Pipe Expansion and Support Module 10.

Block 10 Steam Distribution

Pipe Expansion and Support

Allowance for expansion
All pipes will be installed at ambient temperature. Pipes carrying hot fluids such as water or
steam operate at higher temperatures.
It follows that they expand, especially in length, with an increase from ambient to working
temperatures. This will create stress upon certain areas within the distribution system, such as
pipe joints, which, in the extreme, could fracture. The amount of the expansion is readily calculated
using Equation 10.4.1, or read from an appropriate chart such as Figure 10.4.1.
Expansion ( mm ) = L T

Equation 10.4.1

Where:
L = Length of pipe between anchors (m)
T = Temperature difference between ambient temperature and operating temperatures (C)
= Expansion coefficient (mm /m C) x 10-3
) (mm /m C x 10-3)
Table 10.4.1 Expansion coefficients (
Material
Carbon steel 0.1% - 0.2% C
Alloy steel 1% Cr 0.5% Mo
Stainless steel 18% Cr 8% Ni

<0
12.8
13.7
9.4

0 - 100
13.9
14.5
20.0

Temperature range (C)

0 - 200 0 - 300 0 - 400 0 - 500
14.9
15.8
16.6
17.3
15.2
15.8
16.4
17.0
20.9
21.2
21.8
22.3

0 - 600
17.9
17.6
22.7

0 - 700
23.0

Example 10.4.1
A 30 m length of carbon steel pipe is to be used to transport steam at 4 bar g (152C). If the pipe
is installed at 10C, determine the expansion using Equation 10.4.1.
Expansion ( mm ) = L T
Where:

L = 30 m
T = 152C - 10 C
T = 142C
in the range 0 - 200 = 14.9 x 10-3 mm m C for carbon steel pipe
Expansion = 30 m x 142C x 14.9 x 10 -3 mm m C
Expansion = 63.5 mm

Alternatively, the chart in Figure 10.4.1 can be used for finding the approximate expansion of a
variety of steel pipe lengths - see Example 10.4.2 for explanation of use.
Example 10.4.2
Using Figure 10.4.1. Find the approximate expansion from 15C, of 100 metres of carbon steel
pipework used to distribute steam at 265C.
Temperature difference is 265 - 15C = 250C.
Where the diagonal temperature difference line of 250C cuts the horizontal pipe length line
at 100 m, drop a vertical line down. For this example an approximate expansion of 330 mm is
indicated.

10.4.2

The Steam and Condensate Loop

Pipe Expansion and Support Module 10.4

Block 10 Steam Distribution

220
200

Length of pipe (m)

100

Temperature difference C
100
200
300 400 500

50
Example
10.4.2

50
40
30
20
10
0
10

20

30 40 50

100
200 300
500
1 000
2 000
Expansion of pipe (mm)
Fig. 10.4.1 A chart showing the expansion in various steel pipe lengths at various temperature differences
Table 10.4.2 Temperature of saturated steam
bar g
1
2
3
4
C
120
134
144
152

5
159

7.5
173

10
184

15
201

20
215

25
226

30
236

Pipework flexibility
The pipework system must be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the movements of the
components as they expand. In many cases the flexibility of the pipework system, due to the
length of the pipe and number of bends and supports, means that no undue stresses are imposed.
In other installations, however, it will be necessary to incorporate some means of achieving this
required flexibility.
An example on a typical steam system is the discharge of condensate from a steam mains drain
trap into the condensate return line that runs along the steam line (Figure 10.4.2). Here, the
difference between the expansions of the two pipework systems must be taken into account.
The steam main will be operating at a higher temperature than that of the condensate main, and
the two connection points will move relative to each other during system warm-up.
Steam

Steam main

Steam

Trap set

Condensate
Condensate
Fig. 10.4.2 Flexibility in connection to condensate return line

The amount of movement to be taken up by the piping and any device incorporated in it can
be reduced by cold draw. The total amount of expansion is first calculated for each section
between fixed anchor points. The pipes are left short by half of this amount, and stretched
cold by pulling up bolts at a flanged joint, so that at ambient temperature, the system is stressed
in one direction. When warmed through half of the total temperature rise, the piping is
unstressed. At working temperature and having fully expanded, the piping is stressed in the
opposite direction. The effect is that instead of being stressed from 0 F to +1 F units of force,
the piping is stressed from - F to + F units of force.
The Steam and Condensate Loop

10.4.3