Pipe support Details

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search
A pipe support or pipe hanger is a designed element that transfer the load from a pipe to the
supporting structures. The load includes the weight of the pipe proper, the content that the pipe
carries, all the pipe fittings attached to pipe, and the pipe covering such as insulation. The four main
functions of a pipe support are to anchor, guide, absorb shock, and support a specified load. Pipe
supports used in high or low temperature applications may contain insulation materials. The overall
design configuration of a pipe support assembly is dependent on the loading and operating
conditions.

Contents

 1Loads on Piping System[1]

o 1.1Primary Load
o 1.2Secondary Load
 2Types of pipe supports
o 2.1Rigid Support
o 2.2Spring Support[3]
o 2.3Snubber or Shock Absorber
 3Materials
 4Standards
 5References

Loads on Piping System[1]

Primary Load]
These are typically steady or sustained types of loads such as internal fluid pressure, external
pressure, gravitational forces acting on the pipe such as weight of pipe and fluid, forces due to relief
or blow down, pressure waves generated due to water/steam hammer effects.
Sustained Loads:

 Internal/External Pressure : A pipe used for transporting fluid would be under internal pressure
load. A pipe such as a jacketed pipe core or tubes in a Shell & Tube ex-changer etc. may be
under net external pressure. Internal or external pressure induces stresses in the axial as well
as circumferential (Hoop Stress) directions. The pressure also induces stresses in the radial
direction, but these are often neglected. The internal pressure exerts an axial force equal to
pressure times the internal cross section of the pipe. F =P[πd^2/4]. If outer diameter is used for
calculating approximate metal cross-section as Pressure well as pipe cross-section, the axial
stress can often be approximated as follows : S =Pd /(4t)
 Dead Weight: It is the self weight of pipe including fluid, weight of fittings & other inline
components (say valve, insulation etc.). This type of loads act throughout the life cycle of pipe.
In horizontal pipes, these loads cause bending, and the bending moment is related to normal
and shear stresses. Pipe bending is caused mainly due to two reasons : distributed weight load
 (e.g. fluid weight) and concentrated weight load (e.g. valve weight). The weight of risers (vertical
sections of pipe) can be supported by riser clamps.
Occasional Loads:

 Wind Load : Piping which are located outdoors and thus exposed to wind will be designed to
withstand the maximum wind velocity expected during the plant operating life. Wind force is
modeled as a uniform load acting upon the projected length of the pipe perpendicular to the
direction of the wind. Wind pressure for various elevations will be used to calculate wind force
using the following formula. Fw = Pw x S x A, where Fw = The total wind force, Pw = The
equivalent wind pressure, S = Wind shape factor, A = Pipe exposed area.
 Seismic Load : Seismic load is one of the basic concepts of earthquake engineering which
means application of an earthquake-generated agitation to a structure. It happens at contact
surfaces of a structure either with the ground,[2] or with adjacent structures,[3] or
with gravity waves from tsunami.
 Water Hammer : Water hammer (or more generally, fluid hammer) is a pressure surge or wave
caused when a fluid (usually a liquid but sometimes also a gas) in motion is forced to stop or
change direction suddenly (momentum change). Water hammer commonly occurs when a valve
closes suddenly at an end of a pipeline system, and a pressure wave propagates in the pipe. It's
also called hydraulic shock.
 Steam hammer : Steam hammer, the pressure surge generated by transient flow of super-
heated or saturated steam in a steam-line due to sudden stop valve closures is considered as
an occasional load. Though the flow is transient, for the purpose of piping stress analysis, only
the unbalanced force along the pipe segment tending to induce piping vibration is calculated and
applied on the piping model as static equivalent force.
 Safety Valve Discharge : Reaction forces from relief valve discharge is considered as an
occasional load. The reaction force due to steady state flow following the opening of safety relief
valve in an open discharge installation can be calculated in accordance with ASME B31.1
Appendix II and applied on the piping model as static equivalent force.
Secondary Load
Just as the primary loads have their origin in some force, secondary loads are caused by
displacement of some kind. For example, the pipe connected to a storage tank may be under load if
the tank nozzle to which it is connected moves down due to tank settlement. Similarly, pipe
connected to a vessel is pulled upwards because the vessel nozzle moves up due to vessel
expansion. Also, a pipe may vibrate due to vibrations in the rotating equipment it is attached to.
Displacement Loads:

