The main focus of Fitness-For-Service analysis is evaluating whether an equipment has downgraded in service and can carry on its intended function properly. This approach comprises in a rational decision process, enabling the engineer to decide whether the system can be controlled safely either as is, with reinforced inspection, after a requalification, or after a service or repair.
A process, plant, and equipment are often exposed to corrosive environments and/or elevated temperatures. Under these conditions, the material used in the equipment can degrade or age with time. When important equipment such as pressure vessels, piping, and storage tanks become older, the plant operator must decide if they can continue to operate safely and reliably to avoid injuries to personnel and public, damage the environment, and cause unexpected shutdowns. Fitness for service assessment procedures provide the means for the plant operator to make appropriate decisions on established engineering principles.
Fitness for service assessment is a multidisciplinary engineering analysis that ensures all process and plant equipment such as pressure vessels, piping, and tanks operate safely and reliably for the desired period of operation and until the next turnaround or planned shutdown occurs in the future. ASME, API, BS 5500 & other recognized design codes provide rules/guidelines for a general procedure for assessing fitness for service. This assessment procedure evaluates the remaining strength of the equipment in its current state that may have degraded from its original condition. Common degradation mechanisms include corrosion, localized corrosion, pitting and crevice corrosion, hydrogen attack, embrittlement, fatigue, high-temperature creep, and mechanical distortion.
Overview of API 579/ASME FFS-1 - Fitness-For-Service (FFS)
API 579/ASME FFS-1, Fitness-For-Service, Third Edition, is a standard developed and published jointly by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and ASME. It describes several fitness-for-service (FFS) assessment techniques that help ensure the safe and reliable operation of pressurized equipment used in oil & gas, petrochemical, and chemical facilities.
API 579/ASME FFS-1 provides procedures for performing proper fitness-for-service assessments and/or rerating of equipment that is designed and constructed to recognized codes and standards. This standard contains numerous sections on assessment procedures for calculating the impact of damage mechanisms such as brittle fracture, general metal loss and local metal loss, pitting corrosion, blisters and laminations, weld misalignment and shell distortion, crack-like flaws, creep damage, and fire damage.
This standard has procedures for evaluating several different types of equipment (pressure vessels, piping, and tankage) that may contain flaws or damage. These include the evaluation and rerating of pressure vessels designed based on the the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, and piping systems that were constructed to either the ASME B31.3 Piping Code or those constructed under API 650 and 620, along with pressure containing equipment constructed to any other codes that are recognized in the publication.
It covers both the present integrity of the component, given a current state of damage, and the projected remaining life. Qualitative and quantitative guidance for establishing remaining life and in-service margins for continued operation of equipment are provided in regards to future operating conditions and environmental compatibility. The procedures are not intended to provide a definitive guideline for every possible situation that may be encountered. However, flexibility is provided to the user in the form of an advanced assessment level to handle uncommon situations that may require a more detailed analysis.
The Implementation Conditions
Fitness for service can be applied when:
The equipment design is not fully compliant with the relevant codes.
The equipment experienced an impact in service, during handling or in transit.
The non-destructive testing and equipment inspection have noticed defects beyond the admissible limits or those that have happened too early.
The equipment has never been examined, or only partly; the equipment acquired is old.
Key Advantages of FFS
Fitness-for-Service (FFS) engineering assessment is a multi-disciplinary method for assessing mechanical components to decide if they are fit for continued service. The typical result of an FFS evaluation is a “go/no-go” decision on continued operation. An assessment of remaining life or examination intervals may also be part of such an evaluation, along with remediation of the degradation mechanism.
FFS methodology is based on the approach executed by a team of engineers who specialize in pressurized equipment technology, corrosion, material, structural analysis and inspection. The statutory requirements concerning the equipment are also taken care of.
API 579 Training - Fitness for Service Virtual Training
Considering the demand of trained professional for FFS, Texvyn Technologies commencing a virtual training program on API 579 - Fitness for Service starting from 03rd May 2021.
About Course:
Fitness-For-Service (FFS) assessments are quantitative engineering evaluations that are performed to demonstrate the structural integrity of an in-service component that may contain a flaw or damage. This training course is designed to give a detailed discussion of the subject of Fitness For Service concepts (FFS) with emphasis on the basic degradation mechanism and its consequences aspect.
It presents a thorough understanding of how the disciplines of material science, stress analysis, NDT and inspection practices can be applied for assessing the present structural integrity of the component, and deciding its fitness for continued service as well as the projected remaining life. This course covers the analytical methods and their applications are explained with numerous case studies. In order to suit the course to participants with or without a FFS background, the course will be delivered such a way that most of technical terms and both code statements and examples will clarify concepts.
Target Audience:
Pressure Vessel/ Piping/ Tank design engineers, process engineers, plant operating engineers and managers, Chemical/ mechanical engineers who are involved in integrity assessment of Columns, Vessels, tanks, piping etc. Also recommended for the Design engineers, Inspection persons and maintenance engineers involved in Repair, maintenance and trouble shooting of plant equipment's in Refining, Petrochemical and Chemical industries.
Course Objective:
To familiarize participants with the main concepts and technical terms of degradation mechanisms.
To introduce participants to the concepts of FFS.
To explain to participants the basic concepts of degradation and FFS.
To provide participants with the basic technical and scientific knowledge for carrying out in depth inspection and engineering calculations.
To train participants to choose between ‘3 R’s i.e. Re-rate, Repair and Replace.
To introduce participants to different ways of evaluations and decision making as regards the repairs alterations and re-ratings
Assessment of future remaining life.
Training Features:
Limited Attendees
The course has limited seats to ensure maximum learning and experience for all delegates.
Certificate of Attendance
You will receive a Certificate of Attendance bearing the signatures of the Trainer upon successful completion of the course. This certificate is proof of your continuing professional development.
Interactive Training
You will be attending training designed to share both the latest knowledge and practical experience through interactive sessions. This will provide you with a deeper and more long-term understanding of your current issues.
High Quality Course Materials
Printed course manual will provide you with working materials throughout the course and will be an invaluable source of reference for you and your colleagues afterward. You can follow course progress on your laptop with soft copies provided.
Course Synopsis:
Course Duration: 40 Hrs.
Session: Online, Live & Interactive
Session Time: 08:00 PM IST
Max Participants: 8 Nos.
Program Fees: INR 40000/- [All Inclusive]
Discounted fees i.e. INR 35000 for the admission confirmed on or before 30th April 2021
Program Registration Link: https://cutt.ly/CjtvZfX
For more details on course, please feel free to contact us on +91-8779674727 [Whatsapp Number]
