1

Modules in
Industrial Plant Engineering

SESSION TOPIC 3: Piping System

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the session, you will:

1. Understand the terms used in the piping system.
2. Identify the color coding used in the piping system.

KEY TERMS
Pipe Tube Valve socket

Process piping
Utility piping systems
systems

CORE CONTENT

Introduction
All process plants have of two types of principal piping systems: process (primary and
secondary) piping systems and utility piping systems. Process piping systems are the arteries of a
process plant. They receive the feedstock, carry the product through the various items of process
equipment for treatment, and finally deliver the refined fluid to the battery limits for
transportation to the next facility for further refinement. Process piping systems can be further
divided into primary process, which is the main process flow, and secondary process, which
applies to the various recycling systems. Utility piping systems are no less important. They are
there to support the primary process, falling into three groups: Support—instrument air, cooling
water, steam; Maintenance—plant air, nitrogen; Protection—foam and firewater. There are
other utility services such as drinking water.

Different terms used in the piping system

2
 3

Identification Colors for Pipes

Power Plant Piping Design

 4

Industrial Gas Piping Design

Refrigeration Piping Design

IN-TEXT ACTIVITY

1. Consider this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVI4m1-g6Kw

2. And also, this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_iAkEjOSmc
 5

SESSION SUMMARY

Plumbing is a piping system with which most people are familiar, as it constitutes the form
of fluid transportation that is used to provide potable water and fuels to their homes and
businesses. Plumbing pipes also remove waste in the form of sewage, and allow venting of
sewage gases to the outdoors. Fire sprinkler systems also use piping, and may transport non-
potable or potable water, or other fire-suppression fluids.
Piping also has many other industrial applications, which are crucial for moving raw and
semi-processed fluids for refining into more useful products. Some of the more exotic materials
used in pipe construction are Inconel, titanium, chrome-moly and various other steel alloys.

SELF ASSESSMENT

ACTIVITY 1
Piping System

Name: ________________ Score: ______________

Date: ________________
Critical Thinking
1.Discuss the significance of having a piping system that follows the standard that set by the state
or authority.
2.Suppose you are a Facilities/Building Engineer for a not so new building, how are you going to
reconcile the piping system to make it abreast to the current standard?

REFERENCES

Capote, R. S. & Mandawe, J. A. (2007). Power Plant Engineering Reviewer. JAM Publisher (Prime
Review Center). Manila City, Philippines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/piping-systems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVI4m1-g6Kw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_iAkEjOSmc