Piping Stress Analysis
Analysis of stresses in piping at plants, refineries or facilities typically involves a static application of the effects of internal pressure, thermal expansion, and weight but may also include environmental loads such as wind or seismic. It may further be necessary to account for dynamic loads such as from slugging, steam hammer, water hammer, pressure relief or vibration. The calculated stresses have to be within the allowable limits of the code that the piping is designed to (eg. ASME B31.1, B31.3 or CSA Z662). Examples systems that we have reviewed include:
· Oil Refineries
· Oil Batteries
· Gas Plants
· SAGD Facilities
· Heavy Oil Processing
· Bitumen Tailings Systems
· Jet and Diesel Fuel Storage and Loading
· Asphalt Storage Facilities
· Thermal Power Plants
· Chemicals Production Plants
· Mining and Mineral Processing Facilities
While the stresses in the piping must be within allowable values, the forces and moments acting on the nozzles of connecting equipment must also be within the limits stipulated by the vendor or the applicable equipment standard. Typical connecting equipment we have evaluated includes:
· Pumps – centrifugal and positive displacement (API 610 and API 674)
· Compressors – centrifugal, reciprocating (API 617 and API 618)
· Steam Turbines (NEMA SM 23)
· Heat Exchangers – air cooled, plate and frame, shell and tube (API 661 and API 662)
· Storage Tanks (API 650)
· Pressure Vessels (BPVC Section VIII)
· Fired Heaters (API 560)
Analysis of stresses in piping at plants, refineries or facilities typically involves a static application of the effects of internal pressure, thermal expansion, and weight but may also include environmental loads such as wind or seismic. It may further be necessary to account for dynamic loads such as from slugging, steam hammer, water hammer, pressure relief or vibration. The calculated stresses have to be within the allowable limits of the code that the piping is designed to (eg. ASME B31.1, B31.3 or CSA Z662). Examples systems that we have reviewed include:
· Oil Refineries
· Oil Batteries
· Gas Plants
· SAGD Facilities
· Heavy Oil Processing
· Bitumen Tailings Systems
· Jet and Diesel Fuel Storage and Loading
· Asphalt Storage Facilities
· Thermal Power Plants
· Chemicals Production Plants
· Mining and Mineral Processing Facilities
While the stresses in the piping must be within allowable values, the forces and moments acting on the nozzles of connecting equipment must also be within the limits stipulated by the vendor or the applicable equipment standard. Typical connecting equipment we have evaluated includes:
· Pumps – centrifugal and positive displacement (API 610 and API 674)
· Compressors – centrifugal, reciprocating (API 617 and API 618)
· Steam Turbines (NEMA SM 23)
· Heat Exchangers – air cooled, plate and frame, shell and tube (API 661 and API 662)
· Storage Tanks (API 650)
· Pressure Vessels (BPVC Section VIII)
· Fired Heaters (API 560)