PT&P designed twelve constant spring support assemblies for a chemical plant in New Jersey. The assemblies will be used as replacements in a recuperator "up-leg" and "down-leg" application in conjunction with custom cross-over supports previously fabricated by PT&P. Physical sizes of these constant assemblies range from 18-1/2" x 22" x 64" to 18-1/2" x 26" x 83". Operating loads range between 8,000 lb. – 19,000 lb. and each allows for upward movement between 6" – 9". The spring coils are coated with epoxy instead of the standard neoprene coating. Standard load and travel tests were completed prior to shipment.
Constant spring supports find applications in various fields and can be made from diverse materials tailored to specific end applications. These supports are integral in industries such as petrochemicals, LNG, refining, power generation, steel mills, and geothermal plants, among others. In the past, obtaining a custom-designed constant spring support posed a significant challenge in terms of both design and manufacturing, with lead times extending to a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
Through a dedicated focus on manufacturing optimization and employing a design-centric engineering approach, we have successfully reduced the required manufacturing time by more than half. Now, the process of acquiring custom constant spring supports is significantly streamlined. In fact, we are capable of fulfilling emergency orders in less than 24 hours, taking into account the client’s location and urgent requirements.
PT&P custom designed and manufactured ten 200 U-Type constant spring supports with slide plates for an Oil Refinery in Texas. They are fabricated from A36 carbon steel with an HDG finish for plates, angles, and cans. Its dimensions are 31" in height and 52" in length with 19" in width. They are designed for a movement of 3 ½" up to 9 ½" and an operating load of 1100 lbs up to 4800 lbs. They were custom-designed to match the box dimensions of a competitor. The units had a Standard Load Test performed prior to shipment.
Constant springs are sometimes installed near rotating equipment such as pumps and compressors used in manufacturing, mining operations, utilities, oil and gas extraction, and cross-country pipelines. By providing constant support to piping leading to rotating equipment subject to both vertical and horizontal movement, these types of spring hangers help to decrease stresses imposed on rotating equipment, thereby extending the life of the bearings and seals within these units.
For this application, our constants were designed and manufactured with carbon steel; however, depending on application requirements, such as a furnace, we can also provide constant spring supports utilizing stainless steel material, which accommodates high temperatures and corrosive environments. We created the world’s smallest constant spring support. Our nano constant is ideal for such applications:
These compact spring supports were custom-designed to support a heat exchanger at an oil refinery. They were designed to support loads up to 12,000 lb. and a movement of 0.039", with space limitations of 3"in height. These compact springs are fabricated from carbon steel and utilize engineered Belleville (disc spring) washers. 25% glass-filled (PTFE) slide plates are bonded to the top of the load flange and provide a low coefficient of friction. The DST Compact Spring Support is specifically designed to relieve excess loading on process equipment. Benefits: Minimizes excessive loads on sensitive equipment, same load for smaller working range (25-50% less space), ideal for locating under equipment flanges & reduces design time, maintenance cost and accidents.
Heights up to 12-3/4”
Spring Casing Diameters from 6-5/8” to 8-5/8”
Base plates from 9″x 9″ to 13-1/4” x 13-1/4″
Design:
Operating Temp.: -49°F to 122°F
Operating Loads from 697 lb. to 6093 lb.
Movements of 0.04″ to 0.2”
Material:
Hot-dipped Galvanized Carbon Steel
Testing:
Load & Travel Test | Q.C. Inspection
Piping Technology and Products, Inc. recently designed and manufactured F-Type variable spring supports with internal load columns for a petrochemical plant in Canada. The variables are fabricated from carbon steel that is able to accommodate low temperatures (A516-GR. 70N). The operating temperature ranges from -49°F to 122°F while supporting operating loads from 697 lb. to 6093 lb. and movements of 0.04″ to 0.2″. They are designed to accommodate installed heights up to 12-3/4″, with spring casing diameters from 6-5/8″ to 8-5/8″, along with base plates from 9″x 9″ to 13-1/4″ x 13-1/4″ for installing either by bolting or welding in the field. Load and travel tests, along with visual Q.C. inspections were performed before shipment.
