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pipingdesigners.com Training Seminar

Section - VII, Management and Supervision

G:

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pipingdesigners.com Training Seminar

Section - VII, Management and Supervision

G: What does a Pipe Stress Engineer need to know?

By: James O. Pennock

The term Pipe Stress Engineer as used in this document refers to that person responsible for insuring that the pipe routing done by the
piping layout designer is consistent with the allowables in the applicable piping Code. This includes; the thermal forces and the live and
dead loads the piping system imposes on equipment, equipment nozzles and structures. The Pipe Stress Engineer is also responsible for
the selecting and specifying stress related products including various types of Expansion Joints, Constant Support Spring Hangers and
the selecting and specifying stress related products including various types of Expansion Joints, Constant Support Spring Hangers and
Snubbers or Struts.

What does the Pipe Stress Engineer need to know? Pipe Stress Engineering is more than just knowing how to turn on the A nalysis
software in the computer, how to find the menus and the difference between pass and fail. So, appropriately, what else does the Pipe
Stress Engineer need to know about piping?

Here is a list of the most basic of things that a good Pipe Stress Engineer should know. Thinking about every one of these items should
become as natural as breathing for a good Pipe Stress Engineer.

Piping Codes A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to know about the applicable Piping Codes for the different types of Process Plants
and have access to the most up-to-date copy so the proper data is used and proper decisions can be made for the calculations
and the good of the project.

Pipe, Fittings, Flanges and Valves A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to know and understand the broad spectrum of items that
make up the vocabulary of the piping language. This includes the many types of fittings, the many different schedules, the
wide variety of common piping materials, the flange class ratings and the types of the different valve designs.

Relationship of other Engineering groups A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to know and understand the relationship, activities and
contribution of all the other engineering and design groups on the project. These include: Process, Civil, Structural, Mechanical
Equipment, Vessels & Tanks and Instruments/Control Systems. These groups have a responsibility for contributing to Pipings
success just as the effort of the Pipe Stress Engineer also has a responsibility for contributing to their success.

Piping Execution A ll Pipe Stress Engineers must understand how pipe stress progress is linked to P&IDs, Plot Plans, equipment
vendor drawings, instrument vendor drawings and structural support design in order to understand areas where the Project may
be impacted.

Process Variables A ll Pipe Stress Engineers must know and understand the four basic process variables: pressure,
temperature, flow and level, and the effect these have on a piping system.

Process Plant Equipment A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to know and understand the different types of equipment. They also
need to know and understand the pipe stress related issues that effect each type of equipment.

Equipment Operation and Internals A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to understand the equipment process function and the
equipment internals in order to give proper consideration to the effect of piping connected to and reacting on the various
nozzles/connections.

Equipment piping A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to know the right and the wrong way to pipe up (connect pipe to) different
kinds of equipment and for maintenance/disassembly space requirements. This includes pumps, compressors, exchangers,
filters or any special equipment to be used on a specific project.

A llowable pipe spans A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to know and understand the span capabilities of pipe in the different
schedules for a wide variety of common piping materials. When a new project introduces a new material with severely reduced
span capabilities; supplemental training may be required.

Expansion of pipe A ll Pipe Stress Engineers needs to understand that they should treat a piping system as though it is alive. It
has a temperature and that temperature causes it to grow and move. That growth and movement must be allowed for and
incorporated in the overall design. Not just of that specific line but for all other lines close by. The process of expansion in a pipe
or group of pipes will also exert frictional forces or anchor forces on the pipe supports they come in contact with.

Routing for flexibility A ll Pipe Stress Engineers must understand that the piping layout designer has routed the pipe for
flexibility and support. Routing for flexibility can normally be achieved through the most natural routing of the pipeline from its
origin to its terminus. Routing for flexibility means (a) do not run a pipe in a straight line from origin to terminus and (b) building
flexibility into the pipe routing is far cheaper and more reliable than expansion joints.

