The Pipe Support Blog

Upcoming Webinar: Pipe Support and Expansion Joint Field Examples

Posted by Ra Bass on Nov 17, 2011
The live Webinar is over, but you can still view the recording at www.pipingtech.com/webinar

Subject: Pipe Support and Expansion Joint Field Examples and Case Studies

** Webinar is worth 1 PDH Credit for TX Professional Engineers

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011

In Field Constant SupportPT&P's field service division is available 24x7 in the case of an emergency situation or for a scheduled shut down. In this Webinar we explore the details of actual case studies focusing on various signs that indicate if a particular support needs replaced or adjusted. The presentation also covers projects that brought on new standard designs and custom designs for specific applications. And lastly, it includes valuable additions and procedures that extend the typical life span of a pipe support.

Tags: Pipe Supports Engineering & Design, Pipe Support Field Examples, Pipe Support Field Services, Expansion Joints

Do you have a plant turnaround coming up and need expansion joints?

Posted by Justin L on Oct 24, 2011

Do you have a plant turnaround scheduled or planning one in the near future? PT&P is prepared to be there for you throughout the entire process. From planning, to execution, and follow-up, we have what it takes to accomplish a successful plant turnaround.

Prior to Your Turnaround: - Call our field service team to assist with plant walk-downs to assess your plant for maintenance, repair or replacement of pipe supports and expansion joints - Contact our quotations department for immediate pricing on pipe supports, expansion joints, or auxiliary steel needed during the turnaround. - Consult our experienced engineers for guidance on support placement, materials, finishes, etc. to ensure optimum life of the supports.

During Your Turnaround: - Use our field service team to guide you through installation, start-up, and replacement to safely and efficiently handle your turnaround. - For quick delivery, PT&P stocks over 1500 bellows, over 100,000 lb. of insulation materials, over 30,000 spring coils, and over 1 million pounds of standard items

Post Turnaround: - Receive training to monitor the supports, and identify potential failure, in order to prevent unplanned turnarounds in the future. - Learn correct size and selection of pipe supports and expansion joints per application for any post-turnaround resolutions. - Call on our field service team to develop a data book of existing pipe supports and expansion joints and their conditions in order to identify potential maintenance issues in upcoming turnarounds.

Metallic Expansion Joint Refurbished in 2 Days

A rectangular metal expansion joint was refurbished  on an emergency   basis for a local chemical plant. Upon arrival, it was acid washed and   dye-penetrant examined for any cracks.  View the full Article

Refurbishment of 54" Pressure Balanced Elbow Turbine Crossover Expansion Joints

U.S. Bellows, Inc. refurbished two pressure balanced elbow expansion joints with a quick turnaround for a power generation plant during outages.   They are designed for high pressure turbine crossover piping. The first 54" outside diameter expansion joint leaked from a crack in the bellows   causing an unscheduled outage.  View the full article.

4" Single Expansion JointThis expansion joint was received in the morning and shipped to the customer the very same day. The bellows, liner and cover were replaced and the carbon steel parts were sand blasted, cleaned and painted. A dye-penetrant test and hydro-test to 518 PSIG were performed prior to shipment. View the full article.

Same Day Turnaround Service on an 8" Single Expansion Joint

This expansion joint was received in the morning, refurbished by adding new bellows and limit rods, and then shipped the very same day. New 321 stainless steel bellows were fabricated and the existing flanges were reused by sandblasting and then painting for corrosion protection. View the full article.

Let us assist you on your next plant turnaround. Our field service team is ready to help!

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Tags: Pipe Support Field Services, Field Services, emergency

Why perform a pipe support walk-down in your plant?

