Fixed supports are designed to restrict the movement of the pipes in one or more directions. They can resist axial, lateral, or angular forces and prevent the pipes from sagging, buckling, or rotating. Fixed supports are typically used for pipes that carry high-pressure fluids, such as steam or gas, or that are subject to high external loads, such as wind or earthquake. Some examples of fixed supports are anchors, clamps, shoes, and guides.
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Fixed support materials should be chosen based on contract materials requirement, should be approved based on compliance matrix which are aligned with project specification.
I do prefer anchors with accessories such as lock/spring washers to reduce vibration, recently I used Nord lock washer which can resist very well for high vibration.
Flexible supports are designed to allow the movement of the pipes in one or more directions. They can accommodate thermal expansion, contraction, or vibration of the pipes without causing excessive stress or fatigue. Flexible supports are typically used for pipes that carry low-pressure fluids, such as water or oil, or that are subject to moderate external loads, such as gravity or friction. Some examples of flexible supports are springs, hangers, sway braces, and snubbers.
With the transfer of: Air, water, steam, condensate and nitrogen, the parameters surrounding these substances dictate the placement of the pipes that contain them. A pipe support is a designed element that transfers the load of a pipe to the supporting structures.
A key issue in every piping run, is pipe displacement (or movement), generated during operation as a result from a change in temperature or load, whether it is within the pipeline or in the external environment. If this element is unaccounted for, the system is likely to deteriorate quicker or fail, costing additional time and money on retrofitting & repairs.
Special supports are designed to meet specific requirements or conditions that are not covered by the standard fixed or flexible supports. They may have additional features or functions, such as shock absorption, noise reduction, insulation, or fire protection. Special supports are typically used for pipes that carry hazardous or sensitive fluids, such as chemicals or cryogens, or that are subject to extreme external loads, such as impact or blast. Some examples of special supports are constant load hangers, variable spring hangers, slide plates, and struts.
When selecting the best type of pipe support for an application, several factors must be considered, such as the size and weight of the pipes, the temperature and pressure of the fluids, and the corrosion and erosion of the pipes. Additionally, external loads and environmental conditions, safety and reliability of the piping system, cost, and availability of the pipe supports should be taken into account. To ensure you make an informed decision, it is important to consult relevant codes, standards, and specifications for your industry and location. Furthermore, manufacturers' recommendations and data sheets for your pipe supports should be reviewed. Lastly, a proper analysis and design of your piping system should be performed to consider stresses, deflections, and reactions of the pipes and supports.
Selecting pipe supports involves evaluating the entire system. Although starting and ending points may seem fixed, factors like wind or thermal growth can cause movement, impacting supports. For instance, wind displacements may favor a sliding shoe over a shoe guide, and significant thermal growth might necessitate a constant spring hanger over a variable one. Dynamic stresses, common in systems prone to slugging or pulsations, may require special considerations like pipe anchors to redirect displacements. Additionally, vibration and vertical positioning are crucial when choosing trunnion supports. High moment forces may demand modifying the trunnion to a more robust type to reduce stress at the pipe-to-trunnion weld.
The supports should attached to main steel beams and columns, pipe supports should not be attached to truss nodes where possible.Pipe supports on the ground should be attached to reinforced concrete pedestals with insert plate.
The Maximum Support Spans are calculated using formulae(in comments) based on the average deflection and stress values of a simply supported beam and a fixed beam.
The span should be: 1. Restricted by bending stress at mid span and deflection with gradient at the support point >=minimum fall of the pipe,i.e. 1:400 to prevent pockets and enable drainage.
Spans are reduced if the line has flowing medium with a specific gravity greater than 1.0 or Includes a bend or overhang or heavy items or Subject to blast loads
Best support system based on proper analysis along with piping geometry. Based on contraction and expansion,sagging engineer will decide the suitable support to stabilize the system. For FIV perspective view the excitation study to carry out LOF value to be calculated for each segment of pipe and potential source of excitation. The worst case scenario to be considered in the analysis which is typically max flow rate and max pressure drop across pressure reducing devices.Corrective actions based on LOF value based on EI guidance Fig 3.2.
Piping systems can be deceptive. When they’re running smoothly, it’s hard to see the wear, danger, and deterioration subtly creeping in. However, they’re up against powerful natural hazards.
Pipes carry corrosive materials and often face extreme external climates. Movement and vibrations are inherent, and as heavy metallic structures move, they wear down, corrode, and risk breaking open.
