Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
: 29040-PI-UFR-0028
Rev.
: R0
Page
: 1
CONTENTS
0.0
Cover Sheet
0.1
Introduction
0.2
2-5
3.0
6-8
4.0
9 - 13
5.0
13 - 16
6.0
17 - 21
7.0
22 - 24
8.0
24 - 25
Applicable Revision:
Prepared:
Checked:
Approved:
Date:
First Edition: 0
Prepared: BRT
Date:
Date:
Checked: AKB
Approved: RUD
Date:
File Name:C-28
Date:
Server:
Date:
VKO: KUMUS 209
: R0
Page
: 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Piping Profile in general can be considered as a complex and rigid piping network consisting of various
piping components, which have different diameters and weights. At the same time the above network is also
subjected to temperature change while switching from installed to operating condition (and visa versa)
resulting into its thermal growth in various directions in proportion to the length of pipes. The structural
integrity of the above network must therefore take into account the overall weight effect of the profile
besides its thermal growth.
A satisfactory design of the Piping System should therefore give a careful consideration to achieve the above
requirement. This is generally accomplished by providing external attachments (known as pipe supports) at
various locations of the piping profile.
This document deals with the basic purpose of the pipe supports, classification based on construction /
functions and a few typical types of pipe supports.
In general it deals with metallic piping systems only.
2.0 PURPOSE OF PIPE SUPPORTS
A brief detail of the purpose of pipe support is described below.
2.1 TO SUPPORT WEIGHT OF PIPE-DURING OPERATION & TESTING
Supports are required to support the line during all conditions i.e. during operation as well as during testing.
In case of vapour line this difference will be very large due to hydro testing. Supports should be designed
for this load (unless otherwise decided in the project).
Some times line is capable of having longer span but load coming on the support may be very large
(especially with large dia pipe lines). Then to distribute the load uniformly, more number of supports should
be provided with smaller span.
Note :
1.
2.
: R0
Page
: 3
2.8 TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM DURING 'TRANSIENT PERIOD OF PLANT AND STANDBY
CONDITION :
: R0
Page
: 4
Transient condition refers to the start-up or shutdown condition in which one equipment may get heated up
faster and other one get heated slower. Due to this the expansion of one equipment which in normal
operation will get nullified, may not get nullified and exert thermal load on supports.
Standby condition is also similar. If there are two pumps, one being standby and both connected in parallel
(as shown), design and operating temp. of both the connections will be same. But the expansion of two
parallel legs will not be nullified because at a time only one leg will be hot and another being cold.
2.9 TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM DURING 'MAINTENANCE CONDITIONS' :
When for maintenance certain equipment or component like valve is taken out, remaining system should not
be left out unsupported.
Referring to the FIG-3, support 'S1' will be sufficient but when valve 'V1' is taken out for maintenance there
will not be any support for vertical leg. Therefore second support 'S2' may be required to take care of such
condition.
2.10 TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM DURING 'SHUTDOWN CONDITIONS' :
In shutdown condition all equipment may not be in the same condition as in operating condition.
For example, refer the pump discharge line in FIG-4, Point A is resting, Point B & C are spring supports
and Point D is the pump discharge nozzle. The springs are, designed based on weights considering the
weight of fluid as well as pipeline and thermal movements. But during shutdown condition the fluid may be
drained and the pipe becomes lighter. Hence the spring will give upward reaction and shall load the nozzle
'D' beyond permissible limit.
: R0
Page
: 5
In this case a limit stop is used which will not allow the Point C to move up above horizontal level.
(However it will allow downward movement during operating condition).
2.11 TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM FOR ERECTION CONDITIONS :
Erection condition can be different than the operating condition which should be considered while designing
supports.
For example for normal operation a long vessel supported by three supports, S1, S2 & S3 is shown in
FIG-5. If support S2 is higher, than all load will act at S2 only. During erection if level of S2 is lower then
entire load will be divided into two supports S1, S2 only. Therefore foundation of S1, S2 & S3 should be
capable of taking such conditions.
