Thermal Expansion
Thermal Expansion
(OP)
I have a 2" pipe line 36" long running at 1500 psig and 300 degrees F, fixed between a pump and a tank. The thermal expansion has placed to much stress on the pipe line. I am having trouble finding an expansion joint to handle the pressure, temperature and material (Hastelloy C-276). I have very limited room so an expansion loop doesn't look like a feasible solution. Does anyone have any suggestions.





RE: Thermal Expansion
saxon
RE: Thermal Expansion
Is it possible for you to make the tank sliding on its supports? Of course this should be a small and light tank for this solution to work.
prex
http://www.xcalcs.com
Online tools for structural design
RE: Thermal Expansion
The thermal expansion is <1.5mm. The expansion loop reqd is small. Can you consider reorienting the tank nozzle or routing the line from another nozzle?
RE: Thermal Expansion
RE: Thermal Expansion
Also, is the issue pipe stress or pump nozzle loading?
For an application like this, as far as a joint goes, something like this would typically be used
http://www.ethylenecorp.com/expansion_bellows.htm
You might want to look into that, although I don't know if they will handle a 1500psig design pressure. Is this pump discharging into the tank, or is it really a 1500psig suction line????
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: Thermal Expansion
RE: Thermal Expansion
RE: Thermal Expansion
saxon
RE: Thermal Expansion
You may want to look at two application the Engineering tool's for the Job is FE-PIPE & BOS FLUIDS http://www.paulin.com/newprg/
Leonard@thill.biz
www.thill.biz
RE: Thermal Expansion
Here is a fix which I have succesfully used in the past in our organisation.
Presumably the line is insulated.
Suggest you heat the pipe upto a temp of 300deg then make up the pump end connection, align the pump etc.
You may need to provide more insulation than necessary to reduce heat losses.
If the line is for intermittent operation suggest you install tracing, preferable electrical to maintain the temp.
Think this is feasible?
Regards
nrp12345