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Subject: Constant Spring Supports Design and Application Webinar

** Webinar is worth 1 PDH Credit for TX Professional Engineers

Date: Thursday, June 7th, 2012

This Webinar will focus on the different types of constant spring supports. Learn about the special features available, in addition to the design of a constant support. View how the different cam/coil configurations produce a unique response to an applied load. Discover the step by step process used to size a spring for your application. Learn about the different attachments, testing, and installation and maintenance procedures. View examples of failed supports provided by our Field Service Division and learn why they failed and how to prevent it. Gain knowledge of the valuable tips used when deciding to adjust or replace a constant spring support, as well as shutdown and isolation procedures.

The featured presenter, Jerry Godina has over 13 years experience as a pipe support designer and manages PT&P’s engineer training development program. He also inspects existing supports, consults on site remediation projects and oversees installation on a regular basis.

A total of 232 variable spring supports were custom designed for a natural gas processing and separation plant. This project included various spring sizes from PTP-1 30 C-type to PTP-4 160 F-type assemblies. The variables are fabricated from carbon steel, galvanized and coated with a special 3-coat paint system to protect against corrosive byproducts such as sulphur. The F-types include 304 stainless steel and PTFE, 25% glass filled slide plate assemblies.

251 variable furnace springs were designed and fabricated for fertilizer production at a chemical plant in Virginia. The furnace cans are carbon steel and painted with red-oxide primer to avoid any potential hazards where exposed to high temperatures. This project included figures: PTP-1-120, PTP-2-150, PTP-2-180, PTP-4-100 and PTP-4-200 variable furnace springs with operating loads ranging from 1,042 lb. to 15,512 lb. A load test on all variable springs was conducted prior to shipment.

A total of eight big ton spring supports, “mega tons” were designed and manufactured to support two reactors in a power plant weighing approximately three million pounds each. The mega ton pictured incorporated eighteen individual spring coils to produce a load capacity of approximately 602,000 lb. and a spring rate of 112,500 lb./in. It was designed with eight Bronzphite® slide plates that measured 12″ x 12″. The 12″ x 12″ slide plate selection was based upon the ability to position individual squares across the load flange surface while simultaneously providing the total slide plate surface area required to support the operating loads.

By using individual slide plate squares, the fabrication and assembly time was reduced because a standardized mounting procedure could be incorporated and repeated as necessary for each big-ton load flange subassembly. Overall, the slide plates were incorporated into the design to reduce the horizontal forces which would be imparted onto the big-ton spring’s load flange during lateral deflection (movement) of the reactor.

Bronzphite® slide plates, in particular, were selected because these big-tons will be used in a location which will see continuous “cold-to-hot” operating cycles and as a result, the robust nature of Bronzphite® proved more advantageous than other types of slide plates. The other two designs used nine slide plates, one with fifteen individual coils to produce a operating load of 594,000 lb. and a spring rate of 250,050 lb./in. The other design had an operating load of 300,000 lb. and a spring rate of 106,000 lb./in.

These F-type variable spring supports are fabricated from carbon steel with a hot dipped galvanized finish and designed with guided load columns to provide stability for minimum lateral movement. The fig. 46 pipe saddles are also fabricated from carbon steel with a HDG finish and lined with PTFE, 25% glass filled material. The pipe saddles are designed for 8″ to 36″ diameter pipe sizes, and the entire assembly is 50″ in height. These variable-saddle support assemblies are capable of supporting up to 22,300 lb. and 1″ vertical movements. We performed standard spring loading tests and a Q.C. inspection prior to shipping to an offshore oil and gas platform near Malaysia.

According to ASME B31.1 Chapter VII Par. 140 a program shall be established for the assessment and documentation of the condition of all CPS (Covered Piping Systems) in power plants.

CPS Systems are defined in Chapter 1 Par 100.2, as systems on which condition assessments are to be conducted. This includes the following systems as a minimum.

NPS 4 and larger main steam, hot reheat steam, cold reheat steam, and boiler feedwater piping.

NPS 4 and larger systems that operate above 750°E (400°C or above 1,025 psi (7,100 kPa)

Other systems may be included as CPS by an Operating Company, based on their judgment. Appendix V of the code is titled ‘Recommended Practice for Operation, Maintenance, and Modification of Power Piping Systems’. This addendum is non-mandatory; however many  Power Industry operating companies’ insurance carriers are now invoking Appendix V with increasing frequency, and this is affecting conditions of their agreements with the operating companies.

Piping Technology and Products Inc. (PT&P) has for some time been performing surveys and assessments in accordance with part H of Par. 140, that requires hot and cold walk-down readings and assessment of pipe supports, operated within the creep regime of the pipe.    These assessments are helpful in identifying, sagging lines, deformation of supports, and damage caused by upset conditions, and/or incidents, attributable to operational malfunctions, dynamic/thermal or hydraulic events.

PT&P has been performing this service for many power generation companies. Preparation of documentation, retrieval and compilation of files for a CPS assessment, has just been completed for a major U.S power generation company. Ten large power plants were involved, and the original predominantly high-energy pipe support drawings, all engineered and designed by PT&P, were retrieved from PT&P archives dating back ten years.

Please feel free to contact us at david.baker@pipingtech.com and we will be happy to answer any of your technical questions about our survey capabilities, as well as any other engineering or field services that your organization may need.

These 200 U-Type constant spring supports were modified to increase their installed height by adding a secondary plate and angles, which will be welded to the structural beam. The constants range in size from 25″ to 27″ in height, 52″ to 67″ in length, and 25″ in width. Their load capacities range from 10,300 lb. to 13,000 lb. with vertical movement ranging from 3″ to 4-1/2″. All constants were fabricated from A-36 carbon steel, and went through standard load and travel testing per MSS Standards prior to shipment.

Do you have a similar application that requires upthrust constants? Get pricing today!

This Webinar is over… visit www.pipingtech.com/webinar

Subject: Constant Spring Supports Design and Application Webinar ** Webinar is worth 1 PDH Credit for TX Professional Engineers

Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012

This Webinar will focus on the different types of constant spring supports. Learn about the special features available, in addition to the design of a constant support. View how the different cam/coil configurations produce a unique response to an applied load. Discover the step by step process used to size a spring for your application. Learn about the different attachments, testing, and installation and maintenance procedures. View examples of failed supports provided by our Field Service Division and learn why they failed and how to prevent it. Gain knowledge of the valuable tips used when deciding to adjust or replace a constant spring support, as well as shutdown and isolation procedures.

The featured presenter, Jerry Godina has over 13 years experience as a pipe support designer and manages PT&P’s engineer training development program. He also inspects existing supports, consults on site remediation projects and oversees installation on a regular basis.