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Piping
Drawings
Piping
Pipe Rack Sizing and Loading Data
Isometrics
P&I Diagrams
Configuration: This is the selection of "fit-for-purpose." Each main run, minor 2D Piping
run and branch run must be looked at to determine its configuration. Will it be 3D Piping
an overhead rack or a sleeper way? Will each be single deck (layer) or multiple Models
deck? Will the support be a single column ("T") support or multi-column
support? How many columns? A second part of the configuration issue effects LISP Training
pipe racks in the process units themselves. This is the question of whether or not Piping Training
the pipe rack will support equipment such as Air Coolers (Fin Fans). Another
part of configuration is the issue of intersections. Poor planning on this issue can Design Info
cause problems later with the piping.
Tubular
Height: How high should each run of rack be? Should they be elevated or low Exchanger
sleepers. The sleepers are concrete with an imbedded steel plate on the top. For Agitator / Mixer
sleepers, they need to be off the ground to allow for maintenance and drainage
also to prevent corrosion. For elevated multi-level racks what should the Design &
separation be? For elevated racks you must plan the height and the separation of Drawings
the whole system together. A key element in the determination of separation is Tubular
Exchanger
the line sizes to be carried on the racks.
Width: This requires a detailed study of the total piping systems for the whole Agitator / Mixer
plant based on pipe rack routing. In the past, a study (called a "Transposition") Zero Hold up
was done to, as best you could, account for each line on each pipe rack. From Filter
this study, a berth sequence was established and the line spacing set. A Process Vessel
percentage was added as an error factor and then the clients "future" reserve Jib Crane
was added. This then constituted the minimum rack width. The final width
would be set after all racks were "sized" and then some might be rounded up in About Me
width for consistency, based on the materials of construction/fabrication My Resume
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method.
Spacing: This issue can be addressed after the transposition has been
completed. The transposition identifies all the rack piping from the largest to the Cross Country
smallest From this the average line size for each leg of the rack system can be Piping
established. With the pipe size information (largest, smallest and average pipe
size) the number and spacing of the pipe support bents can be set. A cost
tradeoff is evaluated and made between more pipe supports spaced closer
together or fewer pipe supports and some sort of intermediate support system.
Pipe Rack and Structural form basic framework to hold equipments and Piping.
Pipe Rack work is done in 3 ways.
Concrete : In this case reinforced cement concrete structure is erected. The
reinforcement is provided by tensile strength of steel bars and compression
strength is provided by Cement. The columns and beams are provided with
insert plates, to weld steel members to it. It is time consuming as all work has to
be done on site and the concrete takes long time to cure.
Steel : This is based on steel structural members like Beams, Channels and
Angles. Most of the fitting and aligning work is done in shop and shipped to site.
It is then bolted on site. Design and Erection work is very fast. However,
periodic maintenance and painting is required, if environment is corrosive.
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Steel covered by Concrete : The steel structure bears all the load while cement
cover protects it from corrosion. The steel structure does not melt in case of fire.
Most of the structure is made of vertical columns and horizontal beams, connected to
columns. The equipment and piping rests on beams. Sufficient gap is provided
between beams to lift the equipments and for passage of pipes. Columns are generally
5 meters away and height of beams is 4 meters above the floor level. Cross bracings
are provided to have stability to the structure. This is where anchor points are located,
especially in pipe racks. Most of the pipe supports are created from steel structural
members.
Modular Pipe rack: Sometimes clients look for modular pipe rack / modular structure
for their plants. Module is a series of standard units that function together. Structural
Frames completely fitted with pipes, Cable trays and miscellaneous equipment. If the
project site is at remote location, then it will be very difficult to get good local
contractor. Parallel construction activities are possible (foundation and module
fabrication) and gain in time schedule Controlled construction environment is possible
Controlled quality controlled.
In some countries, labor cost at site is more than labor cost at fabrication / module
assembly shop. So, if you fabricate and fit all the pipes, cable trays etc. at shop, then
you can save the project cost.
Data collection for pipe rack design: Pipe rack is the main artery of any plant. This
carries the pipes and cable trays (raceways) from one equipment to another equipment
within a process unit (called ISBL pipe rack) or carries the pipe and cable trays from
one unit to another unit (called OSBL pipe rack).
Data Collection for different types of pipe rack:
1. Conventional / Continuous Pipe rack: Continuous Pipe racks (conventional
pipe rack) system: This is essentially a system where multiple 2-dimensional
(2D) frame assemblies (commonly called bents), comprised of two or more
columns with transverse beams, are tied together in the longitudinal direction
utilizing beam struts (for support of transverse pipe and raceway elements and
for longitudinal stability of the system) and vertical bracing to form a 3D space
frame arrangement. Pipe racks supporting equipment such as air-cooled heat
exchangers must utilize the continuous system approach.
Data collection for pipe rack design: Due to the fast track nature associated
with most of the projects, often the final piping, raceway, and equipment
information is not available at initiation of the pipe rack design. Therefore, as a
Civil/Structural Engineer, you should coordinate with the Piping group,
Electrical, Control Systems, and Mechanical groups to obtain as much
preliminary information as possible. When received, all design information
should be documented for future reference and verification. In the initial design,
the Engineer should use judgment when applying or allowing for loads that are
not known, justifying them in the design basis
Plot plans and equipment location plans.
3D model showing piping layout, cable tray layout, Pipe rack bent spacing
and elevation of support levels in the transverse direction , Elevation of
longitudinal beam struts and locations of vertical bracing. and location of
pipe bridge, if any.
Piping orthographic drawings.
Vendor prints of equipment located on the rack, e.g., air coolers and
exchangers. The vendor prints should include the equipment layout,
mounting locations and details, access and maintenance requirements, and
the magnitude and direction of loads being transmitted to the pipe rack.
Electrical and control systems drawings showing the routing and location
of electrical and instrumentation raceways and/or supports.
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