At the same time, changes in temperature stand as another foe to piping systems. Temperature changes can cause heat transfer, promote damaging friction, and create destructive ice formation.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
With pipes strained by so many forces, piping systems are up against the constant danger of ruptures and on-site disasters. The good news? Pipe supports can protect pipes from many of the most menacing issues. And as soon as you understand how to fight off the most common destructive forces, you can begin to protect them, too.
Galvanic Corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process by which one metal causes another metal to corrode and break down. This type of corrosion requires three things: an anode (one metal), a cathode (a second metal), and an electrolyte (usually water, bacteria, or grime).
Simply put, metals have different physical properties. A more noble metal (the cathode) has a tendency to hold on to its electrons and pull electrons from other sources, whereas more basic metals (the anodes) are eager to give their electrons away. That means that when you connect these dissimilar metal types in an electron-heavy environment, the more basic metal will give its electrons to the more noble metal. When a metal gives up its electrons, galvanic corrosion begins, and the metal will rust.
Fitting Failure
Pipe restraints and fittings can help reinforce systems and stop destruction. However, it’s possible to put too much pressure on these tools, and that can cause more serious problems. Sloppy installation can easily lead to worn parts and broken fittings, which can set off a chain reaction that snaps or collapses other parts within your piping system.
It’s important to get past the common belief that stopping pipe movement altogether is always the best option. Instead, fittings should promote natural, axial movement and reduce friction whenever possible. At the same time, supports need to be able to hold up to vibrations, pressure, and pipe weight.
THE ROLE OF PIPING SOLUTIONS
Pipe supports are built to counter these forces, and quality piping solutions will lengthen the lifespan of your whole piping system.
First, supports should reduce corrosion. This usually means adding insulation that discourages metal-on-metal corrosion. Because galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals interact, supports can stop this destruction by insulating pipes.
Pipe supports can also strengthen systems by physically reinforcing them. In some instances, they can add a protective barrier between the pipe’s surface and surrounding harsh surfaces. In this way, supports can prevent ruptures and tears.
At the same time, an efficient support will reduce friction and the wear that results. When a pipe rubs against surrounding surfaces, it becomes vulnerable to cracks, tears, and corrosion. With every small opening that forms, corrosive materials are able to seep in and cause damage. Pipe supports also help pipes move more fluently so they can avoid ruptures or fitting failures.
Wondering how pipe shoes fit into this equation? Pipe shoes should have the same broad goal as other pipe supports. However, they accomplish these goals in a unique way.
For instance, your pipes may be made up of carbon steel. If the surrounding I-beams are made of a more noble metal, like stainless steel, then resting bare carbon pipes directly on beams is dangerous. In time, the electrons from your carbon pipes will pass into the more noble stainless-steel beam. This results in a carbon pipe that’s eaten away or weakened. In this case, pipe shoes lift carbon pipes off of the dissimilar metal of the beam and protect them.
Even if metals are compatible, shoes can prevent destruction. Pipes can move for any number of reasons. Vibrations can cause pipes to shift, heat changes can cause pipes to swell or contract, and sloshing liquids inside pipes can create movement. As pipes move, pipe shoes keep different materials from grinding against each other. In the same way, they minimize the movement and direct wear that comes with temperature changes.
This is especially apparent in systems that face extreme cold, like liquid natural gas (LNG) plants. In these cases, even if the connected metals get along, they encourage damaging ice formation. Because metals are conductive, the metal of the beam will encourage heat transfer in pipes. Heat naturally wants to flow between metals. This means metals that touch encourage thermal contraction, ice formation, moving pipes, and surface damage. Well-insulated pipe shoes will help stabilize pipe temperatures and keep heat from exiting or entering pipes.
Regardless of temperature and external conditions, bare pipes that rest on surrounding objects are subject to grinding, friction, and wear. Temperatures and corrosive environments amplify damage. In turn, pipe shoes keep pipes from grinding, tearing, and leaking.
Finally, and most importantly, pipe shoes can allow for a safer working environment because they make it possible to install insulation and personal protection cages on pipe that is too dangerous for workers to be exposed to or touch. By elevating the pipe, the line can be fully encapsulated—creating a safer working environment and reducing the risk of injury.
