Pipe support

Find about different types of pipe supports being used while one design pipe routing for any system
and for ensuring smooth working of it.

Broadly Pipe Supports are classified in three Categories:

1. General Details
Primary Supports
Secondary Supports
2. Construction Details
Rigid Support
Elastic Supports
Adjustable supports
3. Functional Purpose
Loose Support
Longitudinal guide
Transverse guide
Fixed Point Non welded Type
Anchor Welded Type
Limit Stop
Special Support

General Details

Primary Support
Directly Connected to Pipe
Secondary Support
Directly connected to Foundation/ Structure and is supporting the primary
support directly attach to the pipe

Constructions Details
Rigid Supports

Rigid Hangers

Various Rigid Hanger Arrangements

Pipe support
Elastic Support
Meant to absorb vertical displacement of pipes caused by thermal expansion.

Variable Spring Supports vary in their load along their travel.

VARIABLE SPRING
Variables use coiled springs to support a load and allow movement. The resistance of the coil to a load
changes during compression, which is why these devices are called "variables".

CONSTANT SPRING
Constant support hangers are principally used to support pipes and equipment subjected to vertical
movement due to thermal expansion at locations where transfer of stress to other supports or
equipment can be critical.
The maximum recommended variation according to MSS standard from the operating load is 25% for
variable spring hangers.

If the variation exceeds 25%, a constant support hanger should be used. The constant resistance to a load
is achieved by combining a spring coil with a cam which rotates about a main pivot point.
The cam is designed such that the distances from the main pivot changes to compensate for the
variable resistance during compression of the coil. The MSS standard provides for a tolerance of 6% in
the constant load through the travel range.

VARIABLE SPRING HANGER VS CONSTANT SPRING HANGER

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT
As the name suggest, this type of support is capable of adjustment at site to accommodate
erectiontolerances of piping. Basically all type of support can be easily modified and made adjustable.

Pipe support

Need of Pipe Supports and Hangers in Piping Design

INTRODUCTION
The Piping Profile in general can be considered as a complex and rigid piping network consisting of
various piping components, which have different diameters and weights. At the same time the above
network is also subjected to temperature change while switching from installed to operating condition
(and visa versa) resulting into its thermal growth in various directions in proportion to the length of
pipes. The structural integrity of the above network must therefore take into account the overall weight
effect of the profile besides its thermal growth.
A satisfactory design of the Piping System should therefore give a careful consideration to achieve the
above requirement. This is generally accomplished by providing external attachments (known as pipe
supports) at various locations of the piping profile. This document deals with the basic purpose of the
pipe supports, classification based on construction / functions and a few typical types of pipe supports.
In general it deals with metallic piping systems only.

NEED FOR PIPE SUPPORTING

To Support weight of Pipe during Operation & Testing
Supports are required to support the line during all conditions i.e. during operation as well as during
testing.
In case of vapor line this difference will be very large due to hydro testing. Supports should be designed
for this load (unless otherwise decided in the project).

Pipe support

Some times line is capable of having longer span but load coming on the support may be very large
(especially with large diameter pipe lines). Then to distribute the load uniformly, more number of
supports should be provided with smaller span.
Note : 1. It may be noted that during testing condition there is no thermal load.
2. All spring supports are locked during testing.

To take Expansion Load

Whenever thermal expansion is restricted by support, it introduces additional load on the

support. Support must be designed to take this load in addition to all other loads.

To take Wind Load

Wind introduces lateral load on the line. This load is considerable especially on large diameter
pipe. This tends to sway the line from its normal position and line must be supported guided against it.
In case of large diameter overhead lines, supported by tall support extended from floor, wind
load introduces large bending moment and should be considered critically.

To take Earth Quake Load

The earthquake is normally associated with horizontal acceleration of the order of 1 to 3 m/sec2. This is
around 10% to 30% of the gravitational acceleration and introduces horizontal force of about 10 to 30%
of the vertical load (or supported mass). While designing support this should be taken care.

To absorb Vibration of Piping system

When the pipe is subjected to moving machinery or pulsating flow or very high velocity flow, pipe
may start vibrating vigorously and ultimately may fail, particularly if span is large. To avoid this it may
be required to introduce additional supports at smaller span apart from other requirements. It may
not take axial load, but must control lateral movements.

Pipe support
To have Noise Control
In most of the plants, noise is resulting from vibration and if such vibrations are controlled, noise
is reduced to great extent. In such lines, between clamp (i.e. support) and pipe, asbestos cloth is put
to absorb vibration and avoid noise.
Noise due to pulsating flow can be reduced by using a silencer in the line. Still if it is not
below acceptable level acoustic enclosure may be used. insulation over line also helps in reducing the
noise.

To take Hydraulic Thrust in Piping

The hydraulic thrust in the pipeline is present at certain point such as pressure reducing valve,
relief valve, bellows etc. If the control valve has large pressure differential and line size is more, then
this force can be very high.
The support should be provided and designed to take this load, otherwise this will load the piping
system and may cause failure.

To support the system during Transient Period of Plant & Standby Condition
Transient condition refers to the start-up or shutdown condition in which one equipment may
get heated up faster and other one get heated slower. Due to this the expansion of one equipment
which in normal operation will get nullified, may not get nullified and exert thermal load on
supports. Standby condition is also similar. If there are two pumps, one being standby and both
connected in parallel (as shown), design and operating temp. of both the connections will be same. But
the expansion of two parallel legs will not be nullified because at a time only one leg will be hot
and another being cold.

To support the system during Maintenance Conditions

When for maintenance certain equipment or component like valve is taken out, remaining
system should not be left out unsupported. Referring to the FIG-3, support 'S1' will be sufficient but
when valve 'V1' is taken out for maintenance there will not be any support for vertical leg. Therefore
second support 'S2' may be required to take care of such condition.

To support the system during Shutdown Conditions

In shutdown condition all equipment may not be in the same condition as in operating condition. For
example, refer the pump discharge line in FIG-4, Point A is resting, Point B & C are spring supports
and Point D is the pump discharge nozzle. The springs are, designed based on weights considering the

Pipe support
weight of fluid as well as pipeline and thermal movements. But during shutdown condition the fluid
may be drained and the pipe becomes lighter. Hence the spring will give upward reaction and shall
load the nozzle 'D' beyond permissible limit.
In this case a limit stop is used which will not allow the Point C to move up above horizontal
level. (However it will allow downward movement during operating condition).

To support the system for Erection Conditions

Erection condition can be different than the operating condition which should be considered
while designing supports.
For example for normal operation a long vessel supported by three supports, S1, S2 & S3 is shown
in FIG-5. If support S2 is higher, than all load will act at S2 only. During erection if level of S2 is
lower then entire load will be divided into two supports S1, S2 only. Therefore foundation of S1, S2 &
S3 should be capable of taking such conditions.
A pipe line supported by S1, S2 & S3 taken from vessel is shown in above FIG - 6. During
operation there will be no weight at S2 & S3 (as it is only guide), but wind condition will be there.
Loads due to such conditions must be considered while designing the supports.
Note: Each answer will appear to be wrong to some readers and right to others. Some questions will
have what seems to be an absolute right answer. Others will not. So if you have got any good answer for
below questions, leave us a comment. Find more details see at the end of article.