Compact Spring Supports Designed for a Heat Exchanger at a Large Oil Refinery

March 5, 2024

Compact Spring Supports Designed for a Heat Exchanger at a Large Oil Refinery

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.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 11172020

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F-Type Variable Spring Supports Designed for a Petrochemical Plant in Canada

February 27, 2024

F-Type Variable Spring Supports Designed for a Petrochemical Plant in Canada

Type: F-Type Variable Spring Support Assemblies
Size: 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.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 05192020

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600,000 lb. Load Mega Ton Spring Support with Bronzphite® Slide Plates

February 13, 2024

600,000 lb. Load Mega Ton Spring Support with Bronzphite® Slide Plates

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.

600,000 lb. Load Mega Ton Spring Support with Bronzphite® Slide Plates

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 REF. ORIGINAL POST 03072012

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U-Type Constant Spring Supports Designed for a Power Plant

January 2, 2024

U-Type Constant Spring Supports Designed for a Power Plant

Type: Constant Spring Supports
Material: Carbon Steel | HDG | PTFE, 25% Glass Filled
Design: 8,200 lb. Load | 11-1/2″ Total Travel
Testing: Standard Load and Travel Test

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.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 08202017

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F-Type Variable Spring Supports with Graphite Slide Plates

December 19, 2023

F-Type Variable Spring Supports with Graphite Slide Plates Designed for an Oil Refinery

Type: 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.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 09242018

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Big Ton Spring Supports Designed for a 98,250 lb. Load

December 5, 2023

Big Ton Spring Supports Designed for a 98,250 lb. Load

Type: Big Ton Spring Supports
Size: 29″ wide x 110″ long x 35″ high
Material: 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

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 07252017

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Constant Spring Supports Custom-Designed for a Large Crude Oil Processing Facility

November 28, 2023

Constant Spring Supports Custom-Designed for One of the Largest Crude Oil Processing Facilities in the World

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 REF. ORIGINAL POST 07272021

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Saddle Support Spring Isolators for an Old Steam Chest Saddle

November 21, 2023

Saddle Support Spring Isolators Designed for an Old Steam Chest Saddle

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. Ptp spring isolators plain diagram 161917

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.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 11022021

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G-Type Variable Spring Assemblies Designed for an Oil & Gas Refinery in Texas

October 31, 2023

G-Type Variable Spring Assemblies Designed for an Oil & Gas Refinery in Texas

PT&P designed these G-Type variable spring support assemblies, along with a 24" diameter pipe shoe and hanger, for an oil and gas refinery in one of the largest refineries in Texas that was also the recipient of the American Fuel Manufacturers 2022 Innovation award. Our variables were for the refinery coker unit, which typically converts the residual oil from the vacuum distillation column into low molecular weight hydrocarbon gasses, naphtha, light and heavy gas oils, and petroleum coke.

Each variable spring support assembly was designed with a center-to-center of 36" and an elevation difference of up to 72". The spring supports consist of a G-type variable spring, all threaded rods, clevis, lifting lugs, welding lugs, and clevis pins. They are designed with an operating load range from 1,700 lb. to 10,500 lb. and a movement range of .02" to .19" up or down. Standard load and travel testing was completed before shipment.

The refinery was originally constructed in the 1930s. PT&P and our subsidiaries have deep experience with maintenance and replacement work at existing facilities to keep them running and producing for our clients. Our field service teams are available to do an audit, inspection, or replacements of variable spring cans based on your needs.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 08092016

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Constant Spring Support Assemblies for an LNG Plant in Central Africa

September 26, 2023

PT&P Designed and Fabricated Constant Spring Support Assemblies for an LNG Plant in Central Africa.

Type: Constant Spring Supports
Material: A36 Carbon Steel w/ HDG Finish
Design: 1,790 lb. Load | 8″ Vertical
Testing: Load and Travel Tests

These constant spring supports were modified to increase their installed height. The constants range in size from 20.5″ in height 38.75″ in length, and 13″ in width. They’re designed for up to 1790 lb. load and a vertical movement range of 8″. All constants were fabricated from A-36 carbon steel and hot-dipped galvanized. Each assembly went through standard load and travel testing per MSS Standards. The constants were shipped within 6 to 8 weeks to a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Africa.

LNG is natural gas cooled down until it reaches a liquid state. In its liquid state, natural gas is easier to transport by large ships when pipelines are not feasible. Over the years, we have supplied insulated and spring hanger supports to gasification and degasification plants. Our long history in the arena has helped us become the vendor of choice by offering the full scope of our services from testing, engineering & design, manufacturing, and Field Service.

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:

Constant Spring Supports

The applications for constant spring supports range in industry verticals we have built and designed for. In addition to LNG clients, we have designed and built constants for refineries, geothermal plants, petrochemical plants, and renewable energy facilities. The use applications include coker replacement, debottlenecking of the furnace, installation of a new VDU (vacuum distillation unit) heater, tube and heater replacement, and flare gas recovery units. Constant spring supports alongside our portfolio of products are shipped worldwide from our Houston, Texas headquarters, where all our products are manufactured. We are open for plant tours. If you are interested, please let us know so we can schedule some time with your team.

 

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 06192018

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