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F-Type Variable Spring Supports with Graphite Slide Plates
December 19, 2023

F-Type Variable Spring Supports with Graphite Slide Plates Designed for an Oil Refinery

Type: Variable Spring Supports with Graphite Slide Plates
Materials: CS | HDG | High Heat Aluminum Finish | Graphite
Load Range: 420 lb. to 7650 lb. | 0.65″ Upward Movement
Design: 700°F Temperature | Q.C. & Load Tests

PT&P custom designed an F-type variable spring supports with graphite slide plates for an oil refinery in California. Client inspection O.C. inspections and load tests were conducted prior to shipment.

The graphite slide plates are used to accommodate the axial and lateral movement of the pipeline. Each assembly is equipped with specially designed “round” base plates (instead of the standard square plates) and is designed for temperatures up to 700°F. The spring cans are designed for a load range from 420 lb. to 7,650 lb. and movements up to 0.65″. In this case, they are finished with high-heat aluminum instead of our standard hot-dipped galvanized finish due to the high-temperature requirements in which these units will be operating. We have the unique capability to work with different materials based on the design needs. Variable spring supports, along with our array of engineered support solutions, stand as a fundamental pillar of our business. They enable us to actively collaborate with our clients, whether it involves the products we’ve manufactured, systems subjected to pipe stress and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), or items serviced through the expertise of our field service team.

For many of our products, we have the ability to build and deliver support in less than 24 hours should an emergency arise. It is useful to keep our emergency information handy on your phone and computers should an unforeseen moment arise. Please share this with your maintenance, fixed equipment, and reliability teams. To bookmark or for more information about our emergency assistance, please click here.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 09242018

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Big Ton Spring Supports Designed for a 98,250 lb. Load
December 5, 2023

Big Ton Spring Supports Designed for a 98,250 lb. Load

Type: Big Ton Spring Supports
Size: 29″ wide x 110″ long x 35″ high
Material: HDG Carbon Steel | A193 Gr. B7 Travel Stops and Load Column
Design: 98,250 lb. | 1-3/4″ Upward
Testing: Load Cell Test

This big ton spring support assembly was designed for a facility in Kansas. For this application PTP’s big ton was used to support heat transfer and steam generating equipment typically used in fossil fuel power generation, combined cycle power generation, petrochemical, and process industries.

Big Ton spring supports are extremely stable. Base supports springs of this design are frequently used under horizontal pressure vessel saddle supports in combination with slide plates or roller supports. Our Big Ton design lends itself ideally to this support situation. Type F design is sufficient where there is a minimal amount of lateral movement, but where the combination of heavy loads and thermal expansion are required, Big Ton industrial springs should be your choice.

The big ton assemblies were fabricated from hot-dipped galvanized carbon steel and include neoprene coated springs coils. The travel stops and load column material is A193 Gr. B7. The units measure 29″ wide x 110″ long x 35″ high and are capable of supporting loads up to 98,250 lb. while accommodating movements from 1-3/4″ upward. The big tons were tested at our facility with a load cell designed by our team to ensure proper operation throughout the big ton’s operating range.

Alongside our ability to design and manufacture big tons specific to your system needs, our field service team is readily available to service, audit, maintain, and/or assist with installation of such products. For more on installation and maintenance take a look at our resource page:
big ton installation-maintenance

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 07252017

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Constant Spring Supports Custom-Designed for a Large Crude Oil Processing Facility
November 28, 2023

Constant Spring Supports Custom-Designed for One of the Largest Crude Oil Processing Facilities in the World

Piping Technology & Products custom-designed constant spring supports for crude oil processing at one of the largest refineries in the world. Petroleum refineries change crude oil into products such as jet fuel, gasoline, polypropylene, polyethylene, propane, sulfur, carbon black feed, and diesel that can be used for transportation, heating, feedstocks for making other chemicals, generating electricity, renewable energy, and paving roads. Piping Technology and Products was awarded this project because we were the only engineering manufacturing firm vendor of constant spring manufacturers in the world that could both design, manufacture, and test these units for the unique design conditions. These constant springs will support loads ranging from 88,185 lb. to 143,300 lb. They are designed for temperatures up to 650°F, and movements of 0.39" up, 4.72" down, -2.36" up, and 0.39" down. The Type-C constants are 67" H x 21" W x 88.25" L and the Type-F constants are 85" H X 39.75" W x 86.56" L.

