Low Temperature Piping Support Challenges & Mitigation
Authors: Rafiq Shahid , Locharla Haribabu , Al Awadhi Ibrahim , Al Ahmad Alya , Miranda Robert , Al Braiki Ahmed , Al Qaydi Alya 
Published: November 2019

Piping systems having service temperatures lower than ambient present a challenge for the pipe support design. Pipe supports for these cold piping systems are different from normal type of supports on pipes with service temperatures above ambient. Normally hot insulated piping systems have shoe type of supports directly welded to the pipe. In this case there is no relative movement between pipe support i.e. shoe and pipe while the pipe displaces due to changes in fluid service temperature inside the pipe. As the pipe expands when temperatures rise inside pipe, it displaces from its mean position of structural support. The shoe having been welded to pipe moves along with the pipe.

On the other hand, shoe type supports on cold service pipes are not directly and permanently connected to pipe. This is due to the fact that the pipe insulation on cold service piping is designed to be seal tight so that outside air cannot get inside the insulation and reach pipe surface where it starts condensation. The condensation in turn causes corrosion issues. To avoid this moist air ingress inside the insulation, the shoes are made of clamp types and are placed outside the insulation cladding. This causes problem of clamp type shoe slippage on cladding and total displacement of pipe shoe from its structural support. This paper presents an engineering study of a piping system with cold fluid service (propane) where multiple supports had fallen from the structural supports or had dislocated considerably. At few support locations, cladding was found to be damaged and ice formation was noticed. In addition, many clamped shoes had rotated as shown in figure 1. The solution as outcome of study was simple, economical and easy to implement.

A comprehensive study was conducted to identify the root cause of piping supports dislocation, displacement and rotation. The static/dynamic stress analysis of the piping system was carried out. The results revealed that the displacements in the piping system were not so high to cause the supports dislocation or high displacements of shoes. In addition, the stresses on the piping system due to the contraction of pipe upon cooling were within allowable limits. Figure 1Rotated and dislocated Clamp support on Cold Service Pipes

As a part of study process, operation was enquired if any upset had happened which might have caused the dislocation and abnormal movement of pipe and hence transferred to its supports. Operations informed that there was no such incident and the line had been operating normally without any trouble.

The process study including review of hydraulics, verification of line size and surge was performed to identify the root cause of piping abnormal movement. The process study concluded that line size was adequate and no surge scenario was identified for the line's concerned portion.

So following reasons which could cause abnormal pipe movements and dislocation of supports were ruled out based on above study: Operation upset in the piping system (such as sudden opening or closing of a valve or sudden starting/stopping of a pump),Line sizing or surge flow,Contraction of line due to cooling of piping system or piping configuration.

The next step in the study was to review the support configuration in detail. Study found basic design problem with the support configuration that was the cause of supports dislocation, excessive movement and rotation of clamped supports.