Design of Pipe System for Industrial Furnace
The importance of pipe system design for industrial furnace can not be neglected. Since the piping plays the role of delivering the heat source (furnace gas) and the heat output to the other parts of the industrial facility, it is essential for the pipe system to be designed accurately and correctly to prevent any kind of issues or problems during the operation of the facility or industrial furnace.
Therefore, a proper pipe system design is required in order to ensure that the optimum amount of heat is delivered to its respective requirements and destinations including the collection tanks, coolers, and other areas. In order to achieve a successful installation and operation of the pipe system, the following design element must be considered in the process: pipe size, routing, material selection, insulation, and supports.
Pipe Size: The selection of pipe size is essential in the design of the pipe system. In order to obtain the best possible performance out of the system, the designer must take into account the flow velocity, pressure drop, and pipe dimension. In addition, he or she must also consider the temperature variations, and the volume of the flow that is going to be involved before finally deciding the pipe size.
Routing: The routing of the piping holds a very vital role in the design of the pipe system for industrial furnace. It is important that the pipes are routed in a way, which will allow for sufficient space for all the other equipment, which is important for the various steps of the production process. Furthermore, the routes must consider the various safety requirements such as those related to fire and explosion prevention measures, as well as protection from physical damage.
Material Selection: The selection of the material plays a crucial role in the pipe system design. The type and grade of the material selected must be able to fulfil the application requirements and be compliant with the regulations and standards. This selection also includes deciding on the type of corrosion-resistant coatings, if they are needed.
Insulation: The properly designed insulation plays a very significant role in the pipe system design. It mainly helps in the protection of both people and the equipment around it. The right selection of the insulation material must be conducted, taking into account the insulation performance requirements, which may include the heat loss/gain, resistance to moisture and air diffusion.
Supports: Securing the pipes with the right supports is necessary for the sustainability and proper performance of the system. The selection of supports must take into account the applications requirements such as the pressure, environmental conditions, piping size, and other external loadings. Furthermore, the supports must ensure that the pipes are held in place and not damaged from any external vibrations and movements.
In order to ensure a successful installation and operation of the pipe system for industrial furnace, it is important for the designer to take all the design elements mentioned above