Nozzle Orientation Drawing

10 Comments

The objective of this post is to describe the requirements for preparation and issue
of Nozzle Orientation.

1. Intent of Nozzle Orientation

Nozzle Orientation drawing is prepared per equipment taking into consideration
Process, Operation and maintenance requirements to:

Orient all nozzles, manholes and lifting arrangement.

Define equipment mounted platforms / ladders

Orient and locate equipment supporting arrangement.

Typically Nozzle Orientation are prepared for following equipments,

Columns and Reactors

Horizontal / Vertical vessels

Tanks

Nozzle Orientation is not prepared for Heat Exchangers. Specific Piping

requirements shall be indicated in the form of markups on Vendor drawings.

Nozzle Orientation is issued to Vessels, Civil & Instruments department.

2. Preparation and maintenance of Nozzle Orientation

Nozzle Orientation is prepared based on study piping.

It is expected that all details of the Nozzle Orientation drawing are incorporated in
Vessel / Vendor drawing. Once incorporated in Vessel / Vendor drawing, Nozzle
Orientation drawing shall be deemed superseded. Any further revisions shall be
made in the form of comments on Vessel / Vendor drawings.
3. Input documents required for preparation of Nozzle
Orientation are as follows:
P&ID

Process Data Sheet

Mechanical Data Sheet / First Pass Vendor drawings

Vendor drawings for Column Internals

Piping Material Specifications

Piping Studies

30% Model review comments

Instrument Level Sketches

Piping requirements for Instruments

Standard details for Platform and ladders.

4. Brief procedure for preparation of Nozzle Orientation

shall be as follows:
4.1 Prepare the Nozzle Orientation drawing using the project specific template.

4.2 Nozzle Orientation drawings contain two basic views-

Plan view and

Schematic elevation

4.3 Orientation plan views shall include key information viz. nozzles, manholes,
shell openings, lifting & tailing lugs, earthing bosses, name plate and davits with
their tag numbers, degrees / locations.

4.4 Depending on the complexity of the nozzles various plan views shall be
developed.

4.5 Schematic elevation shall indicate all the manholes, nozzles and their
respective platforms / ladders, equipment supports.
4.6 For inclined horizontal Vessels only the schematic elevation view shall be
furnished and no plan view shall be provided. Reference point which is the
intersection of center line and fixed saddle location will govern for detailing.

4.7 Nozzles sizes / schedule and elevations shall not be included in the Nozzle
Orientation.

4.8 Nozzle Orientation shall be developed with zero (0) degree aligned to the
plant North and incremental degrees shall be indicated clockwise.

4.9 Permanent access platforms shall be provided for access to all manholes,
valves and spectacle blinds. Permanent ladders shall be provided for access to
instruments. However project specific operational requirement shall govern.

4.10 Requirements highlighted in PDS (Process Data Sheet) and Mechanical data
sheet shall be taken care off before release of the nozzle orientation.

4.11 Nozzle Orientation for Columns shall take care of the column internal
drawings. For trayed columns information for odd and even down comers shall be
mentioned in nozzle orientation.

4.12 Davit and manhole opening shall be indicated in the Nozzle Orientation
drawing. Manhole opening shall be oriented such that they are pushed closed in the
escape direction.

4.13 For tall vertical Vessels and Columns, orientation study for lifting / tailing
lugs and manholes shall take care of transportation and erection requirements.
Lifting lugs shall be oriented 180 degree apart and tailing lug shall be located 90
degree to the lifting lug.

4.14 Reference Grade elevation shall be indicated on the Nozzle Orientation

drawing. Actual plant elevations shall be indicated for:

Bottom Tan line, U/S of support elevations for vertical Vessels and
Columns.

Centre line elevation for horizontal Vessels

Reference point elevation for inclined horizontal Vessels

Top of Steel for all platforms (excluding grating)

4.15 Drop out areas and maintenance davit reach shall be indicated in all the plan
views.
4.16 For all vertical Vessels and Columns, platform extent shall be preferably
restricted to 180 degrees.

4.17 Ladders with two side exits at the same platform elevation shall be avoided.

4.18 Inclined ladders shall not be specified. For transition at flared section of
Vessel / Column or the flared support skirts straight ladders with extended support
stubs to be used.

4.19 Major pipe cutouts on equipment mounted platforms shall be indicated.

4.20 If pipes are envisaged to be supported from Vessels then reference to Pipe
support cleats should be covered.

4.21 Preferably ladders should be arranged with side entry

4.22 For Vertical vessels and columns ensure that anchor chairs / support lugs are
located off centre and equiv spaced. For Horizontal vessels identify fixed saddle
and sliding saddle on the orientation drawing.