A pipe line supported by S1, S2 & S3 taken from vessel is shown in above FIG - 6. During operation there
will be no weight at S2 & S3 (as it is only guide), but wind condition will be there. Loads due to such
conditions must be considered while designing the supports.
: R0
Page
: 6
PRIMARY SUPPORTS :
It is the parts of support assembly which is directly connected to the pipe.
3.1.2
SECONDARY SUPPORTS :
It is the parts of support assembly which is directly connected to the foundation / structure and is
supporting the primary support attached to the pipe line.
RIGID SUPPORTS
ELASTIC SUPPORTS
ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS
: R0
Page
: 7
: R0
Page
: 8
: R0
Page
: 9
4.1
4.2
TRUNNION SUPPORTS :
In this type of support, a dummy pipe is welded to the main line so that the dummy pipe becomes a rigid part
of the main pipe line. Now this pipe is suitably supported on a secondary support (Foundation or a structure)
The basic detail is as follows :
As per piping requirement, the TRUNNIONS can be VERTICLE (as shown in FIG-9) or can also be in
HORIZONTAL. These are used for loose supports, guides, transverse guides, fix points, achors as well as
adjustable supports.
: R0
Page
: 10
As is clear from the FIG.-10, pipe can move in all direction except downwards. A hanger support generally
uses a clamp on the pipe. When a turn buckle is used than the support is adjustable type.
Hanger rods are used as a loose supports, which is free to lift up.
4.4 VALVE HOLDERS :
Valve Holder is special type of support, which is used in the situations where it is intended to directly
support the valve body through its flanges. It is an assembly of 2 holder plates bolted to the end flanges of
the valve to be supported. These holder plates are in turn connected (bolted) to a common base plate to
complete the valve holder assembly.
This support is relatively expensive since it involves many fabrication steps (e.g. machining / drilling of
holder plates etc.) The above support is therefore used only in the situations where it is absolutely necessary
to directly support the valve body owing the weak pipe material (e.g. Plastic Piping) which is incapable of
: R0
Page
: 11
transferring the valve load the support through the pipe section. The above support is therefore not called
for, in case of Carbon Steel Piping.
This support is generally used on loose suport, guide support and fixpoint. Other functions are less common.
4.5 SPRING SUPPORT :
Spring Support is a special type of support which is used in the situations where the support point on the pipe
is expected to move up or down during the operating condition (due to thermal growth ) from its installed
position without spring, the pipe will therefore either lift from secondary support or will make an
unsuccessful attempt to press against the rigid secondary support. Both are detrimental to the structural
integrity of the Piping System.
The spring support basically employs a spring element, which can get compressed or open up depending
upon the thermal movement at the support point of pipe. By doing so it takes the vertical load of the piping
under both the situations. From the utility point, spring supports are classified as Variable spring type &
constant spring type. As per arrangement spring support can be classified as supporting the pipe from under
(i.e resting type) or as supporting the pipe from above (i.e. hanger type).
4.5.1
: R0
Page
: 12
In bottom support type variable spring, the pipe is resting on top of the spring load plate, as shown.
The selection is based on the availability of structure.
In these two types manufacturer offers various models suitable for different types of attachment. These are
better described / shown in manufacturers catalogue viz. SARATHI & UMA whose catalogue for all the
above are available with us.
Note :
From all the above description it may create the impression that constant spring supports are better than
variable spring supports, however it is not so. The reasons are : 4.6
ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT :
As the name suggest, this type of support is capable of adjustment at site to accommodate erection tolerances
of piping. Basically all type of support can be easily modified and made adjustable. A typical example for
support at pump suction is shown below.
: R0
Page
: 13
Instead of supporting structures No.1, 2, & 3; one support sketch should be provided; it shall make the
arrangement compact and strong.
: R0
Page
: 14
5.2 L-type support should be avoided as far as possible. It should be used only when 'H' as well as 'L'
dimensions are comparatively less and the suitability of the structure is properly seen.
We should also avoid unnecessary extra projections when L=dimen. is becoming large.
When L-dim. is becoming large we should try to connect the loose end 'X' to some near by structure or else
increase the member size and connection detail at insert plate 'I'.
