Piping Stress Analysis Basics Free e-course

3: Tips for Flexible Layouts

Increasing flexibility is shown from left to right

A system for determining flexibility on an increasing scale is illustrated above. Each prism shows pipe running between points A and F. In the one at the far left, the pipe cuts across the face of the prism with leg CD. For this case, the pipe could cut across any face or into the body of the prism. If calculation shows such a line to be overstressed, another route must be chosen. The center sketch shows the same anchor points A and F, but the pipe now runs along the edges of the prism. The pipe could be run along any of the edges but not across the surface or through the prism. This route is more flexible than that on its left. Suppose that the pipe in the center sketch is still overstressed. The sketch at far right shows the line going outside the prism into space. It runs along the edges and then into space to form a loop between points C and F. This route is the most flexible of the three possible routes. It is important to point out that the first route shown (far left) is the usual one and piping is not necessarily overstressed because it follows this path. The three sketches are used only to show the successive paths of increasing flexibility. The prisms provide a means of visualizing, at a glance, a softer piping system. Even the path at far right, however, can be overstressed if the loop between points C and F is not large enough. In laying out hot piping, one should at least consider the following: 1. The expansion of turbines, towers, heat exchangers etc. must be added to the pipe expansion. 2. A heat exchanger is generally fixed at one end and free to slide at the other. 3. Long radius elbows are more flexible than five diameter bends. The elbows produce lower forces but higher local stresses because of the flattening of a curved member when it flexes. The five diameter bend flattens less therefore produces higher forces but lower local stresses. These local stresses are of course, in the bend or elbow itself. 4. Pumps, turbines and compressors must have low forces on them as required by the manufacturer and in compliance with API 610/617 and NEMA SM-23. If the stress in the piping adjacent to the equipment is limited to 5,000 psi, the forces will generally be acceptable.

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Piping Stress Analysis Basics Free e-course

5. Dead weight of piping must in most cases be carried by independent supports and not by the pump, turbine or compressor. In the case of heat exchangers and vessels and other non-rotating equipment, some of the piping dead weight loads may be transferred to the nozzles but the designer MUST check with the equipment designer first. 6. Always run a line with a thought as to how it will be supported. Lines should be grouped whenever possible. If a line needs to be re-routed for the better support, this should be done. 7. Cold spring is not the answer to lowering stresses in overstressed piping. The Piping code does not permit this. It allows only a one third reduction in forces and bending moments if the line is cut short by 50 percent of its total expansion.
8. The stress at flanged connections should be limited to 10,000 psi.

Article Excerpted From SST 101: Piping Stress Analysis Seminar Notes.

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