Introduction to Piping System

A pipe can be defined as a tube made of metal, plastic, wood, concrete or fiberglass.
Pipes are used to carry liquids, gases, slurries, or fine particles. A piping system is
generally considered to include the complete interconnection of pipes, including in-
line components such as pipe fittings and flanges. Pumps, heat exchanges, valves and
tanks are also considered part of piping system. Piping systems are the arteries of our
industrial processes and the contribution of piping systems are essential in an
industrialized society.

Fig. 1 illustrates the magnitude of piping required in a typical chemical process plant.
Piping systems accounts for a significant portion of the total plant cost, at times as
much as one-third of the total investment. Piping systems arranged within a very
confined area can be a added challenge to piping and support engineers.

Figure 1

The initial design of a piping system is established by the functional requirements of

piping a fluid from one point to another. The detailed design is decided by criteria
such as type of fluid being transported, allowable pressure drop or energy loss, desired
velocity, space limitations, process requirements like free drain or requirement of
straight run, stress analysis, temperature of fluid, etc. The supporting of piping
systems requires a significant engineering, design, fabrication and erection effort. In
some cases, special structures (like structural T or inverted L, cantilevers, U portals,
pedestals, etc) must be built solely for the purpose of supporting piping systems.

Piping Material
The material to be used for pipe manufacture must be chosen to suit the operating
conditions of the piping system. Guidance of selecting the correct material can be
obtained from standard piping codes. As an example, the ASME Code for Pressure
Piping contains sections on Power Piping, Industrial Gas and Air Piping, Refinery and
Oil Piping, and Refrigeration
Piping Systems. The objective being to ensure that the material used is entirely safe
under the operating conditions of pressure, temperature, corrosion, and erosion
expected. Some of the materials most commonly used for power plant piping are
discussed in the following sections.

 Steel – Steel is the most frequently used material for piping. Forged steel is
extensively used for fittings while cast steel is primarily used for special
applications. Pipe is manufactured in two main categories – seamless and
welded.

 Cast Iron – Cast iron has a high resistance to corrosion and to abrasion and is
used for ash handling systems, sewage lines and underground water lines. It is,
however, very brittle and is not suitable for most power plant services. It is
made in different grades such as gray cast iron, malleable cast iron and ductile
cast iron.
 Brass and Copper – Non-ferrous material such as copper and copper alloys
are used in power plants in instrumentation and water services where
temperature is not a prime factor.

Commercial Pipe Sizes

Commercial pipe is made in standard sizes each having several different wall
thicknesses or weights. Up to and including 304.8 mm (12 inch)  pipe, the size is
expressed as nominal (approximate) inside diameter. Above 304.8 mm, the size is
given as the actual outside diameter. All classes of pipe of a given size have the same
outside diameter, with the extra thickness
for different weights on the inside. For example, if a pipe was designated as 152.4 mm
size this would mean that it has a nominal or approximate inside diameter of 152.4
mm. The outside diameter is 168.28 mm. This is a constant value no matter what the
wall thickness is. The actual inside diameter of the pipe will depend upon its wall
thickness. For a standard wall
thickness, the actual inside diameter of 152.4 mm pipe is 154.06 mm. For an extra
strong wall thickness, the actual inside diameter is 146.34 mm.

There are two systems used to designate the various wall thicknesses of different sizes
of pipe. The older method lists pipe as standard (S), extra strong (XS) and double
extra strong (XXS). The newer method, which is superseding the older method, uses
schedule numbers to designate wall thickness. These numbers are 10, 20, 30, 40, 60,
80, 100, 120, 140 and 160. In most sizes of pipe, schedule 40 corresponds to standard
and schedule 80 corresponds to extra strong.

Dimensions and the mass in kg/m of different sizes of steel pipe with varying wall
thicknesses is shown in Fig. 2 .

Figure 2
Pipe Fittings
A fitting is used in pipe systems to connect straight pipe sections, adapt to different
sizes or shapes and for other purposes, such as regulating (or measuring) fluid flow.
Pipe Fittings (especially uncommon types) require money, time, materials and tools to
install, and are an important part of piping and plumbing systems. Valves are
technically fittings, but are usually discussed separately. The purposes of the fittings,
shown in Fig. 3 may be generally stated as follows:

 Elbows – for making angle turns in piping.

 Nipples – for making close connections. They are threaded on both ends with
the close nipple threaded for its entire length.
 Couplings – for connecting two pieces of pipe of the same size in a straight
line.
 Unions – for providing an easy method for dismantling piping.
 Tees and Crosses – for making branch line connections at 90º.
 Y-bends – for making branch line connections at 45º.
 Return Bends – for reversing direction of a pipe run.
 Plugs and Caps – for closing off open pipe ends or fittings.
 Bushings – for connecting pipes of different sizes. The male end fits into a
coupling and the smaller pipe is then screwed into the female end. The smaller
connection may be tapped eccentrically to permit free drainage of water.
 Reducers – for reducing pipe size. Has two female connections into which
the different sized pipes fit. May also be made with one connection eccentric
for free drainage of water.

Figure 3
Methods of Connecting Pipe
There are three general methods used to join or connect lengths of pressure piping.
These are:

1. Screwed Connections.
2. Flanged Connections.
3. Welded Joints.

Each of these methods has certain advantages and disadvantages and each will be
discussed in the following sections.

