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U-Type Constants Designed with Slide Plates for a Polypropylene Plant in Texas
July 4, 2023

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PT&P designed and fabricated a U-Type constant spring support , with PTFE and a 25% glass-filled side plate for a Polypropylene Plant in Texas. The constant is fabricated from carbon steel and hot-dipped galvanized for extra protection against corrosion. The vertical movement is 1.5" total upward travel and is capable of supporting a load of 10,350 lbs. throughout its range of movement. The constant underwent standard load testing prior to shipment.

Along with chemical plants, constant spring supports are utilized in refineries, power plants, and heat recovery steam generators (HRSG). The design of the constant spring support replaced a system of pipe support called a "counterweight" design still used in some facilities today. The counter-weight system utilized pipe clamps or lugs (attached or welded to the pipe), cables, pulleys, and a set of weights. Just like the old-fashioned brass weighing scales, weights were added to one end of the pulley system until an equilibrium was reached. The counterweight design needed a large amount of space with which to operate. Constant spring hangers replaced this system because they require much less space in order to function (similar to some designs we stand on to weigh ourselves). No matter the application, our team of experienced engineers and designers can help to resolve your pipe support needs. Please contact us via our 24×7 emergency service or send an email to info@pipingtech.com.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 08232016

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Cold Shoes and Hot Shoes Designed for an Ammonia Project
June 27, 2023

Insulated Pipe Supports Designed For Cryogenic And High Temperature Pipe Systems For An Ammonia Project

PT&P custom designed 98 insulated pipe supports for an ammonia project at a chemical plant in Louisiana. The supports were designed for both cryogenic and high-temperature pipe systems, with an 8" to 22" baseplate width and a 10" to 28" saddle length. They were designed for pipe diameters of 6"-24" and are composed of polyurethane foam for cryogenic and high-density calcium silicate insulation for high temperatures. Standard Q.C. and dimensional tests were performed prior to shipment.

This project was a combination of upgrading a current anhydrous ammonia plant and adding new capacity to the facility. We worked with the EPC, on-site contractors, and operators to ensure specifications and delivery deadlines were met over a three-year period during project construction. In addition to the insulated supports discussed here, we designed, manufactured, and shipped bellmouth reducers, metallic expansion joints, pipe shoe guides and anchors, pipe hanger hardware, slide plates, snubbers, sway braces, struts, and variable spring supports.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 06232015

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Compact Springs Designed for an Oil Refinery Expansion Project
June 13, 2023

Compact Springs Designed For An Oil Refinery Expansion Project

Type: Compact Spring Supports (Disc Springs)
Material: Carbon Steel | PTFE, 25% Glass-Filled
Design: Movement: 1/32″ to 1/4″ | Load: 12,000 lb.
Testing: Standard Spring Rate & Calibration Tests

These compact spring supports were custom designed for an oil refinery expansion project. They will be installed underneath a heat exchanger supporting a load of up to 12,000 lb. The space available was limited to 3" for the installed height, and the movements ranged from 1/32" to 1/4". These units are the perfect solution for tight spaces where the distance between the supporting steel and the equipment/pipeline is extremely limited. These compact springs are fabricated from carbon steel and utilize engineered Belleville (disc spring) washers to achieve the desired spring rate. 25% glass-filled (PTFE) slide plates are bonded to the top of the load flange and provide a low coefficient of friction in order to adjust the spring’s height.

Here at Piping Technology and Products, we manufacture a wide range of variable spring supports along with constant spring supports. Our experience and know-how have helped to facilitate designs to incorporate site conditions where no conventional support is available.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 03092017

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Custom All Stainless Steel Variable Spring Supports for a Floating LNG Platform in Singapore
May 30, 2023

Custom All Stainless Steel Variable Spring Supports For A Floating Lng Platform In Singapore

Type: Variable Spring Supports
Material: Alloy 2205 Duplex/SAE 5160H
Design: Operating Load up to 3,597 lbs./Operating Temperatures of -15-200°F
Testing: Standard Load & Travel Tests

