Expansion loop for Steam Line 1

[StoneCold]

I am installing a 4" steam line and I want to add an expansion loop as opposed to a bellows and I need to know the lengths of the legs in the loop. The pipe is sch 80 A106. Operating pressure is 112 psia, temp is 336F.
I don't have Ceaser so I need to figure this out by hand.
Any book suggestions? Is it in B31.3 ?

Thanks
StoneCold

 

[chogben]

StoneCold,

Use the Guided Cantilever beam equations to determine the length of straight pipe required to absorb the thermal growth for a given allowable stress. Then set the width of the loop to 1/5 of the length and the height equal to twice the width.

The Piping Handbook, Anvil's Pipe Hanger Design and Engineering and the ASHRAE handbooks all have sections about sizing U-Bends.

Regards,

Chris

 

[katmar]

StoneCold,

As a fellow chemical engineer I would recommend that you leave this to the mechanical fellows. There is more to it than just looking up a few formulas and applying them. And there are legal issues too.

But if you want to brush up on the background there are some good articles available at

http://www.pipestress.com/Pages/PEpapers.html

and in particular you may find

http://www.pipestress.com/papers/QuickFlex.pdf

helpful.

regards
katmar

 

[TBP]

"The Piper's Pocket Handbook" by Rip Weaver. It walks you through the calcs, along with a quick check to see if a full-blown formal stress analysis should be done.

 

[jamesjm]

How long is the piping run?

 

[StoneCold]

jamesjm
Sorry I took so long to reply I have been on "vacation" visiting my inlaws.
The run is about 200ft.

Thanks
StoneCold