From: Krishnamoorthy, Govindan

To: govindan krishnamoorthy

Subject: Nozzle loads
Date: Thursday, October 10, 2019 6:29:00 PM

Nozzle Loads – Part 1

1 Comment

Nozzle Loads

1.0  Introduction to Nozzle Loads

This post specifies the criteria to be adopted while defining the allowable loads acting on the Nozzles of the various
Mechanical equipments, due to the loads imposed by the connected piping system. These loads shall be included in the
Mechanical design of the equipments during procurement.

As a minimum, the Piping Stress Engineer shall ensure that the loads on the Nozzle of the Mechanical Equipments are
within these values. In the event the loads are exceeding the allowable loads values, prior approval from the supplier shall
be taken.
It is advisable that, the Fabrication / Procurement of these equipments shall be carried out after the confirmation of the
loads on the Nozzle by both the party (Purchaser and Supplier).

2.0 Types of Mechanical Equipments

Mechanical Equipments are classified in two types viz. Fabricated Equipments& Proprietary Equipments. Criteria for
defining the allowable loads on the Nozzles of these equipments are given below.

2.1  Fabricated Equipments
Various Mechanical Equipments like Pressure Vessels, Columns, Heat Exchangers (Shell & Tube type and Plate type),
cylindrical storage tanks, etc. are classified under this category.
·         Allowable Forces & Moments
The allowable loads for the Fabricated Equipmentsshall be in accordance with Appendix-1. These values are applicable
for equipments, withcarbon steel and stainless steel as material of construction.
For equipments made of other material, the supplier shall provide an appropriate set of calculations for approval.

The allowable loads for the Cylindrical Storage Tanks shall be in accordance with Appendix-2.
·         Statement of Compliance
The Equipment Supplier shall check the stresses in the nozzle/equipment resulting from the allowable loads as specified
above, in accordance with WRC bulletin WRC107/ WRC297 /ASME Section VIII Division 2.
The Equipment supplier shall provide a statement of compliance with this specification.
·         Higher Allowable Loads
This specification gives the maximum allowable loads which the nozzle can withstand without failure. However,
depending on the configuration of the connected Piping system or due to the various design conditions analyzed, the loads
imposed on the Nozzle may exceed these allowable values.
In such cases, the actual loads shall be communicated to the Supplier. The Supplier shall check the integrity of the nozzle /
equipment. If acceptable, the Supplier shall approve these loads and incorporate the same in the equipment design.
However, if these loads are not acceptable, the supplier shall submit the calculations /technical explanation supporting the
same.
Any calculations required to be done and any reinforcement required to be provided on the equipment shall be part of
Supplier’s scope of work.
 
 Fig 1- Allowable nozzle loads
Legends:
FL         –           Longitudinal shear force
FC        –           Circumferential shear force
FA        –           Axial tension or compression force
ML       –           Longitudinal bending moment
MC      –           Circumferential bending moment
MT       –           Torsional moment
F          –           Resultant Shear Force
M        –           Resultant Bending Moment
  
Notes:
1.      The above loads are applicable for following equipment:
·         Shell & tube and Plate type heat exchangers

·         Pressure vessels

·         Columns

1.      Each nozzle shall be capable of withstanding the above forces and moments under the design conditions and are
considered to be acting simultaneously at the intersection of nozzle axis with outer surface of the shell or head plates,
in corroded condition.
2.      All forces and moments in the above tables are positive and sign rotation is as per WRC bulletin 107. The most
stringent case caused by axial load FA acting inward or outward shall be considered.
3.      For dished ends, the resultant shear force and bending moment are calculated as:

F = SQRT {(FL) 2 + (FC)2}

M = SQRT {(ML) 2 + (MC)2}

1.      The loads stated above shall be used as the design basis for nozzles. When loadings in excess of above listed standard
allowable nozzle loadings are required, the supplier will be informed. When the information becomes available the
supplier shall check and incorporate these loads in the equipment design.

