Pipe routing is a critical activity in piping engineering that involves designing the most economic and safe piping route while complying with engineering requirements. The piping engineer responsible for designing a pipe routing must possess several skills, including input reading and interpreting skills, 3D and 2D software skills, and piping skills. These skills are crucial in developing a techno-economical, safe, and cost-effective pipe routing that meets all engineering requirements.
Pipe Routing Concepts
Pipe routing involves several activities, including support placement and selection, which are crucial in designing a good piping layout. The piping designer must decide on the first support location and then determine the other support locations based on the pipe support span. Additionally, if a group of lines runs together over the same structures, the smallest large bore pipe is usually selected as the basis for support locations.
The usual parameters that must be considered in finalizing the pipe routing of industrial piping include simple and straight routing, grouping lines together to reduce the number of structures required for pipe support, minimizing fittings to reduce costs, and providing sufficient flexibility as per pipe stress analysis recommendation for critical lines. Other factors to consider include space optimization, expansion loop requirements, headroom clearance, proper accessibility of valves and other engineering items, bridge crossing clearance, road crossing clearance, provision for future piping, optimizing pipe spacing or gaps between pipes, considering operational and maintenance space requirements, and conducting clash checking to consider the worst thermal movements of pipes.
Skills Required for Designing a Good Pipe Routing
To develop an economic and safe pipe routing, the piping design engineer should possess several skills. These skills include input reading and interpreting skills, which enable the piping design engineer to read and understand P&IDs, Piping Material Specifications, Project Specifications, Engineering guidelines, Code and Standard requirements, Equipment GA drawings, and any other design requirements. Additionally, the piping designer must be proficient in handling 2D and 3D software.
The piping designer should also have piping skills, which involve being conversant with pipes and fittings, instrument items, valves, other inline items, piping supports, piping support spans, and other piping accessories to build a good piping design. These skills are crucial in developing a techno-economical, safe, and cost-effective pipe routing that meets all engineering requirements.
In conclusion, pipe routing is a complex activity that requires several skills to design a good piping layout. The piping designer must possess input reading and interpreting skills, 3D and 2D software skills, and piping skills. Additionally, the piping designer must consider several parameters, including support placement and selection, to develop an economic and safe pipe routing that complies with all engineering requirements.