How should the equipment foundation be designed when it is constructed above the pipes?
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I want to place a screw air compressor on the ground; the weight of the screw is 8.5 tons. At the bottom of the equipment location, there are four circulating water pipes: two with a diameter of 600 and two with a diameter of 350; the total width is 3 meters (measured at the outer edges of the outermost two pipes). The top of the pipeline is about 1 meter above the ground. Apart from using ground beams as a solution, how should it be designed so that the equipment foundation remains secure, while also avoiding the situation where the equipment together with its foundation becomes too heavy and causes pressure that damages the pipes? Please advise.
A concrete frame platform or a steel structure platform can be constructed; it is necessary to have the structural engineering department of a design firm carry out calculations.
This post was last edited by CHANGBAISHI on 2019-10-15 at 15:29. Hehe, it seems the space available for equipment is quite limited: lol. If possible, it’s best to avoid this location. If construction is carried out at this location, not only the beams need to be considered, but also the precast foundations beneath the pipes – in other words, a rectangular concrete sleeve is required to enclose the pipes. However, the load on the foundation must be sufficient to prevent settlement. Constructing the foundation beneath the pipeline is somewhat challenging, and cost is also a factor that needs to be taken into account. If a greater distance is set, it simply involves the investment in pipes, plus the electrical energy lost due to pipe resistance. It’s better to compare them. I guess this screw compressor is used for the instrument air supply. Oh, we also need to consider space for the plumbing replacement work. For reference.
The equipment uses instrument air. It’s not a problem of limited space; it’s due to safety regulations. Expansion is only possible slightly beyond the existing structure, which is why it ends up pressing on the water pipes. Actually, we initially considered using ground beams, which was more or less similar to the plan you mentioned. But later we thought it was too complicated and would require a large investment, so we decided to ask for a simpler solution.
Are there any relevant standards for this, such as on what diameter of pipe what maximum load is allowed? Or how heavy the equipment is, and how deep a foundation is required.
First of all, the additional loads on the pipeline cannot be considered. This falls under the category of civil engineering; it involves geophysical survey data, as well as considerations such as the weight of the equipment, the area under stress, and the weight required for the reinforced concrete used. It also entails a range of design aspects including whether the foundation has been properly prepared, the reinforcement details, formwork usage, and concrete pouring. The weight isn’t that much, but it has to be done according to the rules. It is recommended to have a civil engineer involved, if possible. Oh, go and ask at the civil engineering department.
Oh, if there is a foundation on the side that bears the load, could we consider creating a sort of \"overhang\" on top of that foundation, meaning extending it out slightly? As long as the center of gravity remains on the foundation, I’m not sure if it’s possible given the conditions on site. However, the overhang length should not be too large. Assuming this overhang, it is best to add a reinforced concrete platform in the form of a flat slab on top of the existing structure, extending above the pipes. Choose larger rebar
The foundation I’m referring to isn’t a civil engineering foundation: lol, the existing foundation can’t be used, as the new equipment needs to be placed outside the original factory building, and it’s definitely impossible to reach the foundation of the equipment inside
The specific details are unclear; these are just some suggestions for reference. It would be best to have a layout diagram of the equipment, along with cross-sectional views showing the locations of the pipes, to facilitate discussion. These are indeed civil engineering-related issues. There is a diagram of the equipment infrastructure, and the foundation diagram is designed based on the required conditions.