Pipe Spring Support

Sonu Ashokan - GSI Stress Group GS Engineering & Construction India Pvt. Ltd.

12 January ‘2012’
Spring Support

2 / ???
Contents

 What is Pipe Spring Support ?

 Why Pipe spring supports are required ?

 Types of Pipe Spring Supports

 Variable Spring Support

 Key terms used in Variable Spring Support

 Constant Spring support

 Preparation of Spring data sheet

 Instruction for checking Spring vendor Print

3 / ???
 What is Pipe Spring Support ?
• It is a resilient support which will allow the pipe thermal expansion, while
supporting the weight (operating load) of piping system.

Why Pipe Spring Supports are required?

• When Vertical displacement occurs as a result of thermal expansion, it is
necessary to provide a flexible support which applies supporting force
throughout the contraction and expansion cycle of the piping system.
• Rigid Support Restraint • Spring Support

Thermal

expansion

Operating Condition (UP)

Sustained Condition

Operating Condition (DOWN)

Sustained case Operating case

Operating case
Due to thermal expansion pipe lifting up & becomes unsupported

4 / ???
 Where Pipe spring supports are required?

• Static & rotating equipment nozzles getting over loaded due to load transfer
from rigid pipe support lift up, in operating case. In such cases to protect
the equipment nozzle from getting overload spring supports are used,
spring support will allow the pipe thermal expansion and support the load
of piping system, thus preventing the overload of equipment nozzles.

Types of Pipe Spring Supports

Variable Spring Hanger Constant Spring Hanger

5 / ???
 Variable Spring Support

 As The name suggests “variable” spring supports take “variable”

loads, depending upon the pipe movement, and operating condition.
 Variable spring supports takes different loads in installed condition of piping
and in operating condition of piping, and factors which affect this
“variable loads” are “pipe thermal movement and “spring rate”of the
spring coil.

Definition of terms used in Variable Spring Support

• Cold load(Installed load): The load which variable spring support take when
piping system is in installed condition.
• Hot load(Operating load): The load which variable spring support take when
piping system is deflected due to thermal movements, when piping system is
in operation.

6 / ???
 Key terms used in Variable Spring Support
• Spring rate (lbs/ inch) or (kg/mm): The stiffness of the spring coil
• Variability Factor : is the percentage change in the supporting force between
the operating (hot) and installed (cold) positions and is calculated as
follows,
Variability Factor = (Spring rate x movement )/operating load x 100
or (Hot load – Cold load)/Hot load x 100

• Normally as per MSS-SP-58 variability should be limited to 25% for

variable springs.
• The Spring Rate is the amount of load required to deflect a spring coil over a
given distance and is expressed in N/mm.
• The movement is the amount the piping system changes due to the thermal
growth when moving from the Cold to Hot position.
• Hot load = Cold load –Spring effort, when the line is having upward
deflection.

• Hot load = Cold load+Spring effort, when the line is having downward
deflection.
• Spring effort = Spring rate x Axial deflection (movement) of spring.

7 / ???
OPTIONAL DESIGN FEATURES

Travel Stop

Set at cold load position changes the spring into a rigid support for
hydro testing or other purposes.

The strength of the travel stop is designed so that it can withstand (upto) 2
times the normal load.

Adjustable Travel Stop

Allows the resetting of present/travel stop at any location within the

normal operating range of the travel.

Lifting Lugs

They are available for larger sizes to facilitate the erection and
installation.

8 / ???
 TRAVEL STOP

• The functional design of the precompressed variable spring hanger

permits the incorporation of two piece travel stop that locks the
hanger spring against upward or downward movement for
temporary conditions of under load or overload.

• The complete travel stop, the up travel stop only for cold set purposes
or the down travel stop only which may be employed during erection
,hydrostatic test or chemical cleanout will be furnished only when
specified.

•The travel stop is painted red and is installed

at the factory with caution tag attached
calling attention that the device must be
removed before the line is put in service.

9 / ???
Variable Spring Support

10 / ???
 Selection Procedure For Variable Spring
• Step1- Input Data
Operating Load: W=6000(N)
Actual Travel : ∆= 15mm
Required Variability : 25%
• Step 2 – Determination Of Hanger Size
From selection table for a given load (6000 N),
Size 4 selected
• Step 3 - Check The Variability
VA=abs(H.L.-C.L.)/H.L.
VA=abs(k ∆)/H.L. k<(25%H.L.)/abs(∆)

k<(25%)(6000)/15
• Step 4 - Check Cold Load k<100N/mm
C.L.=H.L.+k ∆ = 6000+66.6*15= 7000N
k=66.6N/mm, If VH2A-4-M20 Selected
• Step 5 - Determining Variability
VA=abs(H.L.-C.L.)/H.L. = {(7000-6000)*100}/6000 = 16.65% < 25%
• Step 6 - Blocking Position
Theoretically, this hanger has to be blocked at 55mm lower from top position as per
selection table.
11 / ???
Variable Spring Support

12 / ???
 Constant Spring Support

• Constant Support Hangers provide constant supporting force for

piping throughout its full range of vertical expansion and contraction. This is
accomplished through the use of a helical coil spring working
in conjunction with a bell crank lever in such a way that the spring
force times its distance to the lever pivot is always equal to the pipe
load times its distance to the lever pivot.

13 / ???
 Constant Spring Support
• When confronted with large vertical movements typically 150 mm or 250 mm , there is
no choice but to select a constant effort support (CSS).

