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CM4120
Unit Operations Lab
Piping Systems
Piping Systems in the Chemical Process
Industries
March, 2008
Introduction
Basis for Design
Piping Codes and Standards
Design of Process Piping Systems
Joints and Fittings
Valves
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Piping Systems include:
Pipe
Flanges
Fittings
Bolting
Gaskets
Valves
Hangers and supports
Insulations, coverings, coatings
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CM4120
Unit Operations Lab
Piping Systems
“Piping systems are like arteries and
veins. They carry the lifeblood of
modern civilization.”
Mohinder Nayyar, P.E.
Piping Handbook, 7
th
ed.
McGraw-Hill, 2000
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Primary Design Consideration is Safety
Evaluate Process Conditions
Temperature
Pressure
Chemical compatibility/Corrosion allowances
Vibration, flexing, bending
Expansion/Contraction due to temperature change
Environmental conditions
Evaluate the Effects of a Leak
Evaluate Performance in a Fire Situation
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Secondary Considerations
Evaluate any Special Requirements
Sanitary requirements – “Cleanability”
Serviceability – ease of maintenance of equipment
Possible contamination of process fluid by piping
materials, sealants, or gasketing
Earthquake, Hurricane, Lightening, Permafrost
Lowest Cost over the Lifetime
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Piping System Design Criteria
4 areas to consider:
Physical Attributes
Loading and Service Conditions
Environmental Factors
Materials-Related Considerations
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Codes and Standards simplify design,
manufacturing, installation process
Standards – provide design criteria for
components
standard sizes for pipe
dimensions for fittings or valves
Codes – specific design/fabrication
methodologies
Incorporated into local/regional statute
It’s the LAW
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
ASME B31: Code for Pressure Piping
ANSI Standards – dimensions for valves,
piping, fittings, nuts/washers, etc.
ASTM Standards for piping and tube
API – Specs for pipe and pipelines
AWS, ASHRAE, NFPA, PPI, UL, etc.
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CM4120
Unit Operations Lab
Piping Systems
ASME B31 is the applicable standard for
design of most piping systems in
chemical plants
B31.1 – Power plant boilers
B31.3 – Chemical plant and refinery piping
B31.4 – Liquid petroleum transport
B31.7 – Nuclear power plant radioactive fluids
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
ASME B31.3 – Chemical Plant and
Refinery Piping Code
Includes:
Process piping in chemical and refinery plants
Process piping in pharmaceutical and food
processing
Process piping in textile and paper plants
Boiler piping
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
ASME B31.3 covers:
Materials and design
Fabrication
Erection and assembly
Support
Examination, inspection, and testing
Web reference: www.piping-toolbox.com
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Standard Pipe Sizes
Diameters are “Nominal”
Sizes 12” and less, nominal size < OD
Sizes 14” and over, nominal size = OD
Wall thickness inferred thru “Schedule”
Schedule = P/S * 1000
Defined Schedules:
5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Standard Tubing Sizes
Steel tubing
Diameters are Actual OD
Wall thickness is specified
Refrigeration Tubing
Single wall thickness available for each size
Actual OD
Copper Tubing – Nominal sizes
Type K, L, M
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Materials – Metallic piping
Carbon and low alloy steel
Ductile
Inexpensive and available
Easy to machine, weld, cut
Some drawbacks
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Materials – Metallic piping
Alloy Steels including “Stainless Steels”
Good corrosion resistance
More difficult to machine, weld, cut
Some drawbacks
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Materials – Metallic piping
Nickel, Titanium, Copper, etc.
Copper is used in residential and commercial
applications and is widely available
Other materials are expensive and difficult to
machine, weld, join
Some incompatibilities with each
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Materials – Non-Metallic piping
Thermoplastics
Wide range of chemical compatibility
Light weight
Easily cut and joined
Low temperature limits
Need extra supports
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Materials – Non-Metallic piping
Fiberglass Reinforced Pipe
Wide range of chemical compatibility
Easily cut and joined
Wider temperature limits than thermoplastics
Thermal expansion similar to carbon steel
Similar structural performance as carbon steel
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Materials – Others
Glass
Concrete
Lined or coated
Glass
Rubber
Cement
Teflon
Zinc (galvanized pipe)
Double Containment piping systems
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Piping Systems
Piping Insulation
Prevent heat loss/ gain
Prevent condensation – below ambient
Personnel protection – over 125
o
F
Freeze protection – outdoor cold climates
Fire protection
Noise control
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Piping Systems
Fiberglass Insulation w/ Asbestos plastered
fitting coverings
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Piping Systems
Metal Jacketed
insulation covering
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Piping Systems
Heat Tracing
Prevents flow problems in cold climates
Freeze protection
Loss of flow due to viscosity increase
Prevent condensation in vapor lines
Methods
Electric
Hot Fluids
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Piping Supports
Prevent strain at connections
Prevent sag
Must allow for expansion/contraction
Design for wind/snow and ice/earthquake
Clearance for plant traffic and equipment
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Piping Systems
Results of inadequate support
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Piping Systems
Results of inadequate support: Flixborough,
England
May, 1974 – Leaking reactor removed from train of
reactors and temporarily replaced with a section of
pipe
June, 1974 – Supports collapse, pipe breaks
28 dead, 89 injured, 1800 houses damaged, 160
shops and factories damaged, large crater where
plant stood
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
The Design Process – a three step
approach
Design for Flow
Find min. diameter to achieve desired flow velocity
Design for Pressure Integrity
Find min. wall thickness for process and external
conditions
Find appropriate rating of in-line components
Re-check for Flow Criteria
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Piping Systems
Design for Flow
Determined by economics
Piping system must provide reliable service for
expected life
Smallest diameter usually is lowest cost
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Piping Systems
Typical design velocity Rules of Thumb
when sizing piping...
