BASIC FLEXIBILITY COURSE

PAGE 4 OF 91
MARCH 1995

When designing a piping system a number of conditions have to be met with,

for example

a. The pipeline must be able to resist the effects of internal or external pressure,
temperature, dead-weight, wind load, corrosion, etc.

b. To prevent excessive forces and moments on connecting equipment, the pipeline must
be sufficiently flexible. Some lines require special treatment with respect to supporting
and flexibility. In these instances it is sometimes economically preferable to make the
location of equipment subject to that of the pipeline, for example: transfer lines, certain
pump piping. Generally large diameter lines subject to high temperature and pressure.

Usually a flexibility check may be carried out with the aid of simple and fast rule of thumb
methods, the application of which shall be illustrated in the course.

An attempt is made to cover the specific problems with respect to

1. Pipelines connecting equipment; usually relatively short lines connecting columns,

between column and pump, between pump and pipe rack, etc.

2. Pipelines on pipe racks and sleepers; usually long lines on many supports.

3. Pipelines in tank farms, usually piping to and from tanks, crossing dikes, etc.

To be able to perform calculations, data such as: pipe diameter, pressure, temperature and
the type of material are required. Usually available from line lists, flow diagrams and pipe
specifications.

The determination of wall thickness, branch reinforcements is performed by the Material

Design group, assisted by the Stress group where necessary.

C.

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 BASIC FLEXIBILITY COURSE
PAGE 5 OF 91
MARCH 1995

CHAPTER 2

EXAMPLES

Example 1 - Cooling water water line between pipe rack and exchanger
2 - Process line between exchanger and pipe rack
3 - Process line between column and drum
4 - Steam line to and from pipe rack via control set at grade
5 - Process line from column to condenser
6 - Process line from pipe rack, via control set to column
7 - Suction line from pipe rack to pumps
8 - Pump discharge line to pipe rack
9 - Pump suction line from column
10 - Steam lines to and from turbine
11 - Reboiler piping
12 - Long pipe lines in the pipe rack
13 - Loops in the pipe rack
14 - Piping at air fan coolers
15 - Tank farm piping

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