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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.

Refurbished A-36 Carbon Steel G-Type Constant on a Rush Basis

Damaged Constants in the Field

This constant spring support is fabricated from A-36 carbon steel and measures 39″ long x 29″ high x 11″ wide. This replacement support is designed to carry 11,000 lb. of piping load with a travel of 2 1/2″ upward. The limiting design factor was to stay within existing structural boundaries while allowing the constant assembly to move through its designed travel range.

Do you require g-type constants for your upcoming project? Contact us for pricing!

Upthrust U-Type Constant for an Energy Plant

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. Designed and Fabricated a Upthrust U-Type Constant for an Energy Plant in California

- Designed for a constant load of 7,733 lb.
- Travel ability is from 0 to 9 inches of total travel
- The constant’s shipping and installation setup is for downward travel
- The constant spring support has been custom designed to reduce its take-off from 36 7/8″ to 29 1/2″

Do you have a need for u-type constants in your plant? Get pricing today!

Constant Hanger Supports for a Power Recovery Plant

Constant support hangers are used to support pipes subjected to vertical movement. The (Fig. PTP 200) constants are designed to support loads from 4,000 lbs to 57,000 lbs. Each weighs approximately 1,500 lbs to 2500 lbs and has a travel of up to 4″ with an adjustable travel stop. Their sizes range from 15 to 100.

The advantage of an adjustable travel stop is that the constant is able to “lock in” at any position within the range of travel for a given constant. This alleviates the need for a total “shut down” of the piping system for temporary conditions such as hydrotesting, repair, or replacement.

Want to learn more about constants? Instantly view a past constant webinar today!

Constants for an Oil Refinery in Texas

These constant hanger assemblies are used to support piping systems subjected to vertical movement. They are capable of supporting loads ranging from 3,000 lbs to 63,000 lbs with a travel range of 5″. They have dimension between 73″ long, 36″ tall, and 23″ wide to 80″ long, 27″ tall, and 12 3/4 ” wide. Standard testing was performed for quality assurance.

Constants for an Oil Refinery in Texas

Do you see a need for constant supports in your refinery? Let us price them for you today!

44,000 lb. load Horizontal Upthrust Constant

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. recently fabricated horizontal upthrust constants for loads ranging from 24,000 lb. to 44,000 lb.  These Fig. PTP 200 type U constants are designed for a travel range of 4″ to 4 ½”. They are fabricated from A36 carbon steel with dimensions ranging from 60″x52″ to 80″x52″. To meet customer specified installation heights, angles were added to the base of each constant. Load testing was performed to ensure product quality prior to shipping.

Want to learn more about constant springs? View a past constant webinar today!

Piping systems are used to transport gases, liquids and suspended solids between units of a plant. The temperatures of the contents and the pipe when the plant is in operation are often quite different from the ambient temperature of the surroundings. The heat transferred during changes in temperature causes metal pipe to expand and contract. Piping designers must provide for movement due to temperature changes and forces caused by pumps, gravity and other elements of the piping system.Read PT&P’s “How to Size a Spring Hanger” Technical Bulletin for more information.

PT&P Specially Designs and Fabricates Constants for a Radiant-Tube Support System

These constants are an essential component of the radiant-tube support system for a reforming furnace. Piping Technology custom designed these units to fit in the limited space available inside the furnace. The bolting patterns for the constants needed to be flexible enough that they could be attached to the supporting structure with any of the support system designs being considered.

Slide Plates: The “Sandwich” Concept
Piping Technology & Products, Inc. uses the “sandwich” concept when applying slide plates to our customers ‘ systems. Figure 1 shows a “sandwich” composed of two identical slide plates, one on top and another on the bottom. Each slide plate (which is like the bun of the “sandwich”) and a low coefficient of friction material which is bonded to the metal backing plate.

Figure 1

Figure 1
In a typical application a slide bearing plate is welded to a structural steel member which is strong enough to provide the required support, but whose coefficient of friction is too high.

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows an application in which a slide bearing plate is welded on top of one steel beam supporting the other beam. When the top beam moves (due to thermal expansion, for example) it slides across the surface of the bearing plate without contacting the supporting another beam. To return to our “sandwich” metaphor, the top half of the “sandwich” is bonded to the sliding beam, and to the bottom half to the supporting beam.

Want to learn more about spring hangers? Visit our webinar archives today!

68" In Height Vertical Upthrust Constants

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. designed and built two, 68″ in height 100 U-Type constants for a power plant in Mexico. The vertical upthrust constants were designed to support 48,500 lb. each with a total upward travel of 3″. In order to prevent buckling of the constant housing, each constant was designed with five C7 x 14 3/4 lb. channels and a base plate of 26 3/8″ x 33 1/4″. These unique 100 U-Type upthrust constants were custom designed by PT&P to accommodate limited horizontal space requirement. The constants will be placed opposite to each other on a beam capable of supporting 99,000 lb. load of the pipe, plus the weight of the constants.

Want to learn more about constants? Visit out webinar archives today!

Emergency Field Service Request on Constant

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. and its 24×7 Quick Turn/Emergency Service were put to the test on a Friday evening when they received an emergency call from a company located in Jamaica. The Jamaican company was concerned with existing pipe supports at their location and made a request for a PT&P field services representative to visit and inspect.

An experienced PT&P field services manager arrived at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday to survey and fulfill the request.

The reported problem was a pair of rusted and decayed spring hangers dating back to 1969. After inspection, PT&P’s field services manager concluded that the aged spring hangers could no longer support the piping system due to changes in the design of the system, whereas, failure resulted in additional forces being exerted onto the steam turbine.

Following identification of the measurements, load capabilities, and movements of the spring hangers, it was apparent that the system design did not compensate for the weight of two globe valves that were added to the system at a later date. Thus, PT&P’s field services manager had to take into consideration the weight of these two globe valves when sizing the replacement parts.

PT&P supplied and delivered two Type G variable spring assemblies to Jamaica on the following Monday. Type G assemblies can accommodate unusually heavy loads, and is especially adaptable for avoiding interference in spaces where headroom is limited. In this case, the spring assembly was supporting loads in excess of 2000 lbs. and movement was limited due to its location in the powerhouse.

Replacement of a Constant Spring Hanger

A large refinery plant located in Pasadena, TX called upon Piping Technology & Products, Inc. to aid them in the immediate replacement of a 5400 Lbs, 7 1/2″ travel vertical constant spring hanger used to support a Coker drum.

The constant spring hanger was damaged during servicing. The reliability engineer from the refinery contacted PT&P Wednesday evening to request an inspection by a PT&P field services representative. The following morning PT&P’s field services representative arrived on-site, inspected the damaged constant spring hanger and suggested that a replacement would be most efficient and cost effective. With the existing nameplate bolted to the constant, PT&P was able to easily locate the original design of the constant.

The original design, along with the convenience of the component parts being in stock inventory, allowed PT&P to quickly manufacture a replica of the constant and ship it out on the same day by 6 p.m.

In the past, lead times for delivery of constant supports averaged 6-8 weeks, however, through the process of maintaining stock components of interchangeable parts, lead time has been drastically reduced. Piping Technology & Products, Inc. maintains a large inventory of stocked constant support assembly components that allows them to quickly assemble and ship to customers on demand, especially in emergency/quick-turn situations.