Application of numerical methods for construction and optimization of supports

Application of numerical methods for construction and optimization of supports

The importance of detailed ventilation and thermal measurements for hydro generator refurbishment

When designing pipes for transportation of fluids of great specific gravity, because of all the demands regarding the thickness of the pipe’s wall and material, the question of possible savings in all accompanying piping elements arises.

A big part of each plant, in material and money, regards pipe supports. Design of supports is knowledge that is in most cases conveyed in a specific pattern, „from one generation to another“, and not much attention is paid to possibilities of optimization. Especially problematic supports are fixed points or anchor supports, for they do not allow for any movements, which results in great forces and momentums for the support itself. Clamp supports can often perforate the pipe’s insulation on preinsulated pipes because the surface pressure between the insulation and the support is neglected. Supports of smaller pipe diameters (smaller than DN50) are in most cases not checked and are made and installed at the construction site and according to need. This results in supports that are too big and too stiff or too small and in this case useless. Through application of modern engineering methods, like numerical analysis (FEM), it is possible to in a relatively short time recognize critical points in process and power plants and make significant savings.

Support design is produced depending on the project and project demands and it is therefore important to put emphasis on pipes with bigger diameters (bigger than DN900). It is also necessary to present the process of optimization which is in line with American (ASME) and European norms, and distances between supports are based on the standard of the MSS SP 58 manufacturer.

Authors:

Ivan Soda-Cotic
NUMIKON L.T.D.

Luka Alfier
NUMIKON L.T.D.

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