Screwed Connections
In this method, threads are cut on each end of the pipe and screwed fittings such
as unions, couplings, and elbows are used to join the lengths. This method is generally
used for pipe sizes less than 101.6 mm (4 inch) for low and moderate pressures. It has
the advantage that the piping can be easily disassembled or assembled. However, the
threaded connections are
subject to leakage and the strength of the pipe is reduced when threads are cut in the
pipe wall.
Flanged Connections
This method uses flanges at the pipe ends which are bolted together, face to face,
usually with a gasket between the two faces. Flanged connections have the advantage
over welded connections of permitting disassembly and are more convenient to
assemble and disassemble than the screwed connections. In order to prevent leakage
at flanged connections, the flange faces, which butt together, would have to be
absolutely flat and smooth. While it is theoretically possible to grind the faces to this
condition, it is a time consuming and expensive proposition. Therefore gaskets are
usually used between flange faces. Gaskets are made of a comparatively soft
material which, when the flanged connection is tightened, will fill in any small
depressions in the flange faces and thus prevent leakage.

For more on Flanged Connections, check out:

 Introduction to Flanges.
 Introduction to Gaskets.

Welded Connections
In this method, the pipe lengths are welded directly to one another and directly to any
valves or fittings that may be required. The use of these welded joints for piping has
several advantages over the use of screwed connections or flanged connections:

1. The possibility of leakage is removed with the elimination of screwed or

flanged joints.
2. The weight of the piping system is reduced due to the elimination of
connecting flanges or fittings.
3. The cost of material and the need for maintenance are reduced with the
elimination of flanges and fittings.
4. The piping looks neater and is easier to insulate with the elimination of bulky
flanges and fittings.
5. Welded joints give more flexibility to the piping design as the pipes may be
joined at practically any angle to each other.

The main disadvantage of using welded joints for piping is the necessity of obtaining
a skilled welder whenever a connection is to be made.

Piping Supports
Piping must be supported in such a way as to prevent its weight from being carried by
the equipment to which it is attached. The supports used must prevent excessive
sagging of the pipe and at the same time must allow free movement of the pipe due to
expansion or contraction. The supporting arrangement must be designed to carry the
weight of the pipe, valves, fittings and insulation plus the weight of the fluid
contained within the pipe. Various types of piping support are shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 4

Piping Drainage
In the case of steam piping, it is necessary to constantly drain any condensate from the
lines. If this is not done then the condensate will be carried along with the steam and
may produce water hammer and possibly rupture pipes or fittings. In addition, the
admission of moisture carrying steam to turbines or engines is most
undesirable. Various devices are used to remove this condensate and moisture from
the lines and these are discussed in the following sections.

Steam Separators
Steam separators, sometimes called steam purifiers are devices which, when installed
in the steam line, will remove moisture droplets and other suspended impurities from
the steam. To do this, the separator either causes the steam to suddenly change its
direction of flow or else it imparts a whirling motion to the steam. Both of these cause
the moisture and other particles to be thrown out of the steam stream.

Steam Traps
The purpose of the steam trap is to discharge the water of condensation from steam
lines, separators and other equipment without permitting steam to escape. In addition,
most traps are designed to discharge any air present in the lines or equipment. Steam
traps should be installed in lines wherever condensate must be drained as rapidly as
it accumulates, and wherever condensate must be recovered for heating, for hot water
needs, or for return to boilers. They are a “must” for steam piping, separators, and all
steam heated or steam operated equipment.

Piping Insulation
Most piping systems are used to convey substances that are at temperatures much
higher than that of the surrounding air. Examples would include the main steam
piping and feedwater piping. In order to reduce the amount of heat lost to the
surrounding air from the hot substance, the piping is covered with insulation. The
insulation not only retains the heat in the hot lines but also prevents the temperature
inside the process plant building from becoming uncomfortably high. In addition,
insulation of hot pipe lines will prevent injury to personnel due to contact with the
bare surfaces of the pipe.

In the case of piping which carries substances at a lower temperature than that of
the surrounding air, insulating the piping will prevent sweating of the pipe and
consequent dripping and corrosion.

A material suitable for use as an insulation should have the following characteristics.

 High insulating value.

  Long life.
 Vermin proof.
 Non corrosive.
 Ability to retain its shape and insulating value when wet.
 Ease of application and installation.

Some of the more common materials used for piping insulating are discussed in the
following sections.

 Diatomaceous Silica – This material is bonded with clay and asbestos and is
used for temperatures up to 1030ºC.
 Asbestos – Pipe covering sections are molded from asbestos fibre and are used
for temperatures up to 650ºC.
 Calcium Silicate – This insulation is made from silica and lime and is suitable
for temperatures up to 650ºC.
 Cellular Glass – This material is glass which has been melted and foamed and
then molded into pipe covering forms. It can be used for temperatures up to
430ºC.
 Magnesia (85%) – This material is composed of magnesium carbonate with
asbestos fibre. It is available in molded form for pipe covering and also is
supplied in powdered form to be mixed with water to form an insulating
cement which is used to cover pipe fittings. Magnesia pipe covering is suitable
for service up to 315ºC.
 Glass Fibre – This is glass that has been processed into fibres and then formed
into pipe covering sections which are suitable for temperatures up to 190ºC.
 Plastic Foams – These are plastics that have been processed into a foam during
manufacture and then formed into pipe covering sections. They are available
for temperatures as low as -170ºC and as high as 120ºC.