Variable supports are typically used for the following considerations in piping systems:
Compensating for Thermal Expansion
Maintaining Stress and Load
Installation in Piping Systems
Maintenance
Supporting Heavy Loads
Variable spring cans play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and stability of piping systems by compensating for thermal expansion or contraction, supporting heavy loads, and allowing for vertical movement. They are essential components in industries such as petrochemical, power generation, semiconductor, refining, paper and pulp processing, and other applications where large-scale piping systems are employed.
Variable spring cans come in a variety of designs and are constructed using different materials to suit specific applications and environmental conditions. Materials commonly used for variable spring cans include carbon steel, stainless steel, and special alloys. The selection of materials is crucial to ensure that the device can withstand the corrosive effects of certain fluids or harsh environmental conditions.
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 an operating load of 594,000 lb. and a spring rate of 250,050 lb./in. The other design had an operating load of 285,000 lb. and a spring rate of 106,000 lb./in.
In addition to designing and manufacturing the Mega Ton spring supports, we were tasked with testing them to confirm they would operate in the actual conditions for which they were designed to operate at the requested loads. Therefore, we custom designed and manufactured a test apparatus and incorporated the use of a special load cell to ensure proper operation throughout the entire working range of the coils. The “mega tons” were then set to the cold (installed) load as specified. Testing was developed and done by our in-house manufacturing, quality and engineering teams.
PT&P designed and manufactured 48 constant spring supports for a power plant in Mexico. The constants pictured above are Fig. 200 U-type constant spring supports fabricated from A-36 carbon steel and include PTFE, 25% glass-filled slide plates bonded to the load flange. The supports are 39″ H x 26″ W x 80″ L and are designed for operating loads up to 8,200 lb., with a total travel of 11-1/2″. These are horizontal constants designed to support piping from below in conjunction with a pipe saddle. All the constants went through standard load and travel testing per MSS Standards prior to shipment.
Constant spring supports find applications in various fields and can be made from diverse materials tailored to specific end applications. These supports are integral in industries such as petrochemicals, LNG, refining, power generation, steel mills, and geothermal plants, among others. In the past, obtaining a custom-designed constant spring support posed a significant challenge in terms of both design and manufacturing, with lead times extending to a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
Through a dedicated focus on manufacturing optimization and employing a design-centric engineering approach, we have successfully reduced the required time by more than half. Now, the process of acquiring custom constant spring supports is significantly streamlined. In fact, we are capable of fulfilling emergency orders in less than 24 hours, taking into account the client’s location and urgent requirements.
Variable Spring Supports with Graphite Slide Plates
Materials:
CS | HDG | High Heat Aluminum Finish | Graphite
Load Range:
420 lb. to 7650 lb. | 0.65″ Upward Movement
Design:
700°F Temperature | Q.C. & Load Tests
PT&P custom designed an F-type variable spring supports with graphite slide plates for an oil refinery in California. Client inspection O.C. inspections and load tests were conducted prior to shipment.
The graphite slide plates are used to accommodate the axial and lateral movement of the pipeline. Each assembly is equipped with specially designed “round” base plates (instead of the standard square plates) and is designed for temperatures up to 700°F. The spring cans are designed for a load range from 420 lb. to 7,650 lb. and movements up to 0.65″. In this case, they are finished with high-heat aluminum instead of our standard hot-dipped galvanized finish due to the high-temperature requirements in which these units will be operating. We have the unique capability to work with different materials based on the design needs. Variable spring supports, along with our array of engineered support solutions, stand as a fundamental pillar of our business. They enable us to actively collaborate with our clients, whether it involves the products we’ve manufactured, systems subjected to pipe stress and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), or items serviced through the expertise of our field service team.
For many of our products, we have the ability to build and deliver support in less than 24 hours should an emergency arise. It is useful to keep our emergency information handy on your phone and computers should an unforeseen moment arise. Please share this with your maintenance, fixed equipment, and reliability teams. To bookmark or for more information about our emergency assistance, please click here.
HDG Carbon Steel | A193 Gr. B7 Travel Stops and Load Column
Design:
98,250 lb. | 1-3/4″ Upward
Testing:
Load Cell Test
This big ton spring support assembly was designed for a facility in Kansas. For this application PTP’s big ton was used to support heat transfer and steam generating equipment typically used in fossil fuel power generation, combined cycle power generation, petrochemical, and process industries.
