Flexibility Specification – What Is Piping: All about Piping Engineering

Every Organization prepares its own piping stress analysis specification or flexibility specification to cater as a guideline for stress analysis of critical lines and for uniformity of jobs performed by stress engineers. From project to project this specification may vary slightly but overall the contents are almost similar. In this article, I will explain the points which must be addressed/ included while making flexibility specification. Scope/Purpose: All engineering documents must inform its end-user what the content is all about and must start with Scope or Purpose. This part document will supply information about how the user will be benefited from the document. What is the purpose of preparing the document? What points are covered in the document and which points are excluded? Abbreviations and Definitions: Mention the detailed names of abbreviated terms. Definitions are also required to provide in this section. Reference Documents: In this section, the specification will inform the references used for making the specification. The Specification will list all the codes and standards, in housework instruction, or specifications that will be used in the project. Criteria for Stress Analysis: In this part mention the minimum criteria which have to be adhered to while performing stress analysis. Code equations that need to be followed etc. Stress Critical line list: In this section mention the criteria for deciding stress critical lines. The factors like line size, temperature, equipment connection, etc which forces the stress engineer to consider the system for stress analysis using Caesar II software. Analysis Software: In this part mention which software (Caesar II, Start-Prof, AutoPIPE, CaePIPE, Rohr2, etc) to use for that specific project. The version of the software must be included. It is always better to perform the analysis with the latest version of the software. Analysis Parameters: In this point explain the required parameters for analysis like: Installation temperature: Mention the installation or ambient temperature of the location where the project site. SIF for 45-degree branch connections: Inform the engineers to use any specific criteria for calculating SIF for 45-degree branch connections. PSV Reaction Force: Inform the engineer how to calculate the PSV reaction forces. Any dynamic load factor if need to be used. Slug Loads/Two-Phase flow: Inform if any specific requirement is there for two-phase flow lines like frequency of the system need to be maintained above 4-5 Hz, for Slug flow if dynamic analysis to be performed, etc. Wind Loads: Mention the criteria for wind loads (what’s the size), what shape factor to consider, which code to follow and parameters to be used etc. Seismic Loads: The criteria, code for seismic analysis, what’s the seismic co-efficient, etc. Tank Settlement: if any settlement value has to be considered for analysis of tank piping. Settlement data is normally obtained from the Civil Department from the soil investigation report. Friction Effects: What will be the friction co-efficient for various contact surfaces? Displacements of Tie-in Points: Criteria for consideration of tie in points and battery limit conditions. Thermal Displacements of Equipment: If equipment to be modelled or displacement values to be used. Support Lift Off: Any criteria for hot sustained checking or using ALT Sustained cases as per B 31.3? Insulation Density: Any guideline for value of insulation density throughout the project. Pipe Sagging: The accepted value of pipe sagging in sustained case. For example for process lines 10 mm and for flare and steam lines 3 mm. Flange Leakage Checking: Criteria and method for flange leakage checking if any. Allowable Nozzle Loads: If any multiplication factor to be used along with standard allowable loads. For example twice API 610 values for Centrifugal Pumps, 3 times API 617 for Centrifugal compressors, and Twice API 661 for Air Fin Coolers etc. WNC Checking: Criteria for alignment/ anchor free analysis and accepted displacement values if any for rotary equipment. If springs to be kept in unlocked condition. Modelling Criteria: If guide and line stops to be modelled without friction and gap, if any density to be considered for flare headers during modelling etc. Stress Analysis Documentation: In this section briefly describe which reports (Example input echo, restraint summary, stress summary, etc.) to be submitted to clients as final stress analysis document of each stress system. Any guidelines for supporting of piping system. The above points are the minimum required points. Additionally, you can add many more points depending on the project requirements. So, hopefully by now you will be able to produce flexibility specifications of your own.