Wherever necessary, the nozzle/ vessel shall be reinforced. In case the Supplier finds that the higher loads cannot be
incorporated, he shall submit calculations/technical explanation to justify the same, indicating the maximum load that can
be incorporated.

Notes:
1.      Each nozzle shall be capable of withstanding the above forces and moments under the design conditions in the worst-
case combination of direction of forces & moments and internal pressure, and are considered to be acting
simultaneously at the intersection of nozzle axis with outer surface of the shell or roof plates, in corroded condition.
Supplier to provide all the necessary calculation to demonstrate the compliance to above, in accordance with API 650
Appendix P / BS 2654 or required FE calculation if any standard method can’t be applied.
2.      Vendor to provide necessary reinforcement to comply with above standard allowable nozzle loadings requirement.
3.      Tabulated loadings also apply to roof nozzles, except that the radial load becomes vertical load, and the allowable
resultant shear force and bending moment should be as follows, rather than individual allowable shear force and
bending moment components:

F = SQRT {(FV) 2 + (FH) 2}

M = SQRT {(ML) 2 + (MC) 2}

1.      The loads stated above shall be used as the design basis for nozzles. When loadings in excess of above listed standard
allowable nozzle loadings are required, the supplier will be informed when the information becomes available.
The supplier shall check and incorporate these loads in the equipment design.
Wherever necessary, the nozzle/tank shall be reinforced. In case the Supplier finds that the higher loads cannot be
incorporated, he shall submit calculations/technical explanation to justify the same, indicating the maximum load that can
be incorporated.
 

Nozzle loads – Part 2

0

<< Nozzle loads part 1

1.1 Proprietary Equipment

Various Mechanical equipments like Pumps, Compressors, Expanders, Plate-fin heat exchanger, Air cooled Heat
Exchanger etc. are classified under this category. Allowable loads for the nozzles of these equipments are generally
available from equipment supplier. However, some of the proprietary equipment are designed and constructed as per
International codes with standard set of allowable loads. In any case, loads imposed by the connected piping system shall
be confirmed and approved the supplier.
·         Centrifugal Pumps
API 610, Table 5 gives the allowable forces and moments on the Pump Nozzles (Suction and Discharge). However, if the
loads acting on the Pump nozzles exceed these values, the allowable loads can be increased to 2 times, provided the
criteria specified in Annex F are satisfied. This shall be approved and confirmed by the Pump Vendor. As a general
practice, approval shall be taken from the vendor for 2 times API 610 at the initial stage of the project.

However,if one or more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with
the Pump Vendor.
·         Metering Pumps/Pumps as per NFPA code
The minimum allowable nozzle loads shall be as provided by the Pump Supplier.
·         Pumps (API 676, Rotary Positive Displacement)
The minimum allowable nozzle loads shall be as per API676, Table 2. However, if one or more components of the forces
and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the Pump Vendor.
·         Centrifugal Compressors & Turbo Expanders
The allowable forces and moments acting on the nozzles of centrifugal compressors shall be designed in accordance with
API 617, the forces and moments shall be 1.85 times the values based on the load criteria of NEMA SM23. However, if
one or more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the Vendor.
·         Reciprocating Compressors
The minimum allowable nozzle loads shall be as per API 618 values. However, if one or more components of the forces
and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the Vendor.
·         Rotary Positive Displacement Compressors (API619)

The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Rotary Positive Displacement Compressors is generally taken as 1.85 times
NEMA SM23 Values. However, if one or more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be
approved & agreed with the Vendor.
·         Brazed Aluminium Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers
The allowable nozzle loads for Brazed Aluminium Plate-Fin HeatExchanger shall be 3 times the value in ALPEMA
(Standards of theBrazed Aluminium Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger Manufacturer’s Association) Table 5-1. However, it shall
be approved and agreed by the Vendor.
·         Air Cooled Heat Exchangers
The minimum allowable nozzle loads on Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers due topiping reactions shall be as listed below.
Nozzle Rating Allowable Load
 150 & 300 # 2 times API 661 Values

600# 4 times API 661 Values

900# 6 times API 661 Values

However, it shall be approved and agreed by the Vendor.

