Installation, Design and Test Temperature

Temperature Difference

In Piping analysis, one of the most significant effect is temperature difference ΔT, equal to wall temperature difference during Piping joint welding Ti (Ambient temperature) and operating mode wall temperature Top (temperature in operating mode):

ΔT=Ti-Top

Ambient Temperature

Ambient Temperature - pipe wall temperature at the time of Piping welding into a solid structure. Ambient temperature is equal to:

Ambient temperature is not usually known in advance, so a minimum value ensuring an adequate safety margin must be used based on the region's atmospheric data. It should be noted that welding cannot be done at atmospheric temperature below a certain degree.

Ambient temperature should be calculated as:

Ti = max(Tconstr, Tatm),

where

Tconstr - minimum atmospheric temperature value, at which open-air construction and welding can be done according to standards and manuals. Tconstr usually depends on steel type and wall thickness, and falls between -20ºC and 0ºC.

If special shelters or pre-heating can be used during welding, it can be done at any atmospheric temperature. In this case, Ti = Tatm.

Tatm - atmospheric temperature at the moment of Piping welding.

For buried pipelines with PUR insulation, Tatm is usually set as 0-10°С. It is assumed that the final joint is welded when the trench is backfilled, so Piping wall temperature cannot be negative.

The project must have a clause that Piping welding is not allowed at atmospheric temperature below Ti

Operation Temperature

Operation temperature is the average temperature of pipe walls (material) in operating mode, Top. It is often set as equal to product design temperature.

If the product temperature is closed to maximum atmospheric temperature (cold Piping), taking into account maximum atmospheric temperature and possible pipe wall heating due to direct sunlight is recommended for determining operation temperature; i.e. the greater of two values:

Top=maxproductcross-section),

where

Test Temperature

Tests are usually performed to check joint seals; i.e., to check installation quality. If water is used for testing (hydraulic testing), atmospheric temperature should be positive to prevent the water from freezing. Usually test temperature of +20°С is used.

References

1. SNIP 2.01.07-85* - Loads and effects (section 8.1-8.7)

2. SNIP 2.01.01-82 - Structural climatology and geophysics (outdated)

3. SNIP 23.01.99* - Structurally climatology (replaced SNIP 2.01.01-82)

4. SNIP II-3-79* - Thermal engineering, appendix 7 (outdated)