Steel Pipes Expansion Loops - Design and Calculation
The expansion loop is a common way to absorb temperature expansion and contraction in steel pipes. Expansion loops can be fabricated from standard pipes and elbows.
| Nominal Pipe Size (mm) | Approximate Expansion Capacity (mm) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width of Expansion Loop - w - (m) | |||||
| 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | |
| 25 | 35 | 130 | |||
| 32 | 25 | 100 | 210 | ||
| 40 | 20 | 70 | 150 | ||
| 50 | 65 | 125 | 200 | ||
| 65 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 220 | |
| 80 | 40 | 75 | 125 | 190 | |
| 100 | 35 | 65 | 115 | 150 | |
U-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required width and height of an U-bends expansions compensator.
Imperial Units
The U-loops calculation is based on equation
w = 0.015 (dl ⋅ D)1/2 (1)
where
w = width of loop (m)
dl = α ⋅ dt ⋅ S = temperature expansion (mm)
α = temperature expansion coefficient (mm/moC)
dt = temperature change (oC)
S = length of expanding pipe (m)
D = diameter of pipe (mm)
The offset of the loop is 2 w. The length of the loop is 5 w.
Example - Steel Pipe Expansion
A 50 mm steel pipe with length 30 m is heated from 0 oC to 180 oC (typical for steam pipes pressurized to 10 bar).
The temperature expansion coefficient of the steel is 12x10-6 m/mK.
The expansion length can be calculated as
dl = (12x10-6 m/mK) (180 oC - 0 oC) (30 m)
= 0.0648 m
= 64.8 mm
The width of the loop can be calculated as
w = 0.015 ((64.8 mm) (50 mm))1/2
= 0.85 m
The "offset" of the loop (2w) is 1.71 m and the lenght of the loop (5w) is 4.27 m.
Z-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
Imperial Units
L-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
Imperial Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
The L-loop calculation is based on equation
L = 0.063 (dl ⋅ D)1/2 (2)
where
L = length of loop (m)
Related Topics
• Sizing of Steam and Condensate Pipes
Dimensions of steam and condensate pipe lines. Calculate pressure losses, recommended velocities, capacities and more.
• Temperature Expansion
Thermal expansion and expansion coefficients. Expansion pipes and tubes made of stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, plastics and more.
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