• When the Load variation percentage exceeds 25% or the specified max LV% in a
variable hanger , it is choice less but to go for a CSS.

• For pipes which are critical to the performance of the system or so called critical
piping where no residual stresses are to be transferred to the pipe it is a common
practice to use CSS.

14 / ???
Constant Spring Support

15 / ???
 Selection Procedure For Constant Spring
• Step1- Input Data
Operating Load: W=49000(N)
Actual Travel : ∆= 70mm(Downward), Type CHH-C1 to be applicable
Required Travel Margin : 20% of actual travel and additionally 20(mm)
• Step 2 – Determination Of Maximum Travel, Tmax
Tmax = (A.T.*1.2)+20 = 104(mm)
By truncation, set Tmax =110(mm)
• Step 3 – Selection Of Hanger Size
From constant hanger selection table, Size 39 selected,
i.e. CHH-39-C1-110
• Step 4 – Selection Of Rod Size
M36 From R- Size Table
• Step 5 - Blocking Position
Lp = (Tmax +-A.T.)/2 = (110-70)/2 = 20 mm
Refer to selection Table for detail section

16 / ???
Selection Procedure For Constant Spring

17 / ???
 Preparation of Spring Data sheet
• TAG No. : This is project specified
• LINE No . : Give full line no.
• Type :
Hanger Type Spring Support : Nomenclature of Hanger type spring support is
combination of two section upper section and lower section.
Type of hanger support on the basis of upper section : Upper section in variable
spring is depends on type of structure and available space between structure
and pipe when sufficient space between structure and line is available than
following type of upper sections are used these are different on the bases of above
structure.

18 / ???
 Preparation of Spring Data sheet
• Offset : The horizontal movement of the spring should be restricted
to 4° max, in case it exceeds 4° then we generally give an
initial offset (displacement) so that the spring movement is restricted
within the limit.

19 / ???
Preparation of Spring Data sheet
When space is not sufficient for spring height then following type of upper
sections are used, if structure is not as per below drawing than, modify
existing structure as per our requirement

This type of upper section is required when spring

This type of upper section is required when spring box box + turnbuckle height is not accommodated below
height is not accommodated below structure structure 20 / ???
Preparation of Spring Data sheet
upper section in constant spring depends on available space

Check space for cam so that it

doesn’t interfere with surrounding
pipes or equipments, also specify the
direction of cam.

When insufficient space When insufficient space

between line and structure between line and structure
available available

Note: The load variation should be

considered due to horizontal
movement of spring

When sufficient space

between line and structure When very insufficient space
available between line and structure 21 / ???
Preparation of Spring Data sheet
lower section in variable and constant type of spring support.

B.V.

B.V.

For Bare line For insulated line For elbow

B.V.

This type of section is used

where line stop or guide is This type of section is used in
required along with spring cold insulation cases
22 / ???
 Preparation of Spring Data sheet
Can type variable spring support :

B.V.

B.V. B.V.

This type of spring is used on This type of spring is used on

This type of spring is used on Lug plate horizontal pipe
elbow and on Horizontal
pipe where sufficient space is
not available on pipe for shoe

B.V.

This type of spring is used for

cold insulated pipe
23 / ???
Preparation of Spring Data sheet
Can type Constant spring support :

• Pipe Material : Give material of pipe as per material spec

• Pipe size : Provide line size
• Clamp/ Trunnion size : This is for Clamp type spring hanger support
this is same as pipe size if hanger is directly provided on pipe, if hanger
is provided on trunnion connected to pipe than trunnion size will come.
• Use outer diameter of craddle for cold insulation

24 / ???
 Preparation of Spring Data sheet
• Hydro Test Load : Provide hydro test load as per Caesar file.
• Operating Load : Provided Operating load as per Caesar file.
• Normal Vertical Travel : Provide Y travel from normal operating case of Caesar
file.
• Max Vertical Travel : Provide Max Y (Vertical normally Y direction) travel from
all Operating cases in Caesar file.
• Max Horizontal Travel : Provide Max X travel along with sign, negative sign(-)
indicate west direction and positive sign (+) indicate east direction.
• Spring length L : For Spring length L see spring drawings.
• Insulation thickness : provide insulation thickness as per line list.
• Design Temperature : provide design temperature as per line list.
• Loop No. : Provide loop No. as per Caesar file.
• Node No. : Provide node No. on which spring support is provided in Caesar
file if required.
• All spring support/hanger should be covered in special support drawing.

25 / ???
Example of Spring Data sheet

26 / ???
Instruction for Checking Spring Vendor Print

• Check Support Load and vertical movement in VP, it shall be same as

operating load of datasheet, if it is not matching, we can change it.
• Hot Load means operating loads plus accessory weight of Spring.
Accessory weight is in scope of vendor So we can not change Hot
Load. Some vendors provide hot load as operating load in that case accessory
weight should be considered for proper supporting load
• If operating load is same as data sheet check cold load
Cold Load = Hot Load +/- Spring rate x movement
if calculated cold load is not matching with VP than, we can comment on it.

• Do not change spring rate as far as possible. It makes spring size

changed So cost impact will be occurred.
• Check Spring Type and install length it shall be same as datasheet.
• Check variability it should not exceed 25% or project specified.
• Check Spring no., Line no., Pipe size, Insulation thickness, Temperature and
pipe material.

27 / ???
Example of Spring Vendor Print

28 / ???