Weight and loads (live loads and dead loads) A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to be able to calculate and analyze the effects of
weight and loading. They need to know and understand that everything has a weight. They need to be able recognize when there
is going to be a concentrated load. They need to have access to basic weight tables for all the standard pipe schedules, pipe
fittings, flanges, valves for steel pipe. They also need to have the weight tables for other materials or a table of correction
factors for these other materials vs. carbon steel. They need to be able to recognize when downward expansion in a piping
system is present and is adding live loads to a support or equipment nozzle.

Standards and Specifications A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to understand the content and application of the client and
engineering company Standards and Specifications used on the project. In particular the Pipe Stress Engineer must have
intimate knowledge of the primary Standards and Specifications he/she will use; these being the Misc. (or Secondary) Pipe
Support Standards and Piping Material Line Class Specifications.

Vessel piping A ll Pipe Stress Engineers also need to understand about the connecting, supporting and guiding of piping attached
to vessels (horizontal or vertical) and tanks. They need to know that nozzle loading is important and does have limitations.

Rack piping A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to understand that there is a logical approach to the placement of piping in (or on) a
pipe rack and the setting of rack elevations. It does not matter how wide or how high the rack or what kind of plant, the logic still
applies. Starting from one or both outside edges the largest and hottest lines are sequenced in such a manner that allows for the
nesting of any required expansion loops. A nother good guideline is; Process lines on the lower deck(s) and Utility Lines on the
 nesting of any required expansion loops. A nother good guideline is; Process lines on the lower deck(s) and Utility Lines on the
upper deck(s). The spacing of the lines must also allow for the bowing effect at the loops caused by the expansion. One rule of
thumb for setting the distance between piping levels is three times the largest pipe size.

Expansion loops A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to understand and be able to use simple rules, tools and methods for checking
loops in rack piping. This should include the most common sizes, schedules and materials. They also need to be able to calculate
forces of individual line anchors and the combined forces of all lines at a specific support.

Cold spring/Pre-spring A ll Pipe Stress Engineers should understand the basics rules of cold spring and pre-spring. They need to
understand what each one is along with when to and when not to use each.

Design production methods A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to be able to read of the various types of piping documents (manual
or CA D sketches, layouts, detail piping plans, isometrics, etc). Every Pipe Stress Engineer must also be able to go to the field or
sit in front of a client and make proper, intelligent, and understandable pipe stress decisions. They must also be able to produce
detailed final analysis packages. Today, Pipe Stress Engineers also need to know (or be able to learn) a wide range of electronic
2D or 3D design tools.

Heat Tracing A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to understand the effect of process heat conservation, know the different methods
(Jacketing, Tracer Tubing or Electric), Tracer commodity (Steam, Oil, Hot Water, etc.) and Tracer system requirements and be
able to consider the heat tracing in the analysis process.

Deliverables A ll Pipe Stress Engineers need to understand the purposes of each of the Pipe Stress deliverables, such as
Specifications, Data Sheets, and System for individual line analysis packages, Pipe Sress Logs, Vendor Drawings (Expansion
Joint, Spring Hangers and Struts).

Stress Sketch Content A ll Pipe Stress Engineers must understand how to present their comments and instructions. Stress
Sketches become a part of the Legal Records for the Project. Therefore all notes and comments on Stress Sketches must be well
thought out and clearly written in order to clearly communicate the required and agreed to changes to the design.

Economics A ll Pipe Stress Engineers must be aware of economics. A dding Expansion Joints at the expense of increased
maintenance may not be the most cost effective solution to a perceived stress problem.

A ny person that has this type of training, this type of knowledge and then consistently applies it is indeed a Pipe Stress Engineer.

He or she will also be a more valuable asset to their company and to themselves in the market place.

On the other hand anyone who does not know or does not apply the knowledge about these issues while doing piping work not making a
proper cost effective contribution to the Project, the Company or to their own career.

James O. Pennock has more than forty-five years in the process plant design profession.
He has been involved in home office engineering and design, pipe fab shop engineering and job site assignments on refinery, chemical,
petrochemical, power and other projects.
His experience ranges from entry level designer to engineering manager.
Much of this was with Fluor.
He is also the author of the book "Piping Engineering Leadership for Process Plant Projects."
He is now retired, living in Florida, USA and does only occasional consulting work.
Mr. Pennock can be contacted via E-Mail at jopennock@netscape.net

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