Overall, by lifting pipes off of other surfaces, pipe shoes help pipes maintain their integrity. They prevent metal-on-metal contact and reduce friction damage. Essentially, they can insulate pipes, give them structural support, and promote natural movement.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF PIPE SHOES
Although the advantages of pipe shoes outweigh the disadvantages, there are still some things to look out for. When looking at the potential disadvantages of pipe shoes, it’s good to remember that materials matter. Unprotected metal shoes have the potential for corrosion if they’re not paired with the right insulation.
At the same time, there are natural concerns to consider when pipe shoes are welded directly to supporting beams. Anytime welding occurs, there is potential for stress cracking, especially in chloride-heavy environments like sea air. This means it’s usually well worth making sure that all welds are heat treated and welded by professionals.
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METALLIC SHOES
Traditional metallic pipe shoes have been common in the industry for decades. In the past, manufacturers have designed metallic pipe shoes using structural shapes from cost-effective materials. For instance, manufacturers might use I-beams or channel beams to form a shoe. Right away, it’s easy to see the benefits of using these simple materials to form a pipe shoe. They’re made of materials that are easy to access and a wide range of suppliers can make them. They also tend to be fairly low cost and aren’t overly complex to install or produce.
However, there are some disadvantages to these traditional shoes. First, using any type of unprotected metal for a shoe can be dangerous. Pairing up dissimilar metals can lead to corrosion underneath the welded shoe. They also aren’t ideal for systems that undergo heavy temperature changes because metal-on-metal pairing can encourage ice formation and wear
MORE ADVANCED METALLIC T-STYLE SHOES
Beyond these relatively simple traditional shoes, there are more advanced T-style metallic pipe shoe designs. Often referred to as T-slides, some of these metallic shoe options feature cradles and U-bolts, or two clamps to hold the pipe in place.
Beyond having a slightly more intentional design than that of traditional shoes, these metallic shoes have advantages of versatility. Many T-style pipe shoes can be paired with wear pads or other liners. This eliminates metal-on-metal contact, allows for better control of a shoe’s movement, and can provide greater protection to the piping system.
Other metallic shoes can be built from other channel material or plate to any custom dimensions. The major advantage of this is that you get exactly what you want. But as is the case with anything custom, you will have to pay for that flexibility, and the price can become prohibitive when compared to that of other options.
How to Install
Metallic shoes can be welded directly to the pipe in a pipe fabrication shop or in the field. When installing, it’s always a good idea to use professionals and welders who uphold industry standards such as MSS SP-58. Additionally, using U-bolts or clamps to install piping is no more complicated than using a wrench.
COMPOSITE PIPE SHOES
Composite pipe shoes offer a corrosion-resistant alternative to metallic shoes. Still, composite materials are often misunderstood. Because they don’t have the same rigid makeup of metal, it’s common for some to assume that composites are weak. However, they can actually be extremely durable. Here’s a look at some popular composite pipe shoes that are available today:
ProTek Composite Pipe Shoe
The ProTek composite pipe shoe is a UV-resistant, non-metallic pipe support that is built to withstand heavy pressure and especially hot and cold temperatures. It has 150,000 pounds of compressive strength, a temperature range of -320 to +400 degrees Fahrenheit, and is resistant to chemical attack. Because of its makeup, it has become a popular option for corrosion-heavy systems such as onshore and offshore refineries and plants.
They also offer an advantage in the way they fit against pipes. They fit against piping snugly, with their inner diameter crafted to fit the pipe’s outer diameter precisely. This essentially keeps corrosive elements from sneaking in between the pipe and the support. With a precise fit, the shoe seals off vapors and stops corrosive materials from settling on pipes.
How to Install
ProTek shoes don’t require specialized installation. They’re lightweight and don’t require welding. The installation process includes simply fixing the shoe to the pipe using steel bands and silicone.
CryoTek Composite Pipe Shoe
CryoTek composite pipe shoes have quickly become a popular item in cryogenic piping systems that involve gas liquefaction, LNG terminals, carriers, and ethylene plants.
They have the same corrosion protection and operating temperature advantages as ProTek shoes (-320 to +400 degrees Fahrenheit). However, CryoTek shoes are a sturdy option that can handle a bit more of an axial load than ProTek shoes can. In fact, they have a maximum compressive strength of 27,500 pounds per square inch. They include well-defined insulation that protects piping. Their design also makes them a sturdy option for a stop or anchor. Despite their robust design, these supports are also easy to transport.
