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Expansion loop for Steam Line

Expansion loop for Steam Line

Expansion loop for Steam Line

(OP)
I am installing a 4" steam line and I want to add an expansion loop as opposed to a bellows and I need to know the lengths of the legs in the loop.  The pipe is sch 80 A106.  Operating pressure is 112 psia, temp is 336F.
I don't have Ceaser so I need to figure this out by hand.
Any book suggestions?  Is it in B31.3  ?

Thanks
StoneCold

RE: Expansion loop for Steam Line

StoneCold,

Use the Guided Cantilever beam equations to determine the length of straight pipe required to absorb the thermal growth for a given allowable stress.  Then set the width of the loop to 1/5 of the length and the height equal to twice the width.

The Piping Handbook, Anvil's Pipe Hanger Design and Engineering and the ASHRAE handbooks all have sections about sizing U-Bends.

Regards,

Chris

RE: Expansion loop for Steam Line

StoneCold,

As a fellow chemical engineer I would recommend that you leave this to the mechanical fellows.  There is more to it than just looking up a few formulas and applying them. And there are legal issues too.

But if you want to brush up on the background there are some good articles available at
http://www.pipestress.com/Pages/PEpapers.html

and in particular you may find
http://www.pipestress.com/papers/QuickFlex.pdf  helpful.

regards
katmar

RE: Expansion loop for Steam Line

"The Piper's Pocket Handbook" by Rip Weaver. It walks you through the calcs, along with a quick check to see if a full-blown formal stress analysis should be done.

RE: Expansion loop for Steam Line

How long is the piping run?  

RE: Expansion loop for Steam Line

(OP)
jamesjm
Sorry I took so long to reply I have been on "vacation" visiting my inlaws.
The run is about 200ft.

Thanks
StoneCold

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