ERW or Seamless pipe for steam service?
ERW or Seamless pipe for steam service?
(OP)
I have been tasked with developing a piping specification for steam lines in our plant. We have two on site boilers generating steam at ~90psig. Our plant uses this steam for various heating operations including pipeline tracing and reactor heating. Most of our lines are 2" or less with our main trunk line being 6".
My questions is really a two-part one? What is an appropriate schedule of pipe to use and should it be seamless or is ERW acceptable? I have seen other specifications calling for both Sch40 and Sch80 depending on size and both ERW and seamless. We plan to use either ASTM A53 or A106 pipe.
In my research so far, the only argument against ERW pipe I can find is the creep phenomena at the heat affected zone. This seems to only apply to high pressure steam lines where the temperature is in excess of 800F. Being that our steam is only ~330F (90psig), I don't see that this is an issue.
Please help.
MFowler
My questions is really a two-part one? What is an appropriate schedule of pipe to use and should it be seamless or is ERW acceptable? I have seen other specifications calling for both Sch40 and Sch80 depending on size and both ERW and seamless. We plan to use either ASTM A53 or A106 pipe.
In my research so far, the only argument against ERW pipe I can find is the creep phenomena at the heat affected zone. This seems to only apply to high pressure steam lines where the temperature is in excess of 800F. Being that our steam is only ~330F (90psig), I don't see that this is an issue.
Please help.
MFowler





RE: ERW or Seamless pipe for steam service?
There is no problem with ERW pipe for your application.
The steam and condensate piping is often made schedule 80 just to have additional corrosion life (especially the condensate piping where the water chemistry is not well controlled).
I suggest that you read the ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping, B31.1, Power Piping. While the Code is not a design textbook it will provide guidance in your spec writing.
Regards, John.
RE: ERW or Seamless pipe for steam service?
PIP.ORG has Piping Classification Specification for STEAM SERVICES. WWW.PIP.ORG
RE: ERW or Seamless pipe for steam service?