4.23 Nozzle orientation drawings do not clear the interference issues with regards
to weld seams, reinforcement pads, insulation rings and stiffeners. These issues
will be coordinated and cleared for fabrication by the Vessels department.

4.24 Example of Nozzle Orientation drawing:

Below example shows the nozzle orientation drawing for a vertical vessel
Column Piping: Study Layout, Nozzle Orientation & Platforms Requirements

3 Comments

1.0 Sequence of Column Piping Study

1.1 All available information / data from Equipment specification and P&ID shall
be written on the elevation view of the column as illustrated in Fig.1, 2 & 3.

1.2 The designer now starts thinking about the proper orientation of nozzles and
provisions for access to the points of operation and maintenance.

1.3 Considerations of the pipeline leaving the tower area and the adjacent piping
shall be visualized.
1.4 The first step is to orient the manholes preferably all in same directions.
Normally, manholes shall be oriented towards dropout area within a 30 segment
of column as this facilitates the lowering of tower internals to the main access way.
The manhole segment of platform should not be occupied by any piperack.

1.5 A break in ladder rise (normal 5m, maximum 7m) will occupy another
segment of column for platform.

1.6 The levels of platforms are to be decided on the elevation view based on the
manholes and access to relief valves, instrument for viewing.

1.7 All platform levels in the proper segments of the tower with ladder location
should be drawn on plan view. The manhole shall be shown in proper segment with
the angle of orientation, and the space for the swing of manhole cover taking davit
hinge as centre.

1.8 Layout should be started from the top of the column with the designer
visualizing the layout as a whole. There will be no difficulty in dropping large
overhead line straight down the side of a column, and leaves the column at a high
level and crosses directly to the condenser. This clears a segment at lower
elevations for piping or for a ladder from grade level to the first platform.

1.9 Flexibility and thermal load connected with the large-dia overhead lines to the
condenser at grade level or higher level shall be considered. The relief valve
protecting the tower is usually connected to the overhead line. A relief valve
discharging to atmosphere should be located on the highest tower platform.

In a closed relief-line system, the relief-valve should be located on the lowest

tower platform above the relief -system header. This will result in the shortest
relief-valve discharge leads to the flare header. The entire relief-line system should
be self-draining.

1.10 From layout point of view, it is preferable to space the platform brackets on
the tower equally and to align the brackets over each other for the entire length of
the tower. This will minimize interferences between piping and structural
members.

1.11 Nozzles and piping must meet process requirements while platforms must
satisfy maintenance and operating needs. Access for tower piping, valves and
instruments influence placement of ladders.

1.12 In routing pipelines, the problem is faced to interconnected tower nozzles

with other remote points. The tentative orientation of a given tower nozzle is on the
line between tower centre and the point to which the line is supposed to run.
Segments for piping going to equipment at grade e.g. condenser and reboiler lines
are available between ladders and both sides of manhole.

See the Fig.4 / 5 for overall orientation of a distillation column.

Line approaching the yard/piperack can turn left or right depending on the overall
arrangement of the plant. The respective segments of these lines are between the
ladders and 180. The segment at 180 is convenient for lines without valves and
instruments, because this is the point farthest from manhole platforms.

The sequence of lines around the tower is influenced by conditions at grade level.
Piping arrangements without lines crossing over each other give a neat appearance
and usually a more convenient installation.

1.13 The correct relationship between process nozzles and tower internals is very
important. An angle is usually chosen between the radial centreline of internals and
tower-shell centrelines.

By proper choice of this angle (usually 45 or 90 to the piperack) many hours of

work and future inconvenience can be saved. Tower piping, simplicity of internal
piping and manholes access into the tower are affected by this angle. After this, the
information produced by the designer results in selecting the correct orientation of
tower nozzles.

1.14 A davit usually handles heavy equipment such as large-size relief valves and
large-diameter blinds. If the davit is at the top of the tower, it can also serve for
lifting and lowering tower internals to grade.

Clearance for the lifting tackle to all points from which handling is required, and
good access should be provided.

1.15 Very often, interpretation of process requirements inside a tower is more

exact than for exterior piping design. The location of an internal part determines,
within strict physical limits, the location of tower nozzles, instruments, piping and
the steelwork. The layout designer has to concentrate on a large-scale drawing of
tower-internal details and arrangement of process piping to finalize the piping
study.

