Piping Flexibility Requirement

As the pipe temperature changes from the installation / ambient condition to the operating /
design condition, it expands or contracts depending upon the difference between installation
and operating temperature. In the general term, both expansion and contraction are called
thermal expansion.

When a straight pipe connected end to end with equipment’s expands, it has the potential of
generating enormous force and stress in the piping system. However, if the pipe routing is
flexible enough, the expansion can be absorbed without creating undue force or stress.  Let us
understand this with the help of an example.

First, consider that only one end is connected and the other end is loose. The loose end will
expand an amount equal to ΔL = α L ΔT
where,

ΔL = change in length or thermal expansion (in)

α = linear expansion coefficient (K¯¹)

L = original length of pipe (in)

ΔT = change in temperature (K)

However, since the other end is not loose, this expansion is to be absorbed by the piping. This
is equivalent to squeezing the pipe to move the free end back an ΔL distance. This amount of
squeezing creates a stress of the magnitude  S = E (ΔL/L) and the force required to squeeze
this amount is  F = A S
where,

E = young’s modulus of elasticity, psi

A = pipe cross section area, in²

F = axial force, lbs

For checking the magnitude of such stress and force, lets take a real life example. Consider a
pipe of standard wall thickness with,
Material =  ASTM A53

outer diameter (O.D) = 6 in

L = 100 ft = 1200 in

T1 =70 F (Installation), T2 = 270 F (Operating)

α = 6.33 x 10-6 in/in-°F
E = 27.5 x 106 lbf/in2
Then, ΔL = (6.33 x1 0-6 in/in-°F)(1200 in)(270°F-70°F) = 1.52 in
F = AEα (ΔT) = (5.581 in2)(27.5 x 106 lbf/in2)(6.33 x 10-6 in/in-°F)(270°F-70°F) = 194,315
lbf
Now, one can imagine the magnitude of force produced in pipe following shortest straight
path. The result will likely be failed anchors, a buckled pipe or both. If the pipe routing is
flexible enough, the stresses will remain well below the yield point of the steel. It is clear that
the straight line direct layout is not acceptable to most of the piping and flexibility has to be
provided.

Pipe’s Natural Flexibility

Providing the proper flexibility is one of the major tasks in the design of piping
system. Piping flexibility are provided in many different ways. The simplest method is to take
advantage of the pipe’s natural flexibility.
Pipes bend, even under their own weight. The longer the pipe, the easier it is to bend. If a pipe
is bent within its elastic limit (no permanent deformation), it will behave like a spring and
return to its original shape after the load is removed. If the elbows and anchors on a pipe
system are arranged to allow free movement of pipe under effect of thermal expansion, the
forces will be much less than a straight run. Figure 2 shows how thermal expansion of
horizontal pipe leg is accommodated in the deflected shape of vertical pipe.

Figure 2
The anchor loads and stresses are much less than in the straight pipe case, but there are some
restraints for this approach.

 This layout introduces moment (torque) loads on the anchors.

 The pipes also move in one direction, which may not be acceptable due to space
constraints.
 Geometry can affect this arrangement. If thermal expansion accommodating leg is
shorter, the forces and moments will be higher.
Expansion Loop and Expansion Joint
This pipe’s natural flexibility may or may not be sufficient depending on the individual
cases. Additional flexibility can be provided by adding expansion loops or expansion joints.
In the straight line example discussed above, the stress can be reduced by loops installed as
shown below. The idea is to provide some pipe perpendicular to the direction of expansion. In
this way when the pipe expands it bends the loop leg first before transmitting any load to the
anchor. The longer the loop leg the lesser the force will be created.

But expansion loop also have some limitations.

 Require more space to accommodate the loop.

 Routing length increases. This results in excess material procurement (pipe and
elbows) and more pressure drop.
 Difficult arrangement where free drain requirement is there.
In such cases the better method is to use expansion joint. Expansion joints are more
sophisticated than the pipe loops which are just extra lengths of the same piping. For this and
other reasons, engineers tend to favor piping loops over expansion joints.
However, expansion joints can be used effectively in many applications when they are
properly designed. One of the major requirements in the design of expansion joint system is to
install sufficient restraints for maintaining the stability.

Advantages of an “Expansion Joint” versus a “Expansion Loop”

 Space is inadequate for a pipe expansion loop with sufficient flexibility.
 A minimum pressure drop throughout the pipe line is required and the absence of flow
turbulence from the elbows and piping is required by process flow conditions.
 The fluid is abrasive and flows at a very high velocity.
 There is no adequate support structure to support the size, shape, and weight of a pipe
loop.
 The pipe loop is impractical as in an application of low pressure or large diameter.
 Construction schedule does not allow for the man-hours required to install the pipe
loop and the piping loop support structure.
 In most cases it is more economical to use an expansion joint instead of pipe loops.