What is the difference between brackets, column supports, hangers, pipe hangers, pipe clamps, and pipe saddles?
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Recently, I’ve been working on installing pipe racks. Column racks and hangers are both types of supports that can hold pipes in place; they are fixed and cannot be moved. What about pipe hangers then? Is it also fixed and cannot be moved? Does a pipe hanger generally support only one pipe? Also, what are the functions of pipe clamps and pipe supports? Thank you all for your guidance. . .
Hangers should be classified under sliding supports, those that are movable； There is a small amount of offset both axially and laterally. Pipe clamps and pipe supports are generally used for insulation or between different types of steel
It seems like there are picture albums for these as well; you can check those relevant album to gain a better understanding of them
Pipes and hangers can allow for a slight amount of movement, but this makes them unstable; it is therefore recommended to use them sparingly. Usually, only one pipe is suspended at a time. Pipe clamps are used to prevent lateral movement of the pipes, while pipe supports are used to hold the pipes from below – their height is generally around 100 mm. A bracket or base plate should be placed beneath the pipe support. It is advisable to consult the relevant diagrams for more details
There are standards for this; generally, in terms of design, for pipes with a diameter of 1 inch, a support is installed every 2.5 meters. Information on this can be found in the PipeData-PRO72 software
It is called differently in various contexts: what is hung is called a hanger, what provides support is called a bracket, and the one placed next to a pillar is called a pillar bracket
There are standard pipe rack diagrams on the forum; you can download them and take a look – they’re quite clear
More technically, the minimum distance between pipe racks is referred to as the pipe span, and this can be found in a pipe span table. For things such as pipe supports in pipelines, it is not enough to rely on catalogues; one must also go to the site to see the actual items in person to gain a better intuitive understanding. One needs to work directly on the model as well, and only by resolving any conflicts with the civil engineering structures and equipment can true comprehension be achieved. Communication with specialists in stress analysis is also very helpful in this regard.
You can take a look at the pictures in HG21629; they are very intuitive, allowing you to imagine it just by looking at them
Generally, each design institute has such a catalog, which details which pipe racks are to be used in which locations.