The F-Type springs will include graphite slide plates and are designed to support the piping from below while allowing both lateral and axial movement. All constant assemblies underwent magnetic particle inspection of welds, travel, and compression tests. Additionally, a special “cramp test” was conducted on each spring coil. A "cramp test" is done by compressing the spring coil by a specified length for a specific period of time. This assures the spring’s functionally especially when a large "wire diameter" is used to manufacture the spring coil for these high loads. At Piping Technology and Products and our subsidiaries, we specialize in designing pipe supports, expansion joints, and insulated supports for unique applications involving products not readily available. Our products are used in the CDU (crude distillation units), hydrocracking units, RFCC (residual fluid catalytic cracking), naphtha hydrotreater, and hydrodesulfurization units (also known as alkylation unit), and sulphuric acid regeneration (SAR) units in refineries.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 07272021

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Saddle Support Spring Isolators for an Old Steam Chest Saddle
November 21, 2023

Saddle Support Spring Isolators Designed for an Old Steam Chest Saddle

PT&P custom-designed and fabricated "saddle support spring isolators" to replace the previous springs originally designed in 1974 for supporting an old steam chest saddle at a chlor-alkali chemical plant. Chlor-alkali plants use salt and electricity to produce caustic soda and chlorine gas. Downstream, the chlorine gas – either wet or optionally dry – can be reacted in a chemical process to produce bleach, other chlorine derivatives, or chemical feed stocks finding its way into the production of glass, plastics, pulp, paper, textiles, vinyl, antiseptics, insecticides, and a water treatment agent and in some soaps and detergents. Rising demand for chlorine and caustic soda in various industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, paper, and chemicals are driving the chlor-alkali market. Due to improvements in the manufacture of spring coils, PT&P’s engineering team suggested improvements to the original design using a more well-suited design that exceeds the original design specifications. These saddle supports include PTFE, 25% glass-filled slide plates bonded to the top of the assembly. They are designed to support up to 32,000 lb. each with a 6,250 lb/in. spring rate. These springs do not have the traditional spring housing typically used to encase the spring coil, instead, they are fabricated utilizing carbon steel plates in conjunction with chains and internal components. See diagram below. Ptp spring isolators plain diagram 161917

The spring coils are alloy steel and were custom designed per this customer’s specified wire dia, active/total coils, and solid height. The spring supports were load tested and a quality control inspection was completed that included MAG Particle Inspection. PT&P can replace existing custom variable spring supports using the original design drawings from plants built more than 50 years ago. PT&P can also reverse engineer any spring hanger by taking detailed measurements of the support in the field and sending the information back to our shop for a quick lead time during a plant turnaround or shutdown. Many of the custom spring supports that PT&P has supplied to replace original equipment have been in service for more than 40 years.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 11022021

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36” Dia. Cryogenic Pipe Saddles Designed for an LNG Facility
November 14, 2023

36” Dia. Cryogenic Pipe Saddles Designed for a LNG Facility

36” Dia. Cryogenic Pipe Saddles Designed for an LNG Facility

PT&P custom-designed pipe saddles with micarta base insulation for an LNG facility in Australia. The saddles were fabricated from 304L stainless steel plates with thickness ranging from 1/8″ to 3/8″. The micarta blocks range in thickness from 1/4″-3″. The saddles were designed to support pipes up to 36″ in diameter at an operating temperature of -300°F. Standard Q.C. and dimensional tests were performed prior to shipment.

A pipe saddle is any pipe support that cradles a pipe and transfers the pipe’s load weight onto a supporting base. Much like a saddle on a horse supports a rider and keeps them from bouncing on the animal, pipe saddles support a pipe’s weight. Pipe saddles are commonly used on large-diameter piping where the load is exceptionally heavy or when contraction-expansion movement is expected. Pipe saddles are welded to the pipe and are used in conjunction with roller supports or on-beam supports.

With the current uptick in global LNG demand driving US-based LNG production, Piping Technology and its subsidiaries are well-positioned to support large-scale projects in a timely manner. Our engineering and production teams work closely with our clients to ensure site, operator, and design needs are met. LNG demand is positioned to continue to grow over 60% by 2035.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 10232015

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G-Type Variable Spring Assemblies Designed for an Oil & Gas Refinery in Texas
October 31, 2023

G-Type Variable Spring Assemblies Designed for an Oil & Gas Refinery in Texas

PT&P designed these G-Type variable spring support assemblies, along with a 24" diameter pipe shoe and hanger, for an oil and gas refinery in one of the largest refineries in Texas that was also the recipient of the American Fuel Manufacturers 2022 Innovation award. Our variables were for the refinery coker unit, which typically converts the residual oil from the vacuum distillation column into low molecular weight hydrocarbon gasses, naphtha, light and heavy gas oils, and petroleum coke.

Each variable spring support assembly was designed with a center-to-center of 36" and an elevation difference of up to 72". The spring supports consist of a G-type variable spring, all threaded rods, clevis, lifting lugs, welding lugs, and clevis pins. They are designed with an operating load range from 1,700 lb. to 10,500 lb. and a movement range of .02" to .19" up or down. Standard load and travel testing was completed before shipment.