Posted by Justin L on Jan 31, 2011

Ever wondered just how important it is to regularly walk through your plant to ensure proper functionality of all pipe supports in the piping system? Understanding the critical nature of properly functioning pipe supports and how they contribute to the overall system, one should thoroughly inspect each component for proper operation during different phases of the life of the unit.
Inspecting a Constant in the Field

Inspecting a Constant During a Plant Walk Down

Check out a recent article we published on the Importance of a Plant Walk Down. Learn what to check for and when to perform certain types of plant walk downs. Use these tools to avoid a failure or potentially catastrophic situation.  See Full Article

Tags: inspection, Pipe Support Field Services, plant walk down, field service, maintenance

March 2006 Pipe Support News

Posted by Sylvia Ibarra on Mar 04, 2006
Piping Technology & Products, Inc. Performed Field Services for a Power Generating Plant in Texas

PT&P was contracted to assist in the determination of pipe support maintenance at a power plant in Texas. The constant effort support springs with loads of excess of 9,500 lbs and the variable spring supports with loads of 450 lbs were marked for needing attention.

Inspecting Variable Springs for Performance

Cleaning Variable Spring Unit

Inspecting Variable Springs for Performance

Inspecting Variable Springs for Performance

PT&P's objectives were to:

* Evaluate the pipe supports
* Determine state of performance
* Provide a plan of action
* Train personnel on-site to perform adjustments and replacement of supports or support components
* Provide final inspection of modified supports

After Cleaning

After Cleaning & Preparation of the Constant

Final Assembly with Added Slide Plates

Final Assembly with Added Slide Plates

The pipe supports needing attention could not be set to the required installation position. A plan was initiated to recondition some of the support components such as turnbuckles and rods. This would allow a greater range of field adjustment to the pipe supports. During a planned shut-down, PT&P Field Service Units returned to the site to modify the existing supports. The initial phase of the modifications included bracing the piping in order to isolate and lock the supports in position. Then, they were disconnected from the system and modifications to the assemblies were completed. Afterwards, the supports were reinstalled and any necessary adjustments were completed. A total of eight pipe supports were modified or adjusted.

Roller Bearing Needing Maintenance

Roller Bearing Needing Maintenance


Restored Roller Bearing

Restored Roller Bearing

 

Do you see a need for a routine inspection of your plant? Contact us for a quote today!

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Tags: Pipe Support Field Services, Slide Plates, Engineered Spring Supports, Constant Springs, Variable Springs, pipe hanger, field service

September 2005 Pipe Support News

Posted by Sylvia Ibarra on Sep 04, 2005
New Patent for a High Temperature Support for Insulated Pipes
PT&P has developed a high capacity support for insulated pipes which does not rely on the insulation to carry any of the load. The design has several advantages over previous designs:

Pipe ShoeSince the insulation does not carry any mechanical load, it can be chosen solely on the basis of its thermal properties. In particular, cyclic loading, which has caused insulation failure, is not a problem.
    • The support provides effective restraint for all six possible components of loads, X, Y, Z-Rotational and Translational. In particular, axial and torsional loads are readily accommodated. These represent difficulties for supports which rely on the insulation.

    • It is easily installed in the field. It is attached to the pipe with a standard bolted pipe clamp. Thus there is no field welding.
The support consists of a shoe, similar to the PT&P Fig. 4500 Insulated Shoe Support for Hot Pipe (Hot Shoe) and two clamps, similar to the PT&P Fig. 50 Light Two Bolt Pipe Clamp. Each clamp is attached to the shoe by a steel plate which is designed to carry the design load, and is shape optimized to minimize heat flow from the pipe.

Failed Pipe Shoes

Tags: Pipe Support Field Services, pipe shoe, pipe support, Field Services

June 2001 News: Issue 2 - Pipe Support News

Posted by Ra Bass on Jun 22, 2001
Take advantage of our currently open shop space!
PT&P and its wholly owned subsidiaries US Bellows and Sweco Fab are manufacturers of a variety of high quality engineered products. We're open, 24/7, to meet all your quick-turn/ emergency needs! PT&P and its wholly owned subsidiaries US Bellows and Sweco Fab are manufacturers of a variety of high quality engineered products.

PT&P has a system of stock inventory that allows us to quickly assemble and ship products such as:

*Engineered Spring Supports
*Expansion Joints
*Support Assembly Components
*Fabricated Pipe Shoes and Anchors
*Flow Products
*Slide Plates and more!

Tags: Pipe Support Field Services, stock inventory, Field Services, emergency