Piping systems

A ship's machinery space contains hundreds of meters of piping and fittings. The various systems are arranged to carry many different liquids at various temperatures and pressures. The influences of operational and safety requirements, as well as legislation, result in somewhat complicated arrangements of what are a few basic fittings. Valves, strainers, branch pipes, etc., are examples of fittings which are found in a pipe system. Machinery space pipework is made up of assorted straight lengths and bends joined by flanges with an appropriate gasket or joint between or very smallbore piping may use compression couplings. The piping material will be chosen to suit the liquid carried and the system conditions. Some examples are given in Table 1,

Where piping is to be galvanized, the completed pipe with all joints fully welded is to be hot dipped galvanized. The pipes are supported and held in by hangers or pipe clips in such a way as to minimize vibration. Steam pipes or pipes in systems with considerable temperature variation may be supported on spring hangers which permit a degree of movement. An

alternative to spring hangers is the use of expansion loops of piping or an expansion joint. Valves Valves are provided in a piping system to regulate or stop the liquid flow. Various types exist with their associated particular function or advantages. Gate Valve: a gate valve is a multi turn valve in which the port is closed by a flat-faced vertical disk that slides at right angles over the seat. Recommended: -for fully opened or fully closed , non throttling service. -For infrequent operation. -For minimum resistance to flow -For minimum amounts of fluid trapped in line. Valve Application: General Service, oil, gas, air, heavy liquids, steam, non condensing gases and liquids, corrosive liquids Fig (1) Gate

Relief valves Excess pressure is avoided in pipe systems by the use of relief valves. The valve disc is held closed by a spring arrangement on the stem Figure (2). The spring compression can be adjusted to

enable the valve to open at the appropriate pressure. valve

Figure (2) relief

Pipe fittings & supports: Fittings permit a change in direction of piping, a change in diameter of pipe, or a branch to make from the main run of pipe. They are formed from the plate of pipe, machined from forged blanks, cast, or molded from plastic. Method for joining pipe: Butt-welded. Screwed. Butt-Welded: Where used: for most process, utility and service piping .

Fig (3) butt weld Screwed: Where used: for lines conveying services, and for smaller process piping. Advantage of joint: 1- Easily made from pipe and fittings on site. 2- Minimize fire hazard when installing piping in areas where flammable gases or liquids are present.

Disadvantages: 1- Possible leakage of joint.

2-strength of pipe is reduced, as forming screw thread reduces the wall

thickness. 3-seal welding may be required. How joint is made: the end of the pipe is beveled as shown In the figure, fitting are similarly beveled. The two part are aligned, properly gapped, tack welded, and then a continuous weld is made to complete the joint .

Fig (4) screwed

Slip-on flange:
Is properly used to flange pipe, slip-on flanges can be used with long elbows, reducer, and swage. The internal weld is slightly more subject to corrosion than the but weld. The flange has poor resistance to shock and vibration. it is easier to align.

Fig (5) Slip-on flange

Reducing flange:
Suitable for changing line size, but should not be used if abrupt transition would create undesirable turbulence, as at pump connection [19].

Fig (6) Reducing flange

Piping system of the fresh and salt water

Fresh water system: The main function of this system is supply the fresh water to the galley & w.c for the crew on the units. The main components: 1- Tanks. 2- Pumps 3- Valves Tanks: There are two tanks: (1) Storage tank. (2) Gravity tank. The volume of storage tank is determined by the determination of total amount of needed water as shown. Total amount of water = c H N. Where: c: is the specific water consumption for one person 120-140 (Litre/day.n) . H: is the no of days. N: is the no. of persons on the ships. The volumes of the gravity tank depend on the area of the upper deck and the load of the tank on the surface but it should be less than the storage tank Pump: One motor driven pump (centrifugal pump) provided to transfer the water from the storage tank to the gravity tank .

Valves: (a) A gate valve to on/off the line in case the maintenance and its position will show in the diagram. (b) A non-return valve to prevent the water flow from the gravity tank and to be sure that the impeller of the pump being in water. Diagram of fresh water system: 1- Gravity tank. 2- Storage tank. 3- Feed pump. 4- Gate valve. 5- Non-return valve.

Fig (7) diagram of fresh water system

Sanitary system: The function of this system to gather the sewage from the accommodation and discharge it out board .

The main components:

1- Tanks. 2- Pumps 3- Valves. (1) Tanks: The volume of the tank is approximate equal the volume of the storage water tank or little greater than the water tank. (2) Pump: One motor driven pump (reciprocating pump) provided to transfer the sewage from the sanitary tank to out board. (3) Valves: (a) A gate valve to on/off the line in case the maintenance.

Fig (8) diagram of sanitary system

Piping design process

Fig (9) piping design process (1) Basic design: Performance of the piping system and constituting equipment are determined according to requirement specifications that come from the ship owner and ship classification society. Overall topological information and principal parts are also determined.

(2) Functional design : Starting from performance data and overall topology settled in the basic design, performance of the system is re-examined, and topologies and attributes of all components are determined. In this step cost factors are considered and design is adjusted to more refined ship structure.

(3) Detail design : Physical (graphic & non-graphic) information of all the piping system components is determined, and basic information related to manufacturing and shop arrangement to be used in the production step is determined. (4) Production design: All the information needed in the manufacturing stage is derived from the drawings from detail design step.

References:
Taylor, Introduction to marine engineering 2nd ed., 1996.