PT&P manufactured these custom variable spring supports for a floating LNG platform in Singapore. The spring housings are fabricated with alloy 2205 duplex, and the coil is manufactured from – SAE 5160H to help prevent corrosion due to sea salt. The variables installed heights range from 10-3/4″ to 12-1/16″ and are designed for an operating load of up to 3,597 lbs. Also, load tests were performed at operating temperatures of -15°F, along with liquid penetrant testing of the welds. These variable springs are also designed to suit a highly corrosive environment such as sea salt. They can operate in temperatures ranging from -14 to 200°F without compromising their load-carrying capacity. We offer a full range of pipe supports and expansion joints for offshore applications, including floating platforms for cryogenic systems for offshore LNG transfer, both for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore. Our team of engineers and field service technicians have assisted in offshore diving examinations to both inspect and recommend solutions to help solve emergency needs.

As the floating LNG market continues to grow at a rate of almost 5% year over year, it is evident the increased demand for clean energy is the driving factor. Piping Technology and Products and its subsidiaries are well-positioned to support the global pivot to renewable and clean energy needs. In the last year alone, we designed and delivered products and services in most associated sectors, including solar, wind, water, geothermal, bioenergy, nuclear, hydrogen & fuel cell sectors worldwide.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 01022018

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Over 4,000 Cryogenic Pre-Insulated Pipe Supports Designed for LNG Service
May 23, 2023

Over 4,000 Cryogenic Pre-Insulated Pipe Supports Designed For Lng Service

Type: Pre-Insulated Pipe Shoe & Clamp Assemblies
Material: 304 L Stainless Steel | Protective Coating | Micarta® Insulation
Design: 20″ L x 36″ W x 75″ H | 56″ Dia. Pipeline | -459°F
Testing: Load & Pull Tests

PT&P designed over 4,000 supports for LNG service in Texas. These pre-insulated pipe shoe and clamp assemblies were custom designed for cryogenic temperatures with special low-temperature grade NP500CR Micarta® insulation. This type of Micarta® consists of a glass fabric with a specially formulated epoxy resin. It has excellent physical properties at operating temperatures down to -459°F. It has very low thermal conductivity and has been produced specifically for use in cryogenic applications. The shoes pictured are fabricated from 304 L stainless steel, A193 GR. B8 bolting, with a protective coating and designed for a 56″ diameter pipeline. The shoes measure 20″ long, 36″ wide(base), and 75″ high. This project included supports varied in pipe sizes from ¾” to 56″ in diameter. Load tests were performed prior to shipping this rush order.

As a leader in the supply of pipe supports for LNG facilities, we’ve passed on to our client’s design expertise, innovations, and deliverables for over 30 years. For this project, we supplied over 90,000 pipe supports over a three-year period, including:

  • On-site field assistance to identify the material, address material shortages, and inspection
  • Constant spring supports
  • Fabricated pipe shoes, guides, and anchors
  • Insulated shoes and supports
  • Structural supports
  • Slide plates
  • Sway braces and struts
  • Variable Spring supports
  • Wear Pads

In recent years, the use of various new and improved insulating materials have helped to produce a better product, made installation easier, lowered maintenance costs, and extended the life of the support. We offer testing at our manufacturing facility in Houston utilizing thermal scanning (infrared technology) to measure temperature at various locations around the support. Often, we build the test structures that are then employed to analyze different products for improvement based on client needs and product optimization in manufacturing and design. The results often lead to design improvements that improve the efficiency of the piping system and reduction in the cost of installation in the field. We offer 24×7 web-based emergency services, providing field service and quick turn-around time when you need it most.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 11072017

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Hydraulic Snubber Assemblies Designed for a Geothermal Power Plant
May 16, 2023

Hydraulic Snubber Assemblies Designed For A Geothermal Power Plant

Fronek Anchor/Darling, a division of PT&P, designed and manufactured hydraulic snubbers for Geothermal power plants. Historically, these plants are located near tectonic plate boundaries in the Earth’s crust, where thermal activity is easily tapped. This heat energy is transferred into electrical energy through the use of turbines, generators, and heat exchangers. These snubbers are fabricated from stainless steel and include a special paint system suitable for a Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) environment. All of the snubbers for this application were a 2-1/2 bore size, capable of operating at loads up to 10,000 lb., and were provided with either 6″ or 12″ of available stroke. The Pin-to-Pin dimensions ranged from approximately 36″ to 54″. Each snubber was tested at its rated capacity to ensure acceptable dynamic performance once it was installed in the field.