1.16 Access, whether internal or external is very important. This includes

accessibility of connections from ladders and platforms and internal accessibility
through shell manholes, handholes or removable sections of trays. A manhole
opening must not be obstructed by internal piping.
1.17 Reboiler-line elevations are determined by the draw off and return nozzles
and their orientation is influenced by thermal flexibility considerations. Reboiler
lines and the overhead lines should be as simple and direct as possible.

1.18 Fig.6 shows the segments of tower circumference allotted to piping, nozzles,
manholes, platform brackets and ladders as normally recommended to develop a
well-designed layout.

2.0 Nozzle Orientation and Level

Nozzles are located at various levels on the tower to meet the process and
instrumentation requirements.

2.1 Manholes
Nozzles are to be oriented keeping provision for maintenance and operation needs.

Manholes are usually located at bottom, top and intermediate sections of tower.
These access nozzles must not be located at the downcomer sections of the tower
or the seal pot sections of the tower.

Where internal piping is arranged over a tray, manhole shall be provided but it
should be ensured that the internals do not block the maintenance access through
the manhole.

Possible location of manhole and handholes within the angular limits of b are
illustrated in detail-2 of Fig.4
Fig 1- Sample Piping and Instrumentation Diagram around a Column
Fig 2 -Evaluation of the Flow Diagram for a Distillation Column to Visualize an
Orderly Arrangement of Piping
Fig 3- Typical Nozzle Location and Platform Elevations
Fig 4- Details of a Typical Distillation Column
Fig 5- Typical Tower Piping Arrangement
Fig 6- Typical Tower Area Division for Various Facilities

2.2 Reboiler Connections

Reboiler connections are normally located at the bottom section of the tower.
Detail-1 of Fig.4 shows reboiler draw-off connections for single-flow tray. This
connection can be very important for arranging tray orientation. The simplest, most
economical location for reboiler connections with the alternative location within
the angular limits of a is shown. The angle a depends on the size of reboiler draw
off nozzle and the width of the boot (dimension b) at the tray down flow.
The return connection from the thermosyphon reboilers is shown in detail-1
of Fig.4.

These lines should be as simple and as direct as possible, consistant with the
requirements of thermal flexibility.

For horizontally mounted thermosyphon reboiler, the draw off nozzle is located
just below the bottom tray and for vertically mounted recirculating thermosyphon
reboiler, the draw off nozzle is located at the bottom head. For both the systems,
the return nozzles are located just above the liquid level as shown in Fig.7.
Fig 7 Reboiler Connection

2.3 Reflux Connections

Reflux nozzles are provided with internal pipes that discharge the liquid into the
sealpot of the tray below. Detail 3 of Fig.4 shows the reflux connections. Care
must be taken that the horizontal leg of the internal pipe clears the tops of bubble
caps or weirs. It must be ensured that the internal pipe can be fabricated for easy
removal through a manhole or can be fabricated inside the tower shell.

2.4 Overhead Connections

The vapour outlet nozzle is usually a vertical nozzle on the top head of tower. In
addition, the vent and relief valve could be located on the top head with a typical
platform arrangement for access to vent, instrument connections and top manhole.
In a closed relief line system, relief valve should be located on the lowest tower
platform above the relief system header. This will result in the shortest relief valve
discharge leads. The entire relief line system should be self draining.

2.5 Bottom Connections

The liquid outlet is located on the bottom head of the tower. If the tower is
supported on skirt, the nozzle is routed outside the skirt as shown in Fig.8. The
elevation and orientation of this line is generally dictated by the pump NPSH
requirement and the pump suction line flexibility. (see Fig.9)

Fig 8- Details of Tower Skirt

Fig 9 -Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) of Bottoms Pump

2.6 Temperature & Pressure Instrument Connections / Level Instruments

The temperature and pressure instrument connections are located throughout the
tower. The temperature probe must be located in a liquid space and the pressure
connection in a vapour space as shown in Fig.10.
Fig 10- Typical Temperature and Pressure Instrument Nozzle Location

The level instruments are located in the liquid section of the tower usually at the
bottom. The elevation of the nozzles is decided by the amount of liquid being
controlled or measured and by standard controller and gauge glass lengths. Level
controllers must be operable from grade or platform and level gauges / switches
may be from a ladder if no platform is available.

Fig.11, 12, 10, 13 & 14 illustrates a few instrument connections on tower.

Fig 11- Typical Instrument Vessel
Fig 12- Typical Arrangement for Level Instrument
Fig 13- Typical Temperature and Pressure Instrument Arrangements

Fig 14- Typical Common Bridle-Level Instrument Arrangement

3.0 Access and Maintenance Facility

3.1 Access whether internal or external is very important. This includes
accessibility of connections from ladders and platforms and internal accessibility
through shell manholes, handholes or removable sections of trays.

