An unbalanced expansion loop. Normally a pipe loop is located midspan between anchors providing uniform displacement on each side minimizing the size of the loop. In this case an unbalanced loop is chosen to reduce the loads on the vessel nozzle by placing an axial anchor that limits axial motion next to it. The trade-off is the increase in height required for the loop. The anchor and pipe loop location is a trade-off.
A pipe rack with elevated risers and expansion loops. Red pipe in the middle is the full system. Top and bottom pipes in blue are details. Motions are shown below.
Motion of pipes in the pipe rack with elevated risers. Attention is paid to optimizing the design of the loop while keeping motions and loads in the rest of the system within limits.
A tower with a guided flexible pipe connection. The guided connection allows the flexibility required in the nozzle while limiting the loads applied to the vessel nozzle. Modelling the flexibility of the nozzle and accounting for the different possible temperatures of the piping system and tower is required for successful analysis.
Stress analysis of a pump skid from storage towers to dual pumps. The temperature distribution of the piping varies depending on which pump or pumps are running. Here the pipes leading to the operating pump are hotter than the standby pipes. Multiple load cases are required to ensure the piping design is acceptable.
Pipe stress analysis of the fictional but artistic piping system shown on our homepage.