: R0
Page
: 15
Some of the suggested detail for the above support requirement are given below :
The option given below should be the last option since it requires more work and the configuration looks
odd due to larger member size.
As far as possible we should use support details which are connected both ends, no matter, even if the
dim.L' is as low as 350 mm.
5.3 T-Type supports whenever erected on beams, a good connection detail should be specified. Few examples
of connections details are mentioned here.
5.4 While supporting hot pipes, we must provide structure sizes sufficiently large so as to accommodate the
movement of pipes on the support structure.
: R0
Page
: 16
In any case these lengths should not be less than 200mm. More than this, pipe movements due to thermal
expansion, wind, earthquake should be seen.
Whenever such type of small T-Post structure is there we must try to connect it to the near by structure.
This costs hardly anything but improves the structure support design.
5.5 It is normally noted that the structures are adequately designed for weight of the piping systems but in most
of the cases horizontal loads due to friction is over looked. These horizontal loads can be around 25 to 35%
of the vertical loads.
Therefore horizontal loads should be properly considered during the design of support structure.
Whenever these horizontal forces due to friction becomes so large that the system is not able to withstand
then we should provide a suitable means to reduce this friction. Some of the suitable means are as follows :
5.5.1
5.5.2
Provide Grafoil sheets between pipe shoe and support structure. Similarly teflon sheets can be
provided.
: R0
Page
: 17
To avoid loading of suction nozzle due to control valve weight, which is nearby, if we provide a trunnion
(non insulated as per normal practice) to take weight of control valve, then during operation such nozzle will
move up and lift the trunnion off its base. This will load the nozzle and purpose of trunnion will not get
served.
This can be avoided by insulating trunnion, so that it will remain hot and will expand upwards and will
provide resting. Thus in most cases, the nozzle loading can be controlled without use of spring supports, near
pump nozzles.
: R0
Page
: 18
6.2 Case - 2 :
When supporting a line coming from top nozzle of a short vessel as shown in FIG-22, if the temperature and
material of the vessel and pipe line is same, then the line may be supported at ground level.
6.3 Case - 3 :
When supporting a line coming from a tall vessel and the line temperature is different from vessel, it should
be supported from vessel at the neutral point with respect to vessel. Such point is normally near the nozzle
itself (FIG-23). The pump should be connected through flexible loop connection to avoid nozzle loading.
: R0
Page
: 19
Alternatively line may be supported at bottom (near pump) and loop may be provided at top as shown in
FIG-24
6.4 Case 4 :
While supporting suction and discharge piping to a pump, the supports being provided should be sufficient
to take care the maintenance requirements of the pumps i.e. if the valves / strainers, on the pumps are taken
out for maintenance, the lines should remain supported.
Exp. Suction line.
: R0
Page
: 20
: R0
Page
: 21
6.5 Case 5 :
In comparatively larger size pipes when a resting support is required at location "A", then an adjustable type
supports should be provided. This is necessary due to the maintenance requirements - such as changing of
gaskets, etc. (see FIG-27)
: R0
Page
: 22
: R0
Page
: 23
7.2 Case - 2
In such case if saddle 'A' is fixed in figure 29, total expansion of 13m will be required to be absorbed by
pipe line.
If saddle 'B' is fixed then vessel expansion of 4m will be nullified by pipeline expansion of 4m and only
differential expansion of 9 m will be required to be absorbed.
7.3 Case - 3
In such case by looking at line size in figure 30, one may think that more attention be given to 20"
connection. But looking correctly, saddle selection does not make any difference as both are at equal
distance from 20" pipe line. Then selection should be based in favour of 8" pump line i.e. saddle 'B' should
be fixed to reduce load on the pump.
Where ever it is possible to make a flexible piping to the pump, then in such situations, it is possible to make
both the saddles, SLIDING type.
In conclusion fixed saddle should be so chosen that expansion of vessel towards sliding saddle tends to
nullify or substantially reduce differential expansion passed onto connected pipe line. Fixed saddle should
be close to stiff piping connections to the equipment.
: R0
Page
: 24
: R0
Page
: 25