The refinery was originally constructed in the 1930s. PT&P and our subsidiaries have deep experience with maintenance and replacement work at existing facilities to keep them running and producing for our clients. Our field service teams are available to do an audit, inspection, or replacements of variable spring cans based on your needs.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 08092016

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Compact Spring Supports Custom-Designed for Large Diameter Piping at a Chemical Plant
October 24, 2023

Compact Spring Supports Custom-Designed for Large Diameter Piping at a Chemical Plant

These compact spring supports were custom-designed to support large-diameter piping at a chemical plant that manufactures ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, propylene oxide, styrene monomer, and other derivatives and gasoline-blending products. They are designed for large loads (13,623 lb. to 24,038 lb.) and a small confined space with limited thermal movement (from 0.2″ to 0.3″). Compact spring supports (or disc springs) minimize excessive loads on sensitive equipment, so these types of spring support the same load as a conventional variable spring but with a smaller “working range” and utilize 25-50% less space. They are ideal for locating under equipment flanges or other locations where space is limited. The housing is fabricated from A-36 carbon steel and hot-dipped galvanized to protect against corrosion. They have an installed height of 13″ – 15″ and are 21″ in diameter. The “disc springs” are engineered using stainless steel. Each assembly underwent load testing and other NDE before shipment.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 01262021

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Mechanical Snubbers for a Refinery in Oklahoma
October 17, 2023

Mechanical Snubbers for a Refinery in Oklahoma

Type: Mechanical Snubbers
Size: Size MSA-10, 36″ OAL, and 30 1/2″ Pin-To-Pin
Material: Carbon Steel with HDG Finish
Design: Operating load of 15,000 lbs and a 6″ Maximum Stroke
Testing: Standard Load Tests

Piping Technology & Products supplied these mechanical snubbers with two end brackets fabricated from carbon steel with an HDG finish for a refinery in Oklahoma. They are size MSA-10, 36" OAL, and 30 1/2" pin-to-pin. The snubbers are designed for an operating load of 15,000 lbs and have a 6" maximum stroke. Standard load tests were performed before shipment. Mechanical snubbers have two modes of operation. In passive mode, i.e., motion caused by thermal loads, the resisting mechanism is disengaged, and the snubber "free wheels" with very low resistance. The mechanism is engaged in active mode, and the snubber limits the acceleration of motion to a low threshold value.

In addition to refineries, mechanical snubbers are preferred for use in nuclear plants as they do not contain hydraulic fluids that could degrade over time. Mechanical snubbers are also used in chemical, power, and green energy plants such as solar and geothermal. Mechanical snubbers are also used in earthquake zones to limit shock or sway caused by seismic disturbances.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 05112017

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Constant Spring Support Assemblies for an LNG Plant in Central Africa
September 26, 2023

PT&P Designed and Fabricated Constant Spring Support Assemblies for an LNG Plant in Central Africa.

Type: Constant Spring Supports
Material: A36 Carbon Steel w/ HDG Finish
Design: 1,790 lb. Load | 8″ Vertical
Testing: Load and Travel Tests

These constant spring supports were modified to increase their installed height. The constants range in size from 20.5″ in height 38.75″ in length, and 13″ in width. They’re designed for up to 1790 lb. load and a vertical movement range of 8″. All constants were fabricated from A-36 carbon steel and hot-dipped galvanized. Each assembly went through standard load and travel testing per MSS Standards. The constants were shipped within 6 to 8 weeks to a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Africa.

LNG is natural gas cooled down until it reaches a liquid state. In its liquid state, natural gas is easier to transport by large ships when pipelines are not feasible. Over the years, we have supplied insulated and spring hanger supports to gasification and degasification plants. Our long history in the arena has helped us become the vendor of choice by offering the full scope of our services from testing, engineering & design, manufacturing, and Field Service.

For this application, our constants were designed and manufactured with carbon steel; however, depending on application requirements, such as a furnace, we can also provide constant spring supports utilizing stainless steel material, which accommodates high temperatures and corrosive environments. We created the world’s smallest constant spring support. Our nano constant is ideal for such applications:

Constant Spring Supports

The applications for constant spring supports range in industry verticals we have built and designed for. In addition to LNG clients, we have designed and built constants for refineries, geothermal plants, petrochemical plants, and renewable energy facilities. The use applications include coker replacement, debottlenecking of the furnace, installation of a new VDU (vacuum distillation unit) heater, tube and heater replacement, and flare gas recovery units. Constant spring supports alongside our portfolio of products are shipped worldwide from our Houston, Texas headquarters, where all our products are manufactured. We are open for plant tours. If you are interested, please let us know so we can schedule some time with your team.

 

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 06192018

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