Seeking advice on pipe support issues
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In the diagram, the inlet pipeline of the heat exchanger lacks supports; after the tube box is removed, there is no support in place. The owner needs to install supports, as shown in Figure 2. However, even with those supports in place, the inlet pipe still has to be lifted using a hand winch every time the tube box is removed. So perhaps these supports aren’t necessary? Is it compliant for this pipe to remain pressed against the tube box on a regular basis? Could someone please explain this?
If added, is such a long hanger (over 4 meters) in compliance with the regulations?
Is the inlet pipeline of the questioner the one above? Generally, to facilitate the removal of the tube box, two flanges need to be installed on the upper nozzle pipeline of the tube box, turning it into a detachable short pipe. See the figure below: Before removing the tube box, this pipe section must be taken apart so that the tube box can be lifted using a crane. I hope this helps.
Is it the same for every heat exchanger? This inlet pipeline doesn’t have flanges in two places, so it can’t be removed; one can only use a winch to lift it a little. It makes no sense to install brackets at this location, right?
There is no need to install a hanger; I saw that there is a hanger on the top of the heat exchanger, and since the diameter of this pipeline is not large, it can provide sufficient support. During maintenance, lifting the pipeline slightly with a chain block is sufficient to meet the requirements.
This post was last edited by lupg on 2019-5-14 07:49. 1. The pipeline specifications in the diagram are not large, and the piping system has good flexibility; temporary suspension measures can be used to secure it during maintenance, and it is also easy to disconnect the flanges between the pipes and the pipe boxes in order to carry out repairs on the pipe bundle. 2. This equipment appears to be a reboiler, with the pipe bundle handling high-temperature media, resulting in thermal expansion of the pipes. If brackets are to be added, rigid frames should not be used, as they will become loose due to thermal expansion and cease to function; spring brackets are required instead. 3. Due to the good flexibility of the piping system, the force exerted by the pipes on the equipment remains within the range that the equipment nozzles can withstand; from a stress perspective, there is no need to add supports