Piping Study 3

[may0511]

Dear All,
Please I need to know how to prepare a piping study. I have been asked to develop a utility piping studies for a project. How do I go about this?

 

[BigInch]

Find out where all the pipes start, where they all go, then determine how they get there. Then find out what and how much fluid goes in them, make them the right diameter, find the pressure required and the right material. Lastly calculate the wall thickness.

BigInch-born in the trenches.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[may0511]

Thanks BigInch.
But is the organzation and presentation of the piping study going to be in written(text) or drawing format?

 

[STYMIEDPIPER]

Are you new to the business??
Develop list and consumptiom requirements of all existing and new users for project.
Investigate location and size of existing utility piping in the project area. Review existing P&ID , flow sheets and/or existing metering devices to determine what is curently being used versus amount available. Always field investigate, especially brown field sites. Existing drawimgs are a good starting point for review, however, the drawing may not be reflective of various changes over the years. The existing conditions may warrant the need to field install pressure and flow gauges on existing piping to determine actual conditions.
If the new project consumption requirements exceed existing utility amount available then you will need to locate or provide new souce of ample supply. Depending on your situation, the last sentence requires thorough investigation as not to "starve or cut off supply" to users downstream of the project area.
Upon completion of all the above, you will be able to create a "road map" as how to get to where you need to be as compared to where you currently are. In other words, you will be better informed as how to determine your scope of work. Price accordingly. The above is general idea as to what is involved.

 

[mizzoueng]

You may have to do a thermal stress analysis of the piping as well. Especially if the fluid is steam, blow pipe, condensate, or any other high temperature product.

As k your boss about the format, but almost 99% of the time it is in written format and then drawings attached. Or it is part of a larger study and then it will be written and drawings atteched. But then the written format usually changes a little bit. You may also be asked to make a powerpoint presentation of your findings.

 

[may0511]

Thanks all for the contributions.
Actually the project is a new project in the FEED stage.Only the P&IDs have been given to me to develop the piping studies. I will welcome further contributions in this regard.

 

[pennpiper]

may0511,
Here is the way I would do it.
In CAD (or manually) I would take a copy of the plot plan. Note, I would take a copy of the plot plan and rename it not the original.
I would then wipe out the detail in the area of the pipeway and expand the width of this area so I have room to work.
Now I am looking at a picture that has a wide space in the middle and equipment on each side in it's relative location in the proposed plant. I would now make two copies. One will be for process lines the other will be for utility lines.
Now I would take each of the P&ID's and start with the process lines, the largest Carbon steel and the alloy lines then work my way down in size till I have all the process lines routed.
The routing is in simple straight line transposition of the line from an area near it's origin to an area near it's destinaton. I would make simple square corners and not show any elbows or other fittings.
I would label each line with it's proper line number and size.
I would then do the same thing for the utilities on the other copy. Here I would start by placing headers in the "pipeway" area and then from the P&ID connect the required utility service from the header to tails near the piece of equipment. This sometimes shows that another header is required.
Again I would label each utility line with it's line number and size. With the branches all done now the headers can be sized because we now know the sequence of the branches.

As I do the lines I would use a (yellow) "highlighter" to mark off each line. I used yellow because it is more trnsparent than most other colors.
This activity leads to many other activities. Included is the firming up the width and design of the pipe rack and an early rough pipe material take-off,

I hope this helps.

 

[Ashereng]

I would add one more item to the above extensive list - expansion loops. If you forget these, and need them later,it will be a big headache.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[katmar]

You have been given some good checklists, but I suspect that at the FEED stage a lot of this information will not be known. My very first step in this task would be to ask my supervisor for a sample from a previous project. Each company and client wants it slightly differently, so start off on the right foot knowing the end goal.

Katmar Software
Engineering & Risk Analysis Software

http://katmarsoftware.com