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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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Hydraulic Snubbers for an Ammonia Plant in Louisiana
February 20, 2024

Hydraulic Snubbers For An Ammonia Plant In Louisiana

Type: Hydraulic Snubbers
Design: 3,000-15,400 lb load/5″-12″ stroke
Material: Carbon Steel
Size: 31″ up to 148″ pin-to-pin and cylinder diameters from 2.5″ to 5″

Piping Technology & Products designed these hydraulic snubbers for an ammonia plant in Louisiana. The snubbers ranged in length from 31" up to 148" pin-to-pin and cylinder diameters from 2.5" to 5". They are designed for an operating load ranging from 3,000 lb. to 15,400 lb. and have a 5" to 12" stroke. Hydraulic snubbers are designed to protect the piping system when a sudden, heavy load is applied (such as an earthquake of high intensity), which can cause serious vibrations leading to damage and possible failure of the piping system.

Most hydraulic snubbers have a piston which is relatively unconstrained in motion at low displacement rates. At high displacement rates the piston "locks up", that is, the force required to move the piston increases substantially, usually as a result of the closing of a valve.

Hydraulic snubbers are used in many applications and are typically needed urgently in operational facilities. We have provided these products in all major verticals including refining, petrochemical, renewables, and power operations.. Our hydraulic snubbers are built in accordance with ASME Boiler and pressure vessel code and our Laconia, New Hampshire operations have ASME Nuclear Stamp "NS" for nuclear applications.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 11232016

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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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