Introduction

Content
Why use Pipe Supports
Various type of Pipe Supports
Rigid Hangers/ Supports & Pipe Clamps
Variable Efforts Supports/ Hangers
Constant Effort Support/ Hangers
Dynamic Restraints

Why use Pipe Supports

Process industries like refineries, fertilizer plant, utility

plant, power plant need to transports fluids ( Liquids &

Gases including steams) from point to point through pipe
lines. Pipe lines come in various sizes & Materials of
construction.

A pipe that carries steam from a boiler to a turbine heats up

from room temperature to 570C between not working and

working. This change in temperature will cause the pipe to
expand by approximately 7.5mm/m, though the change is
most prominent in the length of the pipe rather than in its
diameter.

Imagine if the pipe could not expand or contract freely, the

force generated in preventing the expansion to take place

will cause substantial damage to either the pipe or the
equipment at each end of it!

Pipeline have to be supported by external means

at regular intervals to prevent them from sagging

due to their intrinsic self weight & the weight of
the fluids inside the pipe.

Normally pipe are placed are on pipe rack or

supported either from the bottom or hung from

the supporting structure depending on layout &
available of supporting location & feasible.

Pipe lines are not supported at regular intervals

will lead to sagging, causing stress at welded

joints, flanges etc, which may end in leaks &
ultimately lead to failure or rupture in the line.

Pipe movement due to thermal

expansion

Various type of supports

Rigid Hangers/ Supports
Variable Effort Supports/ Hangers
Constant Effort Support/ Hangers
Dynamic Restraints / Rigid Strut

Rigid Hangers & Pipe Clamp

Rigid Hangers and supports are normally used at suspension

point where No Vertical Pipe Movement

Typically a rigid hanger will consist of a tie rod assembly with a

pipe clamp.

A pipe shoe or pipe base is also a rigid supports as it supports the

pipe line from beneath & normally rest or welded to structure

Various type of pipe clamp

PC2

Pipe clamp
PC3 Pipe clamp
RC4 Riser Clamp ( Pressed Type)
RC6 Riser Clamp ( Pressed Type)
FPR Riser Clamp( Flat Plate Type)
PB1 To PB4 Pipe base clamp

Rigid Hangers & Pipe Shoe Typical

Models

Pipe Clamps
PC2 Pipe clamp generally used to hanging supports without

insulation & low temperature ( Maximum Temperature

350C) in horizontal pipe line.
PC3 pipe clamps are used to horizontal pipe lines, hanging
supports with insulation and temperature will allow up to
600C.
RC4 , RC6 & FPR riser clamps are used for Vertical pipe lines.
PB1 to PB4 pipe base clamp are used to supports the pipe
line from beneath & normally rest or welded to structure
Design of pipe clamp material based on pipe temperature
0 to 400 C - IS 2062 Gr. A/B
401 C to 530 C - A387 Gr. 11/12
531 C to 600 C - A387 Gr. 22 Cl.2

Various type of pipe clamps

Variable Effort Supports

Variable effort supports also known as variable hangers or variables are

used to supports pipe lines subjected to moderate vertical thermal

movement
VES unit are used to support the weight of the pipe work or equipments
along with weight of fluids while allowing certain quantum of movement
with to the structure supporting it.
A VES unit does have Spring rate & load variation ( Difference in Hot/
Operating & Cold/ Preset Load).
As per MSS SP-58, VES unit will allow Maximum Load variation up to 25%
BPSG have different travel & load ranges in VES unit . Travel range V1,
V2,V3,V4 & V5. & load range 1-29
A VES unit is fairly simple in construction with the pipe virtually suspended
directly from a helical coil compression spring as the cut away section
shows below. The main components being:
Top plate
Pressure plate
Bottom plate or base plate
Helical spring
Turnbuckle assembly
Locking rod
Can section or cover

Typical cross section view of variable

spring hangers Type TS1

Various types of VES

Constant Effort Supports

Typical cross section view of

CES

Various type of CES

Dynamic restraints

Hydraulic Snubber

Rigid Strut
Rigid Strut supports are normally used at suspension point

where No Vertical Pipe Movement.

It is similar function of Rigid Hanger supports. Difference

between rigid hanger & rigid strut is tube used instead of tie
rod.
Maximum applied load is more than of Rigid Hanger supports.
Rigid Strut, generally recommended for whereas compression

load required.

Rigid Strut

Dynamic Clamps
There are three types of clamps:
F513, F514 & F515 stiff clamps.
F513 pipe clamp, constructed of Single plate stiff clamp with

sheathed U-bolt.
F514 pipe clamp, constructed of Double plate stiff clamp with

single sheathed U-bolt.

F515 pipe clamp, it is a similar type of PC3 pipe clamp.
All three types of clamps use close tolerance and operate within

10 degree cone of load application.