Vertical supporting of pipes

[Sachinkathe]

Can we use same support spacing in vertical pipes as that of horizontal pipes? General guide line for horizantal lines is 2 rest suppots and a guide (on rack)so is there any guide line there for vertical spacing? Any thumb rule for vertical pipes supported from vertical vessel? as in vertical pipes guide is only guide as in horizantal pipes guide is guide + rest.

Thanks
Sachin

 

[pennpiper]

It has been my experience that vertical guides on pipes (on a vertical vessel or tower) can be double the maximum support spacing of a horizontal line of the same size.

Example:
If horizontal spacing for Supports for a 4" line = 20' (+/-)
then
the vertical spacing of Guides for a 4" line would = 40' (+/-)

Wind and other factors must also be considered.

 

[JohnBreen]

Carefully consider the effect of expansion on vertical piping and the implications for lift-off or excessive restraint (and the loadings involved). Even small ambient temperature changes may change the distribution of loadings on supports.

John

 

[4Pipes]

Pennpipers reply will be based on the more usual top vertical restraint. You might need a smaller spacing if somebody puts the vertical restraint at the bottom. Not preferred practice but wouldn't be the first time.

 

[JohnBreen]

The thing you must think about is that a vertical pipe is a "column" and in column design the slenderness ratio is important. A slender column in compression may buckle before the calculated stresses exceed the allowable stress. So, you design your vertical pipe supports to try to reduce the axial compressive loading in any pipe segment between adjacent supports. Sometimes it is an art.

John

 

[BigInch]

Undoubtedly that's the logic behind 4Pipes comment.

**********************
"Pumping accounts for 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[Hansito]

SachinKathe,

The guide spacing for vertical should be normally smaller then for the horizontal ones, due stability reasons.

The support point in the vertical should be placed prefereable above the Gravity center point, due the pendulum effect, it is not obligatory but is good unless you have thermal problems. In equipments the support point shoud be near the nozzle.

I don't know any thumb rule for the spacing. For the small diameters may be a half of the horizontal, for the biggers may be less. Say something like 3m - 2"ND, 4m -3"ND, 6m - 4"ND, 6m - 6" ND.

Anyway the best idea is analyse the project conditions and prepare a table for your team. Take with winds and seismic, mainly as the previous coleagues have said.

regards,
Hansito