Additionally, they offer an advantage in their ability to eliminate heat sync. Their insulation features banding slots inside the shoe, which stay inside the insulation and prevent any heat from entering or escaping.
Because both CryoTek and ProTek shoes are much lighter than their metallic counterparts, they offer an installation advantage over traditional metal shoes. Installation also doesn’t require welding or specialized labor.
How to Install
CryoTek shoes are installed using a powerful epoxy. They can be bonded using a static epoxy mixer, which takes the guesswork out of mixing two-part epoxy. From there, the bonded shoe is reinforced with steel metal bands.
PRE-INSULATED PIPE SHOES
Pre-insulated pipe shoes generally consist of hefty stainless steel bodies and an encapsulating insulation foam between the pipe and the stainless steel body to keep the line insulated.
The biggest advantage of pre-insulated shoes is that they come installed and ready to go.
However, with their size and makeup comes some disadvantages. On jobs that require transportation, they can be difficult to maneuver, and setting them in place requires specialized lifting equipment. They also generally come with a relatively hefty price tag.
How to Install
Pre-insulated pipe shoes need to be installed by professionals on-site or pre-fabricated and moved. They generally require heavy, specialized equipment, precise procedures, and professional welders.
COMPARING PIPE SHOE COSTS
When considering your budget, it’s a good idea to keep total costs in mind. Of course, that starts with the price of each unit. However, it also means deciding how many units you’ll need, the cost of installation, and the long-term costs that may result down the line. Here’s a general look at the costs of pipe shoes:
Metal T-Style Shoes
Metal T-style shoes can be some of the most cost-effective shoes out there. However, some low-end T-styles can run the risk of corrosion on their own. Countering that disadvantage leaves room for creativity. It’s a good idea to factor in corrosion protection options when weighing this shoe’s overall costs.
Metal Shoes with Clamps
The price of metal T-style shoes with clamps can vary, especially depending on which liners you decide to pair them with. However, as a whole, they tend to have a midrange cost, plus the ability to make upgrades by pairing them with things like wear pads or slide plates.
Composite Shoe Costs
At the composite end, ProTek shoes tend to be the more affordable option. In fact, they often come in under or close to the price of their metallic counterparts. CryoTek prices can vary, but they tend to be a good deal more expensive than their ProTek counterparts.
PIPE SUPPORT MOVEMENT
Pipe movement is a major consideration when it comes to pipe supports. Making sure your needs are met and that the pipe does what you want it to is critical to ensuring the optimal function of your piping system. Here are some supports that play important roles in pipe movement.
Resting Support
This is the simplest application for pipe supports and its objective is simply to support the load of the pipe and allow for the free movement of the piping system.
Guided Support
Guided supports are for when you want to restrict lateral and vertical pipe movement but also want to allow for free movement in the axial direction of the pipe.
Slide Plates
In both resting and guided supports, pipe shoes can be used in conjunction with slide plates fastened to the underside of the shoe’s base. These plates are generally sodium-etched PTFE that’s bonded to 10-gauge carbon or stainless steel. The PTFE is usually paired with a polished stainless steel plate that’s attached to the beam to allow for one of the lowest coefficients of friction possible. At the same time, it promotes more natural movement and less wear.
Anchor Support
These supports are used when you want to restrict most, if not all, pipe support movement. These can be fixed to a point—preventing movement in the axial, lateral, and vertical directions.
KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING SHOES
Beyond costs, there are several other factors to weigh when making your final pipe shoe selection. First, always think about how well the shoe’s composition, design, and features will fit into your specific system.
For instance, if you’re operating an offshore rig that’s exposed to salt-heavy conditions, you may want to place more emphasis on corrosion-resistant materials. At the same time, if your system is fairly calm and protected from the elements, it may be smarter to focus on shoes with a lower upfront cost.
With those factors in mind, here are some helpful questions to ask in order to get more out of your pipe shoes:
- Do you have a high-stress system that includes heavy weight loads or high vibrations?
- How much physical space do you have to support your pipes?
- How quickly do you need supports?
- What’s your timeline?
- How many pipe shoes will you need in total? What line movements do you want to allow or prevent?
- How many people do you have working on your project, and do you have specialized labor?
As soon as you’ve picked out the right shoe, you can start to benefit from its unique advantages. For instance, metallic shoes with clamps can be enhanced by adding specialized liners or wear pads. These additions stop metal-on-metal contact and help both pipes and supports last longer.
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