Pipe Support Design
Pipe Support Design
DESIGN
BY Ir. OMAR ANUAR P.Eng, M.I.E.M
Caliph Group Technology
WHAT IS PIPE SUPPORT?
• A pipe support is a designed element that transfer the
load from the pipe to the supporting structures.
• A pipe support is a device designed to carry the
weight of a pipe, any in-line equipment and the
material in the pipe over a defined span.
• Design element that transfer the loads from pipe to
the supporting structure.
• The device acting from underneath the pipe, in
contrast to the hanger that is working from above the
pipe.
PURPOSE OF PIPE SUPPORT
• To support weight of pipe during operation and testing.
• To take the thermal pr expansion loads.
• To take the occasional loads.
• To take hydraulic thrust in piping.
• To absorb vibration of piping system.
• To support the system during transient period of plant and
standby.
• To have noise control.
• To support the system during maintenance conditions.
• To support the system during shutdown conditions.
• To support the system for erection conditions.
• To reduce vibration amplitudes.
LOADS ON PIPING SYSTEM
INTERNAL/
EXTERNAL LOADS
SUSTAINED
LOADS
DEAD WEIGHT
WIND LOAD
PRIMARY
SEISMIC LOAD
OCCASIONAL
WATER HAMMER
LOADS
LOADS
STEAM HAMMER
SAFETY VALVE
DISCHARGE
THERMAL
EXPANSION OF
PIPE
DISPLACEMENT
SECONDARY
LOAD
THERMAL
MOVEMENT OF
EQUIPMENT
SELECTION OF PIPE SUPPORT
• Process design condition.
• Pipe material of construction.
• Piping loads such as pipe weight, fluid density, valves
weight, inline instruments etc.
• Insulation material, thickness, density and
specification.
• Piping G.A drawing.
• Thermal forces, moments and displacement of piping.
• Occasional loads.
LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUPPORTS
• Group pipes so as to minimize the number of structures
needed solely to pipe supports.
• Route lines close to the possible point of supports.
• Supports are located as near as possible to concentrated
loads such as valves, flanges, heavy actuators.
• Always maintain the distance between supports as
recommended span.
• Ensure sufficient space to be provided to facilitate
support assembly installation, inspection and
maintenance.
COMMOM PIPE SUPPORT TYPE
RIGID
PIPE SUPPORT
SUPPORT SPRING
SUPPORT
PIPE SUPPORT CLASSIFICATION
Pipe support can be classified based on:
• General Details
• Construction Details
• Functions
GENERAL DETAILS
• Primary Supports – directly connected to the
pipe.
• Secondary Supports – directly connected to
the foundation/structure beam.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
• Rigid Supports – directly rest on foundation or
attached to structure i.e shoe type (welded), shoe type
(with clamp), trunnion type, flange support and
support bracket.
• Elastic Supports – to support hot piping that is moving
up or down from support point i.e spring support.
• Adjustable Support – has few nuts and bolts
arrangements for adjusting the support. Support can
be adjusted for the erection tolerances in the piping
GENERAL SUPPORT TERMINOLOGY AND
BASIC FUNCTION
• Restraint - prevents, resists, or limits the free thermal
movement of piping.
• Brace - a device primarily intended to resist displacement of
piping due to forces other than thermal expansion and
gravity.
• Anchor - a rigid restraint providing substantially full fixation.
• Stop - permits rotation but prevents translatory movements
of piping.
• Guide - prevents the rotation about one or more axis.
• Hold down - holds the pipe in position disallowing vertical
upwards movement.
GENERAL SUPPORT TERMINOLOGY AND
BASIC FUNCTION
• Hanger - piping is suspended from a structure which
functions by carrying piping load in tension.
• Resilient Support - a support which includes one or more
largely elastic members to carry pipe sustain + thermal
loads at the same time allowing pipe thermal movement in
the desired direction.
• Sliding Support - a device which is provided below piping
to take gravity loads, offering no resistance other than
frictional to horizontal motion.
• Rigid Support - a support providing stiffness in at least one
direction.
DYNAMIC RESTRAINTS
• It is designed to absorb sudden increase in load
from the pipe and transfer into the structure
and to dampen any opposing oscillation
between the pipe and the structure. It is not
intended to carry the weight of pipe work and
should not impede the function of the
supports. It is required to be very stiff, to have
high load capacity and to minimize free
movement between pipe and structure.
TYPE OF DYNAMIC RESTRAINTS
• Sway Braces
• Snubbers
• Rigid Struts
• Clamps
• Welding Clevis
SWAY BRACES
It can be defined as spring loaded units
mounted on pipe work.