Heat Treatment Services—Batch Type for Equipment Used in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry

API STANDARD 20H

FIRST EDITION, OCTOBER 2015

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1. Scope 1

   1. Purpose 1

   2. Applicability 1

   3. Heat Treatment Specification Levels (HSLs) 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations 1

   1. Terms and Definitions 1

   2. Acronyms and Abbreviations 2

4. Heat Treatment Supplier Qualification 2

   1. General 2

   2. Qualification Requirements 3

   3. Heat Treatment Specification Levels 4

   4. Processing Class 4

5. Responsibilities and Duties 5

6. Personnel Training Requirements 5

7. Heat Treatment Facility Capability 5

   1. General 5

   2. Identification and Traceability 5

8. Heat Treatment Equipment Temperature Uniformity Survey (TUS) and Calibration 6

   1. Calibration 6

   2. HSL-1 and HSL-2 Furnace TUS and Instrumentation Calibration 6

   3. HSL-3 Furnace TUS and Instrumentation Calibration 8

   4. Records 10

9. Heat Treatment Procedures 10

   1. Furnace Atmosphere 10

   2. Process Validation 10

10. Furnace Loading 10

11. Heat Treatment Quench Requirements 11

12. Heat Treatment Equipment Maintenance 12

13. Manufacturing Process Specification 12

    1. General 12

    2. Heat Treatment Variables 13

    3. Quench Variables 13

    4. Inspection and Test Requirements 13

14. Heat Treatment Records 14

    1. General 14

    2. Document Control 14

    3. Records to be Maintained by Heat Treatment Supplier 14

    4. Requirements for Heat Treatment Certificates 14

    5. Record Retention 15

15. Handling, Storage, and Shipping 15

    v

    
    

16. Minimum Facility Requirements 15

Annex A Sample Heat Treatment Facility Capability Forms 16

Tables

1. Processing Classes and Material Grades 3

2. Processing Class Qualification Limitations 3

3. Minimum Facility Requirements 15

Figures

1. Thermocouple locations—Rectangular furnace (working zone) 7

2. Thermocouple locations—Cylindrical furnace (working zone) 7

Heat Treatment Services—Batch Type for Equipment Used in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry

1. Scope

   1. Purpose

      
      

      This standard specifies requirements for the qualification of suppliers of heat treatment services used in the manufacture of equipment for the petroleum and natural gas industries.

      
      

   2. Applicability

      
      

      This standard is applicable to suppliers providing heat treatment services where API product standards require such services or otherwise specified as a requirement for conformance. The requirements of this standard apply to batch heat treatment operations that establish or affect the final mechanical properties and include stress relief operations. This standard applies to carbon steel, low-alloy steel, stainless steel, and nickel-base alloys. Case hardening, induction hardening, and flame hardening are not covered by this standard.

      
      

   3. Heat Treatment Specification Levels (HSLs)

      
      

      This standard establishes the requirements for three heat treatment specification levels (HSLs). These HSL designations define different levels of heat treatment technical, quality, and qualification requirements.

      
      

2. Normative References

   The following referenced document is indispensable for the application of this standard. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document, including any amendments, apply.

   
   

   SAE AMS2750 1, Pyrometry

   
   

3. Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations

   For purposes of this standard, the following terms, definitions, and acronyms apply.

   
   

   1. Terms and Definitions

3.1.1

acceptance criteria

Defined limits placed on characteristics of materials, processes, products, or services.

3.1.2

case hardening

A generic term covering several processes applicable to steel that change the chemical composition of the surface layer by absorption of carbon, nitrogen, or a mixture of the two and, by diffusion, create a concentration gradient. The result is a thin layer on the surface that is harder than the metal beneath it. The processes commonly used are carburizing and quench hardening, cyaniding, nitriding, and carbon nitriding.

3.1.3

final inspection

The final visual examination and documentation release of the heat-treated material.

1 SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15096-0001, www.sae.org.

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