3.2 Tower maintenance is usually limited to removal of exterior items (e.g. relief
or control valves) and interior components (e.g. trays or packing rings) Handling of
these items is achieved by fixed devices (e.g. davits or trolley beams) or by mobile
equipment (e.g. cranes). When davits or beams are used, they are located at the top
of the tower, accessible from a platform and designed to lower the heaviest
removable item to a specific drop out area at grade level.

When mobile equipment is used, a clear space must be provided at the back (side
opposite to

piperack) of the tower that is accessible from plant auxiliary road.

Fig. 15, 16, 17 & 18 illustrates the access and maintenance facilities to be
considered in the piping arrangement around a tower.
Fig 15- Platform Width Requirements
Fig 16- Typical Arrangement of External Piping around Column
Fig 17- Typical Operator Access
Fig 18- Typical Plan and Elevation View of Tower Area

On free-standing columns, access for major maintenance to insulation or painting

will usually require the erection of temporary scaffolding. Space for scaffolding at
grade level and provision of cleats on the shell to facilitate scaffold erection should
be considered.

3.3 Utility stations of two services viz. steam and air are usually provided on
maintenance platforms.

Steam and air risers should be located during piping study to keep adequate cleats
for support.

(see Fig.19)

Fig 19- Typical Platform Arrangement

4.0 Platforms and Ladders

4.1 Platforms on towers are required for access to valves, instruments, blinds and
maintenance accesses. Platforms are normally circular and supported by brackets
attached to the side of the tower. Generally, access to platforms is by ladder.
Fig.20 illustrates the platform requirements.
Fig 20 Tower Platform and Ladder Elevation Requirements

4.2 Platform elevations for towers are set by the items that require operation and
maintenance.

The maximum ladder run should not exceed 7m.

4.3 Platform widths are dictated by operator access. The clear space on platform
width shall be min.900mm.

For platforms with control stations, the width of platform shall be 900mm plus the
width of control station.
The platform for manholes and maintenance access, adequate space for swing the
cover flange flange must be provided.

4.4 Top-head platforms for access to vents, instruments and relief valves are
supported on head by trunions.

4.5 Access between towers may be connected by common platforming.

4.6 It is preferable to space platform brackets on tower equally and to align

brackets over each other over the entire length of shell. This minimizes the
structural design and interferences from piping.

4.7 On very wide platforms or those that support heavy piping loads, knee bracing
is required in addition to the usual platform steel. The potential obstruction
immediately under the knee brace must be kept in mind during platform design.

4.8 Fig. 3, 15, 21, 22, 20 & 19 illustrates a few platform considerations.
Fig 21- Typical Platform Orientation
Checklist for Piping Isometrics: P&ID,
Layout, Drafting Related
4 Comments

Here is a checklist for Piping Isometrics

Sr.
Check Points
No.

P&ID RELATED
1 Following items are checked with the P&ID (IFD or later issue):
a) Line number and pipe class.
b) Tag nos. of equipment, instruments, special items, actuated and manual valves (if
applicable).
c) Flow direction (including flow direction of check valve)
d) Slope/no pocket/free draining requirement, if any.
e) Min/max distances, straight lengths, etc. as specified in P&ID.
f) Close/open position for spectacle blind or spacer & blind.
g) Removable spool requirement, if any.
h) Sequence of branch connections (as agreed with Process in case of any changes).
i) Piping spec break, if any (preferably be at flange joints/valves, each iso to contain
only one spec).
j) Special feature of valves (e.g. LO, LC, etc.)
k) Insulation symbol for insulated lines.
l) Equipment nozzle/TP numbers and tie-in numbers.
m) Insulating gaskets are selected as shown in P&IDs
n) Specific requirements mentioned in applicable P&ID notes (if any) are complied