Water lines: 5-7 ft/sec
Pump discharge: (d/2 + 4 ft/sec)
Pump suction: (1/3 * discharge velocity)
Steam: d in 1000 ft/min
Slurries: > min. entrainment velocity
d = I.D. of pipe in inches
from Rase and Barrow, Project Engineering of Process Plants,
John Wiley, New York, 1957.
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Piping Systems
Next determine wall thickness:
Pressure Integrity Design method
ASME B31.3,
A
Py SE
PD
tm
2
t
m
=min. wall thickness
P=design pressure, psig
D=O.D. of pipe, in.
S=allowable stress, psi
E=weld joint efficiency
y=factor to adjust for temp
A= add’l thickness for
corrosion, external loads,
etc.
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Piping Systems
Finally re-check ID
Select in-line components
Determine insulation, coverings, coatings
Design and locate supports and hangers
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Piping Systems
Effect of Thermal Expansion
Example:
Calculate the expansion per 20’ length of
2”, schedule 40 carbon steel steam line
at boiler startup for a 100 psig steam
service.
α=thermal expansion coefficient
for mild steel, α =6.6x10
-6
in/in
o
F
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Temp of pipe at amb. cond. =70
o
F
Temp of 100 psig sat. steam =338
o
F
ΔT=268
o
F
L=20’=240”
expansion due to temperature
increase is α *L* ΔT
=(6.6x10
-6
in/in
o
F)*(240in)*(268
o
F)
=0.42” in per 20’ of pipe
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Piping Systems
What force is exerted on the end
restraints of that 20’ pipe if it is rigidly
installed (end restraints can’t move)?
σ=internal stress due to ΔT, and
σ = α *(ΔT)*E
E is the material property called Modulus
of Elasticity, relationship between stress
and strain
E=30x10
6
psi for low carbon steel
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
σ= α *(ΔT)*E
=(6.6x10
-6
in/in
o
F)*(268
o
F)*(30x10
6
lb
f
/in
2
)
=53,000 lb
f
/in
2
since σ=F/A, F=σ*A
where: F=force on end restraints
A=cross sec. area of 2”, sched 40
pipe
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
A=Π(OD
2
-ID
2
)/4
= Π(2.375
2
-2.067
2
)/4
=1.07 sq.in
F= σ*A
=(53,000 lb
f
/in
2
)*(1.07 in
2
)
Force on the end restraints =57,000 lb
f
or 28.5 tons
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CM4120
Unit Operations Lab
Piping Systems
Pipe Joints
Threaded
Welded
Soldered/ Brazed
Glued
Compression
Bell and spigot
Upset or expanded
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Threaded joints
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Piping Systems
Soldered joints
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Piping Systems
Welded joints
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Piping Systems
Compression joints
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Piping Systems
Mechanical joints
shown on glass drain piping system
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Pipe Fittings
Forged
Cast
Malleable Iron
Pressure/Temperature Rated by “Class”
125, 250, or 2000, 3000, etc.
Need a look-up table to determine max.
allowable P for the design temperature
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Fittings for joining 2
sections of pipe:
Coupling
Reducing Coupling
Union
Flange
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Fittings for changing
directions in pipe:
45
o
Ell
90
o
Ell
Street Ell
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CM4120
Unit Operations Lab
Piping Systems
Fittings for adding
a branch in a run
of piping:
Tee
Cross
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CM4120
Unit Operations Lab
Piping Systems
Fittings for blocking
the end of a run of
piping:
Pipe plug
Pipe cap
Blind Flange
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Piping Systems
Misc. pipe fittings:
Nipple
Reducing bushing
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Piping Systems
Gate Valve:
Used to block flow
(on/off service)
Sliding “gate”
on knife-gate
valve
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Piping Systems
Globe Valve:
Used to regulate
flow
Cut-away shows
stem seal
plug
and seat
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
Ball Valve:
Typically used as
block valve
“Quarter-turn” valve
Cut-away shows ball
and seat
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Piping Systems
Butterfly Valve:
Can be used for
flow control or
on/off
Valve actuator/
positioner for
accurate flow
control
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Piping Systems
Check Valves:
Used to prevent
backflow
Piston check
Swing check
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CM4120
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Piping Systems
References:
Piping Handbook, 7
th
ed., Nayyar, McGraw-Hill, New
York, 2000.
Piping Design for Process Plants, Rase, John Wiley,
New York, 1963.
Valve Handbook, Skousen, McGraw-Hill, New York,
1998
www.flowserve.com, Flowserve Corp., Sept. 2004.
www.engineeringtoolbox.com, The Engineering
Toolbox, Sept. 2004.