A hydraulic snubber is used to protect piping from unexpected events, such as water hammers or seismic activity prevalent in geothermal applications, while allowing the piping to move freely during normal operation conditions – a typical movement driven by thermal growth. We have seen hydraulic snubbers used in a large number of different applications, typically during the design phase of a project when the Piping Engineer is designing for a line that may have transient events but must also accommodate thermal growth. A hydraulic snubber works by passing hydraulic fluid between 2 chambers via a poppet valve. When the speed of the fluid passes a threshold, the poppet valve closes and causes the Hydraulic snubber to become rigid support. There is a small relief passage between the two chambers that will eventually allow the Hydraulic snubber to “reset.”

These snubbers were designed and manufactured for one of the world’s leading developers, operators, and manufacturers of geothermal renewable energy. We have long-standing relationships with our clients as a result of our long history and extensive portfolio of products and services. In this case, we supported this client’s initiatives for over 20 years worldwide with their projects in Nevada, California, Oregon, Israel, Hawaii, and Guatemala. In addition to hydraulic snubbers, we provided constant assemblies, pipe shoes, guides, anchors, pipe hanger hardware, slide-bearing plates, and variable spring supports.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 03232021

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Bronzphite® Slide Plate Assemblies for a Power Plant
May 2, 2023

Structural And Bronzphite® Slide Plate Assembly For An Exhaust Duct At A Fossil-Fired Power Plant

Type: Structural Support with Slide Plates
Size: 1/2” x 5/18”
Material: Carbon Steel | Hot-dipped Galvanized | Bronzphite®
Design: 2,000 lb. Load | 730°F Temperature | 3,500 lb. Hydro-test

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. custom designed this structural support with Bronzphite® slide plates for an exhaust duct application at a fossil fuel-fired power plant in Louisiana. The Bronzphite measures 1/2” x 5″ x18” and was attached to a stand manufactured in carbon steel with a galvanized finish. The assembly is designed for an operating temperature of 730°F and an operating load of up to 2,000 lb. Also, designed with a hydro-test load of 3,500 lb. Standard visual and dimensional tests were performed prior to shipment.

Bronzphite® slide plates are commonly installed underneath the saddles of large stainless and carbon steel pressure vessels and tanks used in mining, refineries, and storage tanks storing a number of gasses such as chlorine, petroleum, and ammonia. Bronziphite plates used in these applications help to facilitate the growth of the tank due to pressure and temperature changes by lowering the friction between the supporting structural steel and the saddle of the vessel. Our Sweco division is ASME certified and can assist in the design and manufacture of small vessels and have experienced engineers utilizing materials such as Hastelloy, stainless, and carbon steel.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 02262019

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Constant Spring Supports Custom Designed for a Power Plant in Egypt
April 18, 2023

Constant Spring Supports Custom Designed For A Main Stream System At A Power Plant In Egypt

Type: Constant Springs & Alloy Clamp Assemblies
Size: 48″ H x 57″ L x 24″ W | 36″ dia. Clamp
Materials: Carbon Steel with HDG Finish | Alloy
Design: 1070°F | 7-1/2″ Total Travel | 24,712 lb. Load
Testing: Load and Travel Test

PT&P custom-designed and manufactured constant spring supports for a mainstream system at a power plant in Egypt. The constants include alloy clamps designed for a 900 mm (approximately 36″ dia.) pipe. They are 48″ H x 57″ L x 24″ W with 7-1/2″ total travel from the cold position. We also supplied alloy clamps designed for an operating temperature of 1070°F. The constants are fabricated from A36 carbon steel and include a hot-dip galvanized protective coating. They are designed for an operating load of 24,712 lb. The constants have been modified to accommodate a specialized spring coil and modified casing in order to fit the existing space or envelope. Standard travel and load tests were performed prior to shipping.