 Load due to Thermal Expansion of pipe

 Load due to Thermal movement of Equipment
A pipe may experience expansion or contraction once it is subjected to temperatures higher or lower
respectively as compared to temperature at which it was assembled. The secondary loads are often
cyclic but not always.For example load due to tank settlement is not cyclic. The load due to vessel
nozzle movement during operation is cyclic because the displacement is withdrawn during shut-
down and resurfaces again after fresh start-up. A pipe subjected to a cycle of hot and cold fluid
similarly undergoes cyclic loads and deformation.

Types of pipe supports

Pipe Guides (Cylinder Pipe Guides - Spider Guides)

 Rigid Support
 Spring Support
 Snubber/Shock Absorber
Rigid Support
Rigid supports are used to restrict pipe in certain direction(s) without any flexibility (in that direction).
Main function of a rigid support can be Anchor, Rest, Guide or both Rest & Guide.
1) Stanchion/Pipe Shoe:
Rigid support can be provided either from bottom or top. In case of bottom supports generally a
stanchion or Pipe Clamp Base is used. It can be simply kept on steel structure for only rest type
supports. To simultaneously restrict in another direction separate plate or Lift up Lug can be used. A
pipe anchor is a rigid support that restricts movement in all three orthogonal directions and all three
rotational directions, i.e. restricting al the 6 degrees of freedom This usually is a
welded stanchion that is welded or bolted to steel or concrete.[2] In case of anchor which is bolted to
concrete, a special type of bolt is required called Anchor Bolt, which is used to hold the support with
concrete. In this type of support, normal force and friction force can become significant. To alleviate
the frictional effect Graphite Pad or PTFE plates are used when required.

Pipe Anchors (Permali Cold Shoes)

2) Rod Hanger:
It is a static restraint i.e. it is designed to withstand tensile load only (no compression load should be
exerted on it, in such case buckling may take place). It is rigid vertical type support provide from top
only. It consists of clamp, eye nut, tie rod, beam attachment. Selection of rod hanger depends on
pipe size, load, temperature, insulation, assembly length etc. As it comes with hinge and clamp, no
substantial frictional force comes into play.
3) Rigid Strut:
It is a dynamic component i.e. is designed to withstand both tensile and compression load. strut can
be provide in vertical as well as horizontal direction. V-type Strut can be used to restrict 2 degrees of
freedom. It consists of stiff clamp, rigid strut, welding clevis. Selection depends on pipe size, load,
temperature, insulation, assembly length. As it comes with hinge and clamp, no substantial frictional
force comes into play.
Spring Support[3]
Spring supports (or Flexible supports) use helical coil compression springs ( to accommodate loads
and associated pipe movements due to thermal expansions). They are broadly classified into
Variables Effort support & Constant effort support. The critical component in both the type of
supports are Helical Coil Compression springs. Spring hanger & supports usually use Helical coil
compression springs. The springs are manufactured either by the cold coiling process (where wire
diameter is less than 12 mm) or by Hot coiling process Springs are classified as “Light” & “Heavy” .
Light springs are normally cold formed Heavy springs are manufactured by the hot coiling process.
Springs are designed using the formulae :- Spring Rate ( K ) = (d^4 x G)/8 x (Dm)^3 x Wc Where: d
= Wire Dia in mm, Dm= Mean Diameter of Spring Coil, Wc= Total no of working coils, K = Spring
rate or Spring Constant in Kg/mm, G = Modulus of Rigidity normally 80,000 N/mm2 8154.9 kg/ mm2.
1.Variable Spring Hanger or Variable Effort Support:

Variable spring hanger

Variable effort supports also known as variable hangers or variables are used to support pipe lines
subjected to moderate (approximately up to 50mm) vertical thermal movements. VES units (Variable
effort supports) are used to support the weight of pipe work or equipment along with weight of fluids (
gases are considered weightless) while allowing certain quantum of movement with respect to the
structure supporting it. Spring supports may also be used to support lines subject to relative
movements occurring typically due to subsidence or earthquakes. A VES unit is fairly simple in
construction with the pipe virtually suspended directly from a helical coil compression spring as the
cut away sectional sketch shows below. The main components being:

1. Top Plate
2. Pressure plate or Piston Plate
3. Bottom plate or base plate
4. Helical Spring
5. Turnbuckle assembly
6. Locking Rods
7. Name Plate
8. Can section or cover
Normally Clients / Engineering Consultants will furnish the following data when issuing enquires for
Variable effort units.

1. Hot Load
 2. Thermal Movement (with direction i.e. up or + & down or -)
3. Maximum Load variation in Percentage (LV % max), if Max LV is not specified then it is
assumed to be 25% as per MM-SP58.
4. Type of Support i.e. whether hanging type, foot mounted type etc.
5. Special features such as travel limit stop required if any.
6. Preferred surface protection / Paint / Finish.
Hot load is the working load of the support in the “Hot” condition i.e. when the pipe has traveled from
the cold condition to the hot or working condition. Normally MSS-SP58 specifies max Load Variation
( popularly called LV) as 25%.[4]
Salient Features-

 Allows movement in vertical direction

 Load on pipe varies with movement
Used where

 Displacement < 50mm

 Load variability < 25%
 Rod angulation should be less than 4°
Load Variation (LV) or Percentage variation =[(Hot Load ~Cold Load) x 100]/Hot Load or Load
Variation (LV) or Percentage variation =[(Travel x Spring Rate) x 100]/Hot Load Generally spring
supports are provided from top but due to layout feasibility or any other reason Base Mounted type
support is fixed to floor or structure & the pipe is made to “sit” on top of the flange of the spring
support.
2.Constant Spring Hanger or Constant Effort Support:

Bell crank in CSH

When confronted with large vertical movements typically 150 mm or 250 mm, there is no choice but
to select a constant effort support (CES). When the Load variation percentage exceeds 25% or the
specified max LV% in a variable hanger, it is choice less but to go for a CES. For pipes which are
critical to the performance of the system or so called critical piping where no residual stresses are to
be transferred to the pipe it is a common practice to use CES. In a constant effort support the load
remains constant when the pipe moves from its cold position to the hot position. Thus irrespective of
travel the load remains constant over the complete range of movement. Therefore it is called a
constant load hanger. Compared to a variable load hanger where with movement the load varies &
the hot load & cold load are two different values governed by the travel & spring constant. A CES
unit does not have any spring rate.
Most prevalent work principle for CSH is Bell Crank Mechanism. The Bell crank lever rotates around
the Fulcrum point. One end of the Bell crank lever is connected to the pipe ‘P’, the other end is
connected to the spring by the tie rod. Thus when the pipe moves down from cold to hot condition,
the point P moves down, and as it moves down the Bell crank lever will rotate in the anti clock wise
direction & tie rod connected to the spring will be pulled in, by which the spring gets further
compressed. When the pipe moves up the bell crank lever will rotate (in the clock wise direction) &
the tie rod connected to spring will be pushed out thus allowing the spring to expand or relax.
Another popular principle is three spring or adjusting spring mechanism. In this case one main
vertical spring takes the main load of the pipe. There are situated other two spring with horizontal
orientation to balance any extra load coming in upward or downward direction.
Snubber or Shock Absorber
Dynamic Restraints: The restraint system performs an entirely different function to that of the
supports. The latter is intended to carry the weight of the pipe work and allow it to move freely under
normal operating conditions. The restraint system is intended to protect the pipe work, the plant and
the structure from abnormal conditions; it should not impede the function of the supports.Conditions
that necessitate the use of restraints are as follows – • Earthquake. • Fluid disturbance. • Certain
system functions. • Environmental influences. In areas that are situated on or near to geological fault
lines it is common practice to protect the plant from potential earthquake activity. In such plant there
will be a very large requirement for dynamic restraints. Fluid disturbance can be caused by the effect
of pumps and compressors or occasionally fluid in a liquid state entering a pipe intended for the
transportation of gas or steam. Some system functions such as rapid valve closure, pulsation due to
pumping and the operation of safety relief valves will cause irregular and sudden loading patterns
within the piping system. The environment can cause disturbance due to high wind load or in the
case of offshore oil and gas rigs, impact by ocean waves. The restraint system will be designed to
cater for all of these influences. A restraint is a device that prevents either the pipe work or the plant
to which the pipe work is connected being damaged due to the occurrence of any one or more of the
above phenomenon. It is designed to absorb and transfer sudden increases in load from the pipe
into the building structure and to deaden any opposing oscillation between the pipe and the
structure. Therefore dynamic restraints are required to be very stiff, to have high load capacity and to
minimize free movement between pipe and structure.
Depending on working principle, snubbers can be classified as

