CONTENTS

Overview of purpose & types

Support selection criteria Special support & hanger design

Purpose
Carry pipe and component weight.
Sustain occasional or seismic loads. Avoid stresses in pipe and nozzles. Permit and guide thermal expansion. Stop misalignment and unrestrained movement of pipe. Dampen vibration forces. Provide slope and avoid pockets.

Loads in piping system

Sustained

Pipe weight Insulation weight Fluid weight Pressure

LOADS

Occasional

Wind load Seismic forces Relief valve thrust Rupture

Expansion

Thermal expansion in pipe length. Equipment thermal movement

Types of Supports
TYPES
By functionality

Load Support
(Major Support) To carry dead and operating load of single or multiple pipes. e.g. Stool, Stanchion, U-support, bracket.

Restraint Support
(Minor Support) To confine motion of a single pipe and restrict sway in various axes. e.g. Stopper, Guide, Shoes, U-strap.

Load Supports
Dummy Support
U-Support Bracket Support

Lugs
Hangers Angle Support

Restraint Supports
Anchors dont allow rotation or motion of pipe and restrict any expansion. It can divide pipeline in to two portions. Stops restrict motion in axial direction of pipe. They are used to restrict expansion in unwanted direction. Guides restrict motion in lateral direction. Allowing axial expansion but controlling any lateral displacement.

Criteria: Layout Considerations

Support Location Support should be near concentrated loads. Lines should be grouped to minimize number of supports. Vibration prone piping should be supported separately. Support should utilize existing structure or equipment, so that no special foundation is required. Support pipes at straight runs, not on bends or near welds.

Criteria: Support Selection

Selection Considerations
Selected support should be able to carry pipe and

component load. Prevent swing and restraint pipe motion. Support material should match pipe material.

If pipe material is costly then provide insulation pad at interface.

Support should use existing structure. Support shouldnt interfere access.

Distance of pipe from supporting point should be

reasonable. Requirement of PWHT should be taken into account.

Hanger Supports: Requirement

Definition
Load supports that are not rigid are called hangers i.e.

hangers allow limited upward and downward motion while carrying the load. Requirement Where pipes have significant upward or downward displacement. Where pipe elevation may vary relative to other supports/equipment by earth settling etc. Where thermal expansion may lift pipe from normal rigid support. This increases load distribution on other supports or nozzles.

Hanger Supports: Types

Variable Hangers

and contracts. Bearing load of spring varies with movement of pipe up and down due to thermal expansion. Constant Hangers If displacement due to expansion is too much even for variable hangers then constant hangers are used. They carry a constant load. Its working is based on counterweight mechanism. Where counterweight is provided by the spring rather than dead weights.

Variable hanger has spring coil in its case which expands