Constants can be used with rollers, travelers, or slide plates to accommodate lateral or axial movement in the pipeline system in plants such as solar, geothermal, soybean crushing, ethanol, and other green energy facilities. Our company and its subsidiaries work with over 90% of the leading green energy providers in the world.

Our Field Service team, along with our pipe support engineers and designers, can also conduct inspections of existing supports, provide consultation on-site remediation, and oversee installation on both a short-term and long-term basis catering to facilities worldwide. So whether a “grassroots project” or an existing plant that has been in service for years, we offer cost-effective products and services.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 10092018

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Variable Spring Supports Designed for a Furnace in Trinidad
April 11, 2023

Variable Spring Supports Designed For A Furnace In Trinidad

Type: F-Type Variable Spring Supports (Furnace Springs)
Material: Carbon Steel | Red Oxide Primer
Design: Movement: 1/2 “| Load: 398 lb. | Spring Rate: 84 lb./in.
Testing: Standard Spring Rate & Calibration Tests

PT&P designed and manufactured these F-Type variable spring supports for use in a furnace at a facility in Trinidad. We manufactured these furnace springs for an operating load of 398 lb., a movement up to 1/2″, and a spring rate of 84 lb./in. Customer specifications required a modified “installed height” while maintaining the spring rate, operating load and installation load. In order to accomplish this, PT&P designed, manufactured, and attached, to each spring, a “pedestal” to accomplish the increased installed height. They are fabricated from carbon steel with a red oxide primer coating (instead of a hot dipped galvanized) to protect against corrosion. Our standard hot-dipped galvanizing is not suitable for high temperatures because the zinc used in the galvanizing process can melt and cause damage to surrounding pipes and equipment. We also offer several other coatings for high-temperature applications.

We offer a wide range of modifications to our standard variable springs, from stainless steel units used in Food Processing plants and facilities which operate at Sub-Zero temperatures to units designed for use in high-temperature applications often found in refineries, fertilizer, and chemical plants. Some applications include hydrogen reboilers and radiant coils in gas vent heater systems. Our team of sales, engineering, and manufacturing offers a unique source of experience and knowledge unmatched in our industry.

In a Furnace application, both variable and/or constant spring hangers are utilized to support piping and equipment. In the past year, we have provided constant furnace springs for some of the largest refineries in the Americas. We replaced a 25-year incumbent design with a smaller envelope at a lower cost than any other offering in the market with our newly designed nano-constant. The project requirements were stringent in terms of load deviation requirements of 3% of all catalyst tube springs. We provided over 350 furnace springs in less than six months’ time from our manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. To expedite the manufacture and shipment of springs, we built a new test machine in order to conduct tests more quickly, as every unit is tested before being shipped to the job site.

If you need assistance or are interested in scheduling a virtual or in-person training specifically on pipe supports and expansion joints for furnace applications, reach out as we are always available 24×7 via our emergency service or just send an email to info@pipingtech.com.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 02212017

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Compact Spring Supports Designed for an Oil Refinery in Minnesota
April 4, 2023

Compact Spring Supports Designed For An Oil Refinery In Minnesota

These compact spring supports were custom designed for an oil refinery in Minnesota. Typically, compact spring supports are used to support large loads but small movements relieving process equipment nozzles from overloading. In this case, the springs are designed to support loads of 5,605 lb., 4,747 lb. and 1,250 lb. and movements of 0.133” and 0.029” upward and 0.199″ downward, respectfully.

Compact spring supports utilize engineered Belleville (disc spring) washers. Since these spring supports contain disc springs, both the support housings and the springs contained in the housings are made from 304 stainless steel. Corrosion resistance is significantly increased by using this combination. Glass coatings can also be applied to both the housing and springs to make the support system virtually impervious. Each assembly underwent load testing prior to shipment.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 04122016

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