Temperature Expansion of Steam Pipes

Thermal heating and cooling expansion of pipes in cast iron, carbon and carbon molybdenum steel, wrought iron, copper, brass and aluminum

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The table below can be used to estimate thermal expansion of heated or cooled pipes and tubes:

Temperature Expansion of Pipes per 100 Feet (inches)
Saturated Steam Pressure
1)		 Temperature
(oF)		 Cast Iron Carbon and carbon Molybdenum Wrought Iron 4-6% Cr. Alloy Steel 12% Cr. Stainless Steel 18 Cr. -8Ni Stainless Steel Copper Brass Aluminum 2-S
-200 -1.058 -1.282 -1.289 -1.250 -1.170 -2.030 -1.955 -2.065 -2.69
-180 -0.982 -1.176 -1.183 -1.150 -1.070 -1.850 -1.782 -1.890 -2.44
-160 -0.891 -1.066 -1.073 -1.030 -0.970 -1.670 -1.612 -1.705 -2.18
-140 -0.797 -0.948 -0.955 -0.970 -0.870 -1.480 -1.428 -1.508 -1.93
-120 -0.697 -0.826 -0.833 -0.800 -0.750 -1.300 -1.235 -1.308 -1.67
-100 -0.593 -0.698 -0.705 -0.700 -0.630 -0.090 -1.040 -1.098 -1.40
-80 -0.481 -0.563 -0.570 -0.550 -0.520 -0.880 -0.835 -0.888 -1.12
-60 -0.368 -0.428 -0.435 -0.430 -0.400 -0.670 -0.630 -0.673 -0.85
-40 -0.248 -0.288 -0.295 -0.290 -0.270 -0.450 -0.421 -0.452 -0.58
-20 -0.127 -0.145 -0.152 -0.145 -0.130 -0.225 -0.210 -0.227 -0.28
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 0.128 0.148 0.180 0.140 0.140 0.223 0.238 0.233 0.32
32 0.209 0.230 0.280 0.234 0.234 0.356 0.366 0.373 0.50
29.39 40 0.270 0.300 0.350 0.280 0.280 0.446 0.451 0.466 0.63
60 0.410 0.448 0.540 0.430 0.430 0.669 0.684 0.690 0.93
28.89 80 0.550 0.580 0.710 0.500 0.550 0.892 0.896 0.920 1.24
27.99 100 0.680 0.753 0.887 0.650 0.690 1.115 1.134 1.150 1.53
26.48 120 0.830 0.910 1.058 0.800 0.820 1.338 1.366 1.390 1.84
24.04 140 0.970 1.064 1.240 0.950 0.960 1.545 1.590 1.625 2.15
20.27 160 1.110 1.200 1.420 1.100 1.090 1.784 1.804 1.865 2.46
14.63 180 1.240 1.360 1.580 1.250 1.230 2.000 2.051 2.100 2.77
6.45 200 1.390 1.520 1.750 1.400 1.380 2.230 2.296 2.340 3.08
0 212 1.480 1.610 1.870 1.500 1.460 2.361 2.428 2.467 3.28
2.5 220 1.530 1.680 1.940 1.550 1.510 2.460 2.516 2.580 3.41
10.3 240 1.670 1.840 2.120 1.720 1.650 2.680 2.756 2.830 3.73
20.7 260 1.820 2.020 2.300 1.880 1.790 2.920 2.985 3.070 4.07
34.5 280 1.970 2.180 2.470 2.050 1.930 3.150 3.218 3.315 4.40
52.3 300 2.130 2.350 2.670 2.200 2.080 3.390 3.461 3.565 4.74
74.9 320 2.268 2530 2.850 2.370 2.220 3.615 3.696 3.820 5.10
103.3 340 2.430 2.700 3.040 2.530 2.360 3.840 3.941 4.065 5.43
138.3 360 2.590 2.880 3.230 2.700 2.510 4.100 4.176 4.350 5.78
180.9 380 2.750 3.060 3.425 2.860 2.670 4.346 4.424 4.610 6.13
232.4 400 2.910 3.230 3.620 3.010 2.820 4.580 4.666 4.870 6.47
293.7 420 3.090 3.421 3.820 3.180 2.980 4.800 4.914 5.150 6.84
366.1 440 3.250 3.595 4.020 3.350 3.130 5.050 5.154 5.400 7.19
451.3 460 3.410 3.784 4.200 3.530 3.290 5.300 5.408 5.680 7.55
550.3 480 3.570 3.955 4.400 3.700 3.450 5.540 5.651 5.950 7.90
664.3 500 3.730 4.151 4.600 3.860 3.600 5.800 5.906 6.220 8.25
795.3 520 3.900 4.342 4.810 4.040 3.760 6.050 6.148 6.500 8.61
945.3 540 4.080 4.525 5.020 4.200 3.930 6.280 6.410 6.780 8.98

1) Vacuum in degree below 212oF, psi gauge above 212oF

  • T(oC) = 5/9[T(oF) - 32]
  • 1 in (inch) = 25.4 mm
  • 1 ft (foot) = 0.3048 m

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Related Topics

  • Pipe Sizing - Sizing steam and condensate pipes - pressure loss, recommended velocity, capacity and more
  • Temperature Expansion - Thermal expansion of pipes and tubes - stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, plastics and more

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