Full vacuum for pipes

[shahyar]

Is my understanding correct that all pipes can toerate full vacuum?

Thanks

 

[bimr]

Definitely not. Full vacuum is generally not a problem with smaller diameters, but as you get into larger pipes sizes, vacuum conditions have to be carefully considered.

 

[stanier]

Another concern is that of buckling. If pipeline is buried then vacuum condition must be added to soil and any other external loads.

If aboveground then vacuum may cause local buckling at supports or other points of loading.

 

[PAN]

bimr,
Please advise me the benchmark to say "larger" or "smaller" pipe size.

 

[dicksewerrat]

Pipe wall thickness plays abig part in this also.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[JStephen]

I would assume that up to a certain size, any "standard weight" pipe could handle full vacuum. You'd have to do calcs to see what this point is. Of course, pipes can collapse from external pressure, without an actual vacuum inside- I have seen instances of this in piping submerged in tanks.

 

[Eltron]

It also depends on how low of a vacuum you're talking about, and what atmospheric pressure is at your site.