Designing

Systems
to
Compensate
for
Thermal
Expansion
and
Contraction
Things We Have Learned From
Being Sued
 6” Model MC - 6 Corrugations
Anchor Load @ 150psi - 11,600#
This is why you should use guides
Riser F3 Floor 4‐25 Room 2‐4
Use Any Natural Flexibility In
The piping layout
2008 ASHRAE Handbook

Heating, Ventilating, and Air

Conditioning
Systems and Equipment

Chapter 45
For a Basic Expansion Elbow
Hard Pipe Δ
Anchor
A

B
L= 3ΔDE
L
√(144in²/ft²)SA
C
Anchor
Where Δ = Thermal expansion of leg AB
D = Pipe Outside Diameter
E = Modulus of Elasticity
SA = Allowable Stress

Or this can be simplified to

L = 6.225 √ΔD
 For a Basic Expansion “Z” Bend
Hard Pipe

Where Δ = Thermal expansion of leg AB

L = 4 √ΔD D = Pipe Outside Diameter
E = Modulus of Elasticity
SA = Allowable Stress

Anchor A
X Anchor

Guide L
B
X
L L

Guide
Anchor to Anchor Expansion
So what kind
of expansion
joint to use?
For a Basic Expansion Loop
Hard Pipe

Where Δ = Thermal expansion of run

L = 6.225 √ΔD D = Pipe Outside Diameter
E = Modulus of Elasticity
SA = Allowable Stress
W = L/5
W
H = 2*W

Anchor
Anchor
Guide H

X X
2H 2H Guide
Anchor to Anchor Expansion
 Hard Loops Pro/Con
Pro Con
Same material as the rest of Constructed on site,
piping costly to fabricate,
Constructed on site
hang and insulate

Medium anchor loads Needs lots of room

Grandfather used ‘em High lateral loads on

moment guides.
Flexible Expansion Loop
“V” Loops
The flexible pipe loop is also smaller and has
less anchor load than a hard pipe loop
Hose Basics
 Corrugated
stainless steel
hose by itself
has great hoop
strength, but
poor tensile
strength
Virtually any amount of movement
 Cap
weld,
welding
the
hose,
braid
and
collar
together
 Weld
the End
Fitting
to the
Hose
On a flex loop the braid is the anchor
 4” Sch 40 Carbon Steel 4” Sch 40 Carbon Steel
With Hard Pipe Expansion 90 With H&B Dog Leg

Anchor with

X
Anchor with

X
582 pounds force
180 pounds force
2.85” Exp.

2.85” Exp.
165 Feet

165 Feet
Guides
Guides
19 Feet

3 Feet
X X
19 Feet Hose & Braid
3 Feet

50 Feet
50 Feet
.59” Exp.
.59” Exp.
 Flexible Loop Pro/Con
Pro Con
Very compact Some pressure
limitations
Large movement
Standard or custom fit
Least expensive option
Seismic capable
Lowest anchor loads, almost
no structural considerations.
Minimal guiding requirements
No maintenance
 There’s a lot of choices of
Bellows
• Axial movement
• Lateral movement
• Angular movement
Externally Pressurized Untied Double
Axial Bellows Gimbal Bellows
Axial Bellows Bellows

Single Hinge Double Hinged

Dual Tied Bellows Bellows Bellows
 Internally Externally
Pressurized Pressurized

Capable of Axial, Lateral and

Axial movement only
Angular movements.
 Expansion
Compensators

externally
pressurized

Atmosphere

Built in Liner
Squirm- Strut Instability - Limits the movement of
internally pressurized bellows
The balance between the number of convolutions
needed for the movement exceeds the stability of
the bellows
Internally Pressurized Bellows

Axial

Are Primarily Designed

to Handle
Axial Movement
 On the other hand,
a dual-tied bellows moves
Axially

And laterally
Dual-tied bellows joint
Anchors
 Calculating forces on anchors
• Pressure Thrust
Pressure X effective area ( Use test pressure if greater )

•Deflection Load –
Published Spring Rate X movement of the joint

• Frictional Resistance
Total weight of pipe, media, insulation & equip. X
coefficient
 Calculating forces on anchors

• Pressure Thrust
Pressure X effective area ( Use test pressure if
greater )

• Example:
4”= 35.96 sq. in effective area x 125 PSI = 4495 #.
To calculate the thrust load:
Effective Areas
Pressure Thrust for the Model MC
Ring Controlled Self-Equalizing
Expansion Joint The average car
weighs only
3000#
Deflection Load (spring rate)

Totally independent of pressure or temperature

 Deflection Load on Anchors

• Published Spring Rate X Actual movement of the

joint

• Example:
4” with 6” Axial = Spring rate of 143 lbs/in
X
4.3 (total amount of expansion)

= 614.9 lbs
 Calculating forces on anchors
•Frictional Resistance
Total weight of pipe, media, insulation & equip. X
coeff.
•Example
4” sch. 40 pipe at 10.8 #/ft x 75 ft = 1890 #

4” pipe internal area 12.73 sq.in. / 144 in. per sq.ft. =

0.088 cu.ft. x 175 linear ft. = 15.4 cu.ft. total volume
125
PSI steam = 3.23 cu.ft. per pound = 4.76# weight
add guides & joint & insulation at 500#

