What is a Pipe Spacing Chart?
A pipe spacing chart is a tabular representation of the minimum distances between two adjacent pipes or pipelines. It is used to ensure that two pipes running parallel to each other are placed at the proper distance apart.
Benefits of Using a Pipe Spacing Chart
Using a pipe spacing chart provides various benefits for piping designers and engineers, such as: 1. Preventing clashes between pipes/pipelines during construction and erection. 2. Allowing for sideways thermal movement of pipes due to thermal or occasional movements. 3. Accommodating pipe supports, specifically guide plates.
Why Use a Pipe Spacing Chart?
Pipe spacing charts are essential for routing pipes over pipe racks or sleepers where lines of various sizes run parallel to each other. Following the standardized pipe spacing charts, activities become quicker and the chances of errors during pipe and pipeline placement are reduced.
Pipe Spacing Criteria: Factors to Consider and Formula for Calculation
Proper pipe spacing is crucial for the efficient functioning of piping and pipeline systems. The following factors must be considered for correct piping or pipeline spacing:
- Adequate Space for Maintenance: Sufficient space must be allocated in the layout for maintenance, inspection, and repair of components.
- Thermal Movement: The spacing between pipes should account for the worst-case free thermal movement. In cases where thermal displacement is significant, additional pipe spacing must be considered to accommodate pipe thermal displacement.
- Spacing Chart: The standard practice to develop a pipe spacing chart is to maintain a 25mm gap between the outermost periphery of piping components.
- Formula for Pipeline Spacing: The basic formula used to calculate the centre-to-centre distance between adjacent pipes is:
Centre to center distance between two adjacent pipes (mm) = half outer diameters of the bigger size pipe flange (OD/2) + half outside diameter of smaller size pipe (od/2) + insulation thickness of both the smaller and bigger size pipe as applicable (T+t) + 25 mm + Thermal displacement = (OD+id)/2 + (T+t) + 25 + Thermal displacement
- Parameters for Calculation: The Pipe Flange Outer diameter is available in the flange standard, and the Pipe outside diameter can be found in the ASME B36.10/B36.19 standard. Pipe insulation thicknesses will vary based on project-specific insulation specifications. Thermal displacement must be calculated based on the worst-case scenario.
By considering these factors and using the above formula, the required pipe-to-pipe distance can be accurately calculated for pipes of any size.
Pipe Spacing Chart:
An Overview Proper pipe spacing is crucial to ensure efficient and safe operation of pipelines. Standard pipe spacing charts are developed by organizations to provide a center-to-center distance between two pipes. This helps in providing adequate space for maintenance, inspection, and component repair during the layout. However, if there is a considerable amount of lateral thermal displacement, this needs to be added to the spacing values given in the standard pipe spacing charts.
Importance of Pipe Spacing Criteria Various factors need to be taken into account while determining the pipe spacing. The spacing should be considered the worst free thermal movement between pipes. When the thermal movement is significant, additional pipe spacing must be considered to accommodate pipe thermal displacement. The usual practice is to consider a 25 mm gap between the outermost periphery of the piping components, and the flanges must be staggered to reduce pipe spacing between the two.
Formula for Pipeline Spacing To calculate pipe to pipe distance requirement for pipes of any size, the basic formula generally used is:
Center to center distance between two adjacent pipes (mm) = half outer diameters of the bigger size pipe flange (OD/2) + half outside diameter of smaller size pipe (od/2) + insulation thickness of both the smaller and bigger size pipe as applicable (T+t) + 25 mm + Thermal displacement = (OD+id)/2 + (T+t) + 25 + Thermal displacement.
Factors affecting Pipe Spacing The Pipe Flange Outer diameter is available in the flange standard.
For example, ASME B16.5 for flanges up to 24″ size and ASME B16.47 for flanges above 24″ size. For custom flanges or flanges designed with other standards, you have to refer to that standard. Pipe outside diameter you will get in ASME B36.10/B36.19 standard. Pipe insulation thicknesses you will get in the project-specific insulation specifications. That will be a project-specific in-house document and can vary from project to project depending on the design criteria. Thermal displacement needs to be calculated based on the worst situation consideration.
Standard Pipe Spacing Charts Typical pipe spacing charts are provided to get an idea of the pipeline spacing charts used in the piping industry. However, these values may vary depending on the component design codes. So, it is always better to practice calculating using the above formula. Proper pipe spacing can enhance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the pipeline system.
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