How can I calculated loads on support on a pipe rack

[ppbflex]

I´m trying to calculated the loads on a pipe supporting in differents places on a piperack. It suppose to be a manual and easy way to do it, I was reading diffents books but it looks like is more practical than theoretical stuff to do. If I use CAESAR probably I can find the answer but it was requested that the calculation has to be done manually.

 

[pennpiper]

Here is one way. A simple "transposition"
Requirements: Good P&ID's, a rough plot plan, a pencil, a straight edge and a pipe weight table
-On plain paper draw a piperack (two horizontal column lines and 10 or 12 vertical lines for each pipe support bent)
-Using light lines mark off "births" about 1/8" to 1/4" apart across the width of the (symbolic) pipeway
-Note the location of major pieces of equipment by tag number only
-From the P&ID find only the lines that will enter the piperack (process and utility headers). Don't bother with lines that only go direct from equipment to equipment.
-Mark the origin and terminus of each and then run the line selecting an available birth in the pipiway
-Mark each line with it's proper line number, size and insulation
-When all pipeway lines are accounted for find the most conjested point (ie: the place with the most lines)
-Count the number of lines of each size
-From the weight tables apply the weight (pipe, hydrotest water and insulation,if any) to each line. Use the actual or proposed pipesupport spacing (25'-0"+/-) for the length of pipe to use in the calculation
-Add up the total weight for only the most conjested point
-Add a safety factor for future line additions
-Note, The structural department will also add their safety factor per code.

Try it, it is pretty simple

 

[abba7114]

Here is a more simpler way, I suppose you already know your support locations on the pipe rack, all you need to do to know the support weight is to check pipe weight chart (filled with water)coresponding to the line size, devide distance betwwen two supports in to two and multiply it by the weight from the chart, if there is morethan one line on the support multiply by number of lines, this gives you the vertical load on the suppor, this way you can detenine load for each suppot. If you have other forces you can resolve and add,you should consider factor of safety too.
I hope this helps.
Abba7114

 

[Hookem]

For the horizontals, the worst loading case is using the full width of pipe rack that is fully occupied by 8 inch NPS pipe that are 100% filled with water.

To the verticals, include fire-proofing, fire extinguishers, electrical & instrumentation end devices, utility piping, etc.

If you goal is short term, you might be done. If your goal is truly long term, add provisions for outriggers and even a second layer (or third, or fourth). I have been in too many facilities where existing racks were added too in this matter, everyone knew the rack was overloaded, but no one wanted to spend the money to upgrade the members or its foundations, etc. Only the truely large capital projects could bear the cost of new racks. The smaller projects could never justify upgrade of existing racks much less new ones.