API RBI Software

The De Facto Standard

Developed as a Joint Industry Project by members from the major refining and petrochemical companies, API RBI technology was vetted and standardized through the API consensus balloting process, ensuring approval and acceptance by industry experts worldwide. API RBI is fast becoming the de facto international standard.

The core API RBI technology and accompanying software has been updated and improved to produce more accurate risk calculations. Its use has been broadened to other industries, materials and process applications beyond petrochemical pressure vessels and piping. Integrated standalone modules include fixed equipment, heat exchanger bundles, atmospheric storage tanks (ASTs), and pressure relief devices (PRDs). API RBI advantages include:

Integrated quantitative and qualitative risk analysis
Most extensive materials properties electronic library available
Full fluid and consequence modeling capabilities
Developed by ANSI-approved consensus
Defendable to regulatory authorities

Click thumbnails to view screenshots.

The figure (above) shows the basic design input screen for the RBI analysis and a pie chart illustrating the effect of various damage mechanisms on the overall risk of the selected component.

Risk results for one component in the RBI database are summarized in the figure (above). The graph shows the risk as a function of time since the RBI assessment.

The figure (above) is an example of the inspection planning results that come from an RBI assessment of a component. The recommended inspections (effectiveness and date) and a key risk and damage factor values for the component are shown.

Software analysis capabilities

Planning tools based on probability of failure, safety and financial risk that provide a recommended inspection date
A wide range of damage mechanisms covering refining and petrochemical applications
ASME Code minimum thickness calculations for vessel components and piping, structural minimum thickness specifications, and/or input of user-defined minimum thickness
ASME Code material specification database featuring allowable stresses and engineering properties of base and overlay/clad materials
State-of-the-art fluid property modeler that uses more robust and accurate algorithms to calculate the properties of two-phase fluid mixtures over a wider range of operating conditions
User-defined process streams created from a fluid property database of hundreds of fluids compiled from such sources as the industry-standard DIPPR database
Data import/export and synchronization capability for reporting and initiating new studies, including inspection planning
Translation tool for upgrades from older software versions

Featured Expert

Philip Henry
P.E.

Mr. Henry is responsible for engineering consulting services in the areas of Pressure Relief, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. He is a specialist in the design, installation...

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Philip Henry, P.E.

Mr. Henry is responsible for engineering consulting services in the areas of Pressure Relief, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. He is a specialist in the design, installation, sizing and selection of pressure relief devices and relieving systems, and is currently chairman of the API Pressure Relieving System Subcommittee’s Task Force on API 520 related to the design and installation of pressure relieving systems. He conducts audits of pressure relieving systems to ensure compliance with OSHA PSM legislation and ASME, API and DIERs Standards, Codes and Publications. He also teaches the official API Pressure Relieving Systems course.

He is actively involved in the development of technology for the API Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) methodology, is co-author of the re-write of API 581, Risked-Based Inspection Base Resource Document. He has been responsible for the development and implementation of RBI programs for pressure relief valves and heat exchanger bundles at many refining and petrochemical plants.

Mr. Henry is also an expert in the area of mechanical and thermal design of unfired heat exchangers, including troubleshooting of performance problems, fouling evaluation, network optimization and pinch analysis, mechanical vibration and field performance testing. He performs steady state and transient hydraulic evaluation of piping systems, including multi-phase flow systems, and develops bolting procedures for flanged joints including use of hydraulic torquing, tensioning, and ultrasonic elongation equipment. Mr. Henry has significant experience with the design and analysis of in-service fixed equipment. He has been responsible for rerating vessels to the ASME Code and NBIC and has applied FFS assessments in accordance with API 579. He has provided problem-solving support during numerous refinery shutdowns.