Big Ton spring supports are extremely stable. Base supports springs of this design are frequently used under horizontal pressure vessel saddle supports in combination with slide plates or roller supports. Our Big Ton design lends itself ideally to this support situation. Type F design is sufficient where there is a minimal amount of lateral movement, but where the combination of heavy loads and thermal expansion are required, Big Ton industrial springs should be your choice.
The big ton assemblies were fabricated from hot-dipped galvanized carbon steel and include neoprene coated springs coils. The travel stops and load column material is A193 Gr. B7. The units measure 29″ wide x 110″ long x 35″ high and are capable of supporting loads up to 98,250 lb. while accommodating movements from 1-3/4″ upward. The big tons were tested at our facility with a load cell designed by our team to ensure proper operation throughout the big ton’s operating range.
Alongside our ability to design and manufacture big tons specific to your system needs, our field service team is readily available to service, audit, maintain, and/or assist with installation of such products. For more on installation and maintenance take a look at our resource page: big ton installation-maintenance
Piping Technology & Products custom-designed constant spring supports for crude oil processing at one of the largest refineries in the world. Petroleum refineries change crude oil into products such as jet fuel, gasoline, polypropylene, polyethylene, propane, sulfur, carbon black feed, and diesel that can be used for transportation, heating, feedstocks for making other chemicals, generating electricity, renewable energy, and paving roads. Piping Technology and Products was awarded this project because we were the only engineering manufacturing firm vendor of constant spring manufacturers in the world that could both design, manufacture, and test these units for the unique design conditions. These constant springs will support loads ranging from 88,185 lb. to 143,300 lb. They are designed for temperatures up to 650°F, and movements of 0.39" up, 4.72" down, -2.36" up, and 0.39" down. The Type-C constants are 67" H x 21" W x 88.25" L and the Type-F constants are 85" H X 39.75" W x 86.56" L.
The F-Type springs will include graphite slide plates and are designed to support the piping from below while allowing both lateral and axial movement. All constant assemblies underwent magnetic particle inspection of welds, travel, and compression tests. Additionally, a special “cramp test” was conducted on each spring coil. A "cramp test" is done by compressing the spring coil by a specified length for a specific period of time. This assures the spring’s functionally especially when a large "wire diameter" is used to manufacture the spring coil for these high loads. At Piping Technology and Products and our subsidiaries, we specialize in designing pipe supports, expansion joints, and insulated supports for unique applications involving products not readily available. Our products are used in the CDU (crude distillation units), hydrocracking units, RFCC (residual fluid catalytic cracking), naphtha hydrotreater, and hydrodesulfurization units (also known as alkylation unit), and sulphuric acid regeneration (SAR) units in refineries.
PT&P custom-designed and fabricated "saddle support spring isolators" to replace the previous springs originally designed in 1974 for supporting an old steam chest saddle at a chlor-alkali chemical plant. Chlor-alkali plants use salt and electricity to produce caustic soda and chlorine gas. Downstream, the chlorine gas – either wet or optionally dry – can be reacted in a chemical process to produce bleach, other chlorine derivatives, or chemical feed stocks finding its way into the production of glass, plastics, pulp, paper, textiles, vinyl, antiseptics, insecticides, and a water treatment agent and in some soaps and detergents. Rising demand for chlorine and caustic soda in various industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, paper, and chemicals are driving the chlor-alkali market. Due to improvements in the manufacture of spring coils, PT&P’s engineering team suggested improvements to the original design using a more well-suited design that exceeds the original design specifications. These saddle supports include PTFE, 25% glass-filled slide plates bonded to the top of the assembly. They are designed to support up to 32,000 lb. each with a 6,250 lb/in. spring rate. These springs do not have the traditional spring housing typically used to encase the spring coil, instead, they are fabricated utilizing carbon steel plates in conjunction with chains and internal components. See diagram below.
The spring coils are alloy steel and were custom designed per this customer’s specified wire dia, active/total coils, and solid height. The spring supports were load tested and a quality control inspection was completed that included MAG Particle Inspection. PT&P can replace existing custom variable spring supports using the original design drawings from plants built more than 50 years ago. PT&P can also reverse engineer any spring hanger by taking detailed measurements of the support in the field and sending the information back to our shop for a quick lead time during a plant turnaround or shutdown. Many of the custom spring supports that PT&P has supplied to replace original equipment have been in service for more than 40 years.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