·         Gas Turbines
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Gas Turbines shall be as provided by Supplier.
·         Fired Heaters
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Fired Heaters shall be THREE times as specified in API-560. In case the same is
procured as a package item, Nozzle loads shall be as per Cl. 5.2.14 below.
·         Steam Turbines-NEMA SM 23
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Steam Turbine is generally taken as 1.85 times NEMA SM23 Values. However,
if one or more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the
Vendor.
·         Reforming furnace-Vendor to give
·         Large storage tanks-API 650
·         Any other proprietary equipment
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for any other proprietary equipment shall be as provided by Supplier.
 

Nozzle Load Limits Using WRC Bulletins 537/107 and 297

WRC Bulletin 537 “Precision Equations and Enhanced Diagrams for Local Stresses in Spherical and Cylindrical Shells
Due to External Loadings for Implementation of WRC Bulletin 107” is an enhanced replacement of WRC Bulletin 107
(WRC Bulletin 107 is no longer available) in which the WRC 107 Bulletin parametric curves have been re-drawn and
polynomial curves provided for each parametric curve.  WRC Bulletin 537/107 provides methodology for calculation of
stress intensities in the shell-side juncture of a shell and a nozzle or solid attachment caused by “P, V, M and T” loads on
the nozzle or solid attachment.  When the shell is spherical or elliptical WRC-537/107 parameters U, U and r are used, and
the nozzle/attachment may be solid (rigid) or hollow.  When the shell is cylindrical, the nozzle or attachment is solid
(rigid) and the parameters b and g are used.  These parameters are valid in specific ranges for each parametric curve, and
use of the parametric curves outside the applicable range must be avoided or at least carefully considered.  Extrapolation
significantly beyond the ranges of application should not be used.  For the example of a nozzle represented by a rigid
round attachment on a cylindrical shell, some of the curves, such as Figure 3A, for b approaching 0, the curve value, “Y”
steeply approaches the minimum value of 0.001.  Although it is possible to read this type of curve as b approaches 0, the
use of the polynomial representation of these curves become inaccurate, and some of the commercial applications of
WRC-537/107 generate warning messages even before b reaches the end of the curves near b=0. Other curves, e.q. Figure
1b are less problematic as b approaches 0. Interpolation between the g curves is permissible, but extrapolation of the g
curves is not valid.  Whatever the case, remaining within the range of parameters is important.

WRC Bulletin 297, “Local Stresses in Cylindrical Sells Due to External Loadings on Nozzles – Supplement to WRC
Bulletin No. 107” provides parametric curves that were generated analytically with shell theory analysis software by C. R.
Steele.  The parametric curves in WRC Bulletin 537/107 were generated by a combination of testing analytical methods
synthesized by P. P. Bijlaard of Cornell University.  WRC Bulletin 297 applies only to nozzles on cylindrical shells loaded
by “P, V, M and T” loads and where the nozzle is circular and hollow.  Stress intensities on the shell-side of the juncture
are provided as in WRC Bulletin 537/107.  However, unlike WRC Bulletin 537/107, stress intensities are also provided on
the nozzle side of the juncture.  WRC-297 often computes higher stress intensities than WRC Bulletin 537/107, and
sometimes the juncture stresses are extraordinarily high as reported in Appendix A of WRC Bulletin 297.

These two WRC Bulletins provide easy-to-model and use methods for evaluating nozzle/shell junctures, but they should
be used within the range of parameters indicated in the Bulletins, and within other limitations discussed in the Bulletins. 
They provide primary local membrane stress intensities and primary-plus-secondary membrane-plus-bending stress
intensities at four equally spaced locations circumferentially around the nozzle/shell juncture, and at the inside and outside
surfaces.  The Bulletins explain that it is possible that under some conditions of loading and geometry, stresses may be
higher at other locations around the circumference, i.e., between points A, B, C and D and at locations away from the
juncture.

http://www.boardmaninc.com/news.html/2017/08/03/volume-
xviii-asme-pressure-vessels/