LAYOUT RELATED
High point vents and low point drains are provided, as per project requirements, for
2
lines that will be hydro-tested.
Drains are provided wherever liquid stagnation can occur in the lines e.g. downstream
3
of a check valve.
Adequate pipe spool lengths are provided for wafer type butterfly and check valves to
4
prevent the interference of the valve disc with adjacent piping items.
The platform/grade/building wall/dyke or bund wall/floor penetrations and limits of
5
road crossings are properly shown wherever applicable.
6 The insulation limits are specified appropriately (esp. for personal protection)
7 The electrical tracing requirement and its limits are specified appropriately.
The wrapping and coating requirement and its limits are specified appropriately for u/g
8
lines.
Minimum distance between welds is 50mm or five times the wall thickness whichever
9
is greater, unless otherwise indicated in Project specifications.
Unions are provided in galvanized piping where threaded in-line items need to be
10 removed for maintenance. Also, unions are provided at regular intervals (e.g. 24m) in
straight pipe runs.
11 Full couplings are provided where applicable for small bore piping.
For piping below 2, WN flanges are not directly welded to SW fittings. Also, PE pipes
12
are not directly welded with swaged reducers (couplings are used in between).
Appropriate break-up flanges are provided in piping with internal lining and hot-dip
13 galvanized piping (based on tub size). Spool configuration is made with one elbow or
one tee only to ensure proper galvanizing.
Lifting lugs are provided for removable spools wherever required as per project
14
requirements.
There is adequate clearance between pipe support and the adjacent piping component
15
(e.g. flange, drain valve) to allow for flange bolt removal, valve operation, etc.
The valve stem orientation angle is indicated wherever the stem is not in the vertical
16
and horizontal planes.
The piping interfaces with equipment/package nozzles/terminal points are checked
17
(w.r.t. size, rating, flange face type and nozzle/TP nos.).
The straight length requirement for suction & discharge piping for compressors and
18
certain pumps is as required by Vendor/project specs.
Straight lengths and branch configuration of upstream/downstream lines for anti-surge
19
valves is as per Compressor Vendors recommendation.
The F/F dimensions of all valves, special items and in-line instrument items are as per
20
approved vendor drawings.
The instrument connections are checked with Piping-Instrument interface
21
drawings/Instrument hook-up drawings.
22 The rotameters are installed in vertical run with flow in upward direction.
The orifice tapping orientation is done considering liquid or gas flow as applicable and
23
the BOM is as per the piping-instrument interface diagram.
The straight length requirement (u/s & d/s) has been provided for flow meters (e.g.
24 flow orifices, flow nozzles, venture meters) and is as per Project standards/Vendor
requirements.
The line configuration for lines containing magnetic flowmeters or vortex type
25
flowmeters is such that they are always flooded.
Line configuration allows easy removal of spectacle blinds/spacers & blinds and valves
26
in case of RTJ flange joints.
27 Flanged spools are provided in the case of conical strainers to enable removal.
Orientation of valve handwheel / lever is checked in model for proper access and
28
commented accordingly
Line routing is visually checked in model for general requirement like access to in line
29
items, supporting, clearances, obstructions, consistency and aesthetic requirement, etc.
30 Branches like drains, drip legs, etc. are located with sufficient clearance from the
 supports, steel or other obstructions so that they do not clash during
expansion/contraction.
31 Drip leg size and dimension is checked with Standard drawing for steam lines.
32 Requirement of Weep holes for atm vent lines is indicated.

DRAFTING RELATED
The drawing border conforms to the Project specifications or Company standards, as
33
applicable.
The isometric numbering is as per the approved project format and the line number
34
matches with isometric number.
35 The correct isometric revision number is mentioned in the title block.
36 Pipe class printed at the bottom of the drawing matches with that in the line number.
Line data (e.g. process parameters, P&ID no., PWHT & testing requirements,
37
insulation & painting specs, etc.) match with the Line List, if given in the isometric
Applicable reference documents (e.g. Line List, Isometric Index, Pipe Supports Spec,
38
etc.) are mentioned.
39 Data such as inch-dia, etc. appear at the bottom of the isometric.
The Cont. on description correctly appears at each end of the line isometric which
40
is continued in another sheet.
The isometric print is readable (if required, the isometric should be split into more
41
sheets).
42 Isometric number change is made preferably at a flange joint/valve (not at a weld joint).
Dimensions and elevations are adequately given. At least one elevation is mentioned
43
and WP elevations for sloped lines are marked.
There are no HOLDs in the isometric (issue of any isometrics with HOLD requires
44
approval by HOD/PEM).

Notes:

The following documents are to be used for checking isometrics:

1. Issued For Design (or later issue) P&IDs and Line Lists (and any
Process DCNs issued thereafter)

2. Approved Vendor drawings review of equipment & package

mechanical drawings

3. Issued For Design Instrument-Piping Interface drawings

4. Approved vendor drawings of in-line instrument items including

control valves, Pressure safety relief valve, motor operated valves and
emergency shutdown valves

5. Approved vendor drawings for manual valves and SP items.

 6. Approved Pipe Support specification and Piping Material
specification

7. Issued For Construction Civil and Structural drawings wherever

applicable

In case approved drawings are not available at the time of isometrics issue, it
should be brought to the notice of the Lead engineer and the isometrics shall not be
issued