Most people when asked to design a pipeline would simply draw a pipe from point A to point B. However there is much more to the design of a pipeline than this.

To start with, the pipe has to be correctly sized to cope with the volume flow rate required. If the pipe is too small then it will take more pump pressure to force the required amount of liquid though it. A higher pressure will also require a stronger pipe and pipe fittings. If it is too large then it is just a waste of materials and money.

Another consideration is the temperature of the liquid flowing through the pipe. Although we think of steel pipes as pretty solid things that do not move, in practice the metal will expand when exposed to even relatively moderate temperatures. The result of this is that over a distance there can be considerable movement. As an example a 30m length of steel pipe carrying steam at 150°C will expand nearly 63mm.

To counter this, it is necessary to introduce expansion loops that allow the pipe run to deform and take up this movement. The size and number of these loops has to be carefully calculated to prevent over stressing the welded and flange connections.

We at Chemipetro can supply a wide range of pipes, flanges and pipe fittings made from varying materials such as duplex and super duplex stainless steels to ensure that the pipeline designer can always specify the correct material for the job at hand.