction materials
Post weld heat treatment
Controlling minimum operating temperatures
2.
3.
MSTS
5.
erosion.
erosion-corrosion.
erosion or erosion-corrosion.
IPRSC (imparting particle removal of scale corrosion).
4.
erosion.
erosion corrosion.
erosion or erosion corrosion.
IPC (imparting particle corrosion).
in catalyst piping.
downstream of a gate valve.
any superheated steam piping.
upstream of a pump.
December 2005
2.
3.
4.
5.
Which of the following is not a primary initiating point for thermal fatigue?
a)
b)
c)
d)
6.
MSTS
8.
Notches
Rounded pits
Nozzle-to-shell welds
Weld toes
7.
Coke drums
Steam actuated soot blowers
Mix points of hot and cold streams
600 psig steam piping
Welds joining materials having different coefficients of expansion
chlorides.
hydroslime.
oxides.
sulfides.
Ways to prevent thermal fatigue include reducing stress concentrators by making _______________
transitions at places where the wall thickness changes.
December 2005
2.
3.
Bird poop
Increasing annual rainfalls
Locations where moisture is trapped
Increasing operating pressures
Increasing amounts of airborne contaminates
Atmospheric corrosion:
a)
b)
c)
d)
MSTS
________ mpy
________ mpy
________ mpy
________ mpy
6)
Which of the following does not increases the likelihood of atmospheric corrosion?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
5.
Carbon steel
Chromes
Stainless steels
Copper alloyed with aluminum
4.
December 2005
2.
3.
Low Temps
Dirty Steel
Fine-grain
Notches
High ph
High Temps
Clean Steel
Coarse-grain
Smooth surface
Low ph
Not a factor
Not a factor
Not a factor
Not a factor
Not a factor
MSTS
Temperature:
Steel Properties:
Grain structure:
Surface Condition:
Process ph:
6.
transition limit.
endurance limit.
hardening limit.
speed limit.
5.
Fatigue will not occur in carbon steel if stresses are below the:
a)
b)
c)
d)
4.
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8.
Mechanical fatigue can cause cracks that initiate from the surface and often form a:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Sulfidation (4.4.2)
1.
Which of the following is not a major factor associated with corrosion by sulfidation?
a)
b)
c)
d)
2.
3.
impacting particles.
sulfur compounds decomposing at higher temperatures.
sulfur compounds being created in the FCCU (Cat Cracking Unit).
elemental sulfur collecting in stagnate areas, e.g. dead legs.
operators failing to adequately control the ph of sulfur streams.
MSTS
5.
150 oF.
250 oF.
500 oF.
1100 oF.
4.
Alloy composition
Operating pressure
Operating temperature
Sulfur content
uniform corrosion.
isolated pitting.
intergranular cracking.
transgranular cracking.
hard and brittle zones.
inspection nightmares.
December 2005
Which of the following is not a major factor associated with boiler water condensate corrosion?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
2.
3.
What method is most used to assure boiler feed water corrosion is not occurring?
a)
b)
c)
d)
MSTS
5.
uniform corrosion.
isolated pitting.
intergranular cracking.
transgranular cracking.
hard and brittle zones.
4.
Operating pressure
Oxygen content
Carbon dioxide content
Process ph
Temperature
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c
c
d
a
b
a
d
a
1.
2.
3.
4a.
4b.
4c.
4d.
4e.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Erosion/Erosion-Corrosion (4.2.14)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
a
b
e
b
a
Sulfidation (4.4.2)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
d
a
b
Not a factor
Dirty steel
Coarse grain
Notches
Not a factor
c
b
c
a
a
b
c
d
b
a
c
smooth
b
c
a
b
a
a
b
d
b
d
MSTS
d
c
< 1 mpy
1-3 mpy
5-10 mpy
20 mpy
d
c
a
December 2005