Total 2395# x 0.3 Coeff. = 719# frictional resistance

 Total Anchor Force

4495 Pressure Thrust

614 Deflection Load
719 Friction Resistance
5,828.9 lbs force

The engineer may add other loads such as snow,

ice, wind, based on project conditions
 Intermediate Anchors
Intermediate anchors between expansion
devices do not see the full load.
Intermediate
Anchor

X X X

Expansion Joint
Main
Main
Anchor
Anchor

EJMA recommends to design intermediate anchors for the spring

load of one of the joints
Anchors at fittings can have multi-
directional loads
Force

Force
Expansion Joint
Main
Anchor

X
Expansion
Joint
Location

Makes a
Difference
Guiding
Column
strength
of pipe.
Remember our Example

Total Anchor Force

4495 Pressure Thrust

614 Deflection Load
719 Friction Resistance
5,828.9 lbs force
 LINERS
•When velocity is high
and could set up
vibration in bellows

•Compressed air lines

•Exhaust gases

•Abrasive flow media

•Rule of Thumb
:When velocity > 10
FPS
Install 1st. Guide a max. of 4
pipe dia. From the expansion
joint.
Install 2nd. Guide a max. of 14
pipe dia. From the 1st. Guide.
Additional guides as per EJMA
recommendations
 Bellows Pro/Con
Pro Con
Low/ no pressure drop High anchor loads
Very compact Engineered anchors
No maintenance Considerable guiding
requirements
Custom fit
Torque can be a
Easy to insulate problem
Externally pressurized-
large movement
Slip type
Joints
Slip Type Joint
Slip Joint construction detail
 Ball Joints

Always in, at least pairs

Similar construction with Slip joints
Same maintenance issues
 Slip Type Pro/Con
Pro Con
Low/ no pressure drop High anchor loads
Very compact Engineered anchors
Large movement Crucial and Considerable
guiding requirements
Custom fit
Very High maintenance –
packing frequently needed
Low or no cycling is a
detriment.
Very expensive
Lets Start With
Determining The Pipe
Size and Pipe
Dimensions

150’
8”
12”

150’
250’ 75’

6”

75’
85’ 75’
To Calculate Expansion
1 Determine design temperature – for example 200° F.

2 Establish installation temperature - For example 50° F

3 Find the expansion rate per 100 feet –

1.179” / 100 feet for steel – 1.728” / 100 feet for copper

4 Determine the length of pipe run – for example 165 feet

5 Multiply the expansion rate by the length.

(165 / 100) X 1.179 = 1.94” Expansion

6 If the joint is for both thermal and seismic, the values

must be added together!
For An Example
Lets use

Pipe Material Carbon Steel

Service Hot Water
Design Temperature 200°F
Installation Temperature 50° F
Temperature Difference ΔT 150°F
Expansion Rate ΔL 1.179 inches / 100 Feet
Lets Calculate How
Much The Pipe Will
Expand

1.77”
150’
8”
12”

1.77”
150’
250’ 75’
2.95” 0.88”

6”

0.88”
75’
85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Lets Establish
The Anchor Points

X
Anchor
(typ)
Anchor

1.77”
150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

1.77”
150’
250’ 75’
2.95” 0.88”

X X
6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
 First
First
checkfor
check for
Natural
Natural
Flexibility
Flexibility
Keep in Mind
90° changes in
direction are the most
efficient piping
configuration to use to
take up thermal
expansion or
contraction.

Smaller angles will

compound the
movements!
Next, Use Any
Natural Flexibility

X
Of The System Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

22’

1.77”
150’
250’ 75’
2.95” 0.88”

X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Next, Complete
The System With

X
Flexible Pipe Loops Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
MLW80800
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

22’
MLW81200

1.77”
150’
250’ 75’ MLW30600
2.95” 0.88”

X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Or, Complete
The System With

X
Expansion Joints Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

22’

1.77”
150’
250’ 75’
2.95” 0.88”

Don’t forget about the X X

13’

guides. Note the 6”

0.88”
75’
placement
X

of the Metragators
85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
What if the 75 foot
run was only 18

X
feet? Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

22’

1.77”
150’
250’ 75’
2.95” 0.88”

X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Option 1
Use a Hose & Braid

X
Dog Leg Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

40”

1.77”
150’
250’ 18’
2.95” 0.21”

X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Option 2
Add an Anchor, and

X
another expansion Anchor
(typ)
device

1.77”
Anchor

150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

18’
X
250’ 18’

1.77”
150’
2.95” 0.21”

X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Next, Complete
The System With

X
Flexible Pipe Loops Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
MLW80800
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

18’
MLW81200

X
250’ 18’

1.77”
150’
MLW30600
2.95” 0.21”

MLW30800
X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”
Or with
Expansion Joints

X
Anchor
(typ)

1.77”
Anchor

150’
(typ)

8”
12”
X X

22’
X
250’ 18’

1.77”
150’
2.95” 0.21”

X X
13’

6”

0.88”
75’
X

85’ 75’
1.0” 0.88”