[Fwd: [STM] Steam line intermediate anchor]

Forwarded from the Steam list, maybe someone here has some insight:

• Original Message -------- Subject: [STM] Steam line intermediate anchor Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 07:59:17 -0500 From: Gephardt, Tim <gephardtt@missouri.edu> Reply-To: steam-list@lists.cc.utexas.edu To: <steam-list@lists.cc.utexas.edu>

To all,

      We have a 16", 60 psig steam line constructed in 1955, and it was placed in a chase type system with slip style expansion joints in concrete manholes to compensate for thermal expansion. According to the original design documents there were no intermediate anchors installed on runs of steam piping where expansion joints are on either end of the run. Not having an intermediate anchor would allow the steam piping to grow in the path of least resistance and if the expansion joint travel was not oversized enough to compensate for the growth of the entire run of piping, the piping would then bump off of the limit stops inside one expansion joint before the piping grew in the other direction. I may have this situation as when this line was shut down and I was inspecting for an expansion joint replacement, I noticed that an expansion joint had only contracted about a half an inch, where it should have moved at least a couple of inches. This would indicate either a broken intermediate anchor or a complete lack thereof, from the initial design. I was just curious if any one else had encountered this type of design on older lines? I will be doing an exploratory dig at the mid point of this line coupled with some abatement to search for a broken anchor, or if there is not an anchor, establish one after I make sure my piping is not offset too far one direction or the other.

Thanks,

Tim Gephardt
Senior Staff Engineer
University of Missouri - Columbia
Energy Management
417 South 5th Street
Columbia, MO 65211-2030
Phone: (573) 884-9339
Fax: (573) 882-6793 Received on Wed Jun 22 20:39:00 2005