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The Secret of Pipe Supports: How Do They Bear Unimaginable Weight?
Pipe supports or pipe hangers play a vital role in industrial and building systems. They are not just structural elements that carry the pipes, but cleverly designed mechanical devices that work by transferring the weight of the pipes to the supporting structure such as steel reinforcement, concrete proofing, etc. These load-bearing systems are subject to loads from a variety of sources, including the weight of the pipeline itself, the fluid being transported, and various fittings.
The primary functions of pipe supports include securing, guiding, absorbing shocks and supporting specific loads.
Support systems for pipes used in high or low temperature applications typically need to include insulation materials, and the overall design configuration depends on the requirements of the load and operating conditions.
Load Type
Main load
Before understanding the operation of pipe supports, it is important to understand the major loads in the piping system. These loads are usually steady, meaning that the pipeline is subject to continuous forces such as internal fluid pressure, external pressure, and gravity during operation.
For example, a pipe used to transport fluids is subject to pressure from the fluid inside, which causes stress in the longitudinal and circumferential directions of the pipe.
In addition to steady loads, there are intermittent loads, such as pressure from natural phenomena such as wind and earthquakes, which also need to be considered in the design of the pipe support system.
Second Load
This type of load results from displacement, such as expansion or contraction of the pipe due to temperature changes. These displacement loads can be cyclical, such as expansion and contraction due to repeated changes in the temperature of the fluid.
The pipe support system must be able to cope with these challenges from the changing environment to ensure its stability and safety.
Types of Pipe Supports
There are many types of pipe supports, including rigid supports, spring supports, and shock absorbers. Rigid supports are typically used to restrict pipe movement in a specific direction, while spring supports use helical compression springs to accommodate pipe movement caused by thermal expansion.
Rigid support
The main functions of these support systems include anchoring, resting, and coaching conduits. Different types of rigid supports are designed to effectively bear the weight of the pipe and other loads.
Spring support
The spring supports are designed to accommodate loads and movements due to temperature changes in the pipe. Depending on the type of support required, it can be divided into variable spring support and constant effort support.
Materials and Standards
When manufacturing pipe supports, commonly used materials include structural steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). The choice of these materials depends not only on the load requirements of the support, but also on the need for corrosion protection.
In terms of design and manufacturing, there are a series of international standards to follow, such as ASME B31.1 and MSS-SP58, which ensure the safety and reliability of pipeline support.
Ultimately, proper pipe support not only ensures smooth and safe operation, but also extends the service life of the system. Faced with different application scenarios, can we find more innovative designs to solve the challenges of pipe support?