 Hydraulic Snubber: Similar to an automobile shock arrestor the hydraulic snubber is built
around a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid with a piston that displaces the fluid from one end of
the cylinder to the other. Displacement of fluid results from the movement of the pipe causing
the piston to displace within the cylinder resulting in high pressure in one end of the cylinder and
a relatively low pressure in the other. The velocity of the piston will dictate the actual difference
in pressure. The fluid passes through a spring-loaded valve, the spring being used to hold the
valve open. If the differential pressure across the valve exceeds the effective pressure exerted
by the spring, the valve will close. This causes the snubber to become rigid and further
displacement is substantially prevented. The hydraulic snubber is normally used when the axis
of restraint is in the direction of expansion and contraction of the pipe. The snubber is therefore
required to extend or retract with the normal operation of the pipe work. The snubber has low
resistance to movement at very low velocities.
 Mechanical Snubber: Whilst having the same application as the hydraulic snubber, retardation
of the pipe is due to centrifugal braking within the snubber. A split flywheel is made to rotate at
high velocity causing steel balls to be forced radially outwards. The flywheel is forced apart by
the steel balls causing braking plates to come together thus retarding the axial displacement of
the snubber. Rotation of the flywheel is generated by the linear displacement of the main rod
acting on a ball-screw or similar device. It is also very expensive.
 A shock absorber absorbs energy of sudden impulses or dissipate energy from the
pipeline. For damper and dashpot, see Shock absorber
 An insulated pipe support (also called pre-insulated pipe support) is a load-bearing member
and minimizes energy dissipation. Insulated pipe supports can be designed for vertical, axial
and/or lateral loading combinations in both low and high temperature applications. Adequately
insulating the pipeline increases the efficiency of the piping system by not allowing the "cold"
inside to escape to the environment.[5] For insulated pipe, see Insulated pipe

Insulated Supports (Cold Shoes)

 An engineered spring support upholds a specific load, including the weight of the pipe,
commodity, flanges, valves, refractory, and insulation. Spring supports also allow the supported
load to travel through a predetermined thermal deflection cycle from its installed condition to its
operational condition.

Engineered Spring Supports (Variable Springs)

Materials
Pipe supports are fabricated from a variety of materials including structural steel, carbon
steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, ductile iron and FRP composites. Most pipe
supports are coated to protect against moisture and corrosion.[6] Some methods for corrosion
protection include: painting, zinc coatings, hot dip galvanizing or a combination of these.[7] In the
case of FRP composite pipe supports, the elements required to form a corrosion cell aren't present,
so no additional coatings or protections are necessary.[8]

Standards
 Design: ASME B31.1, ASME B31.3, ASME Section VIII Pressure Vessels
 Manufacturing: MSS-SP58 (Material, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application & Installation),
MSS-SP69 (Selection & Application), MSS-SP77, MSS-SP89, MSS-SP90, AWS-D1.1, ASTM-
A36, ASTM-A53, ASTM-A120, ASTM-A123 and A446, ASTM-A125, ASTM-A153, ASTM-307
and A325, ASTM-C916, ASTM-D1621, ASTM-D1622, ASTM-D1623
 Quality Systems: ISO 9001, ASQC Q-92, CAN3 Z299
 Testing: ANSI B18.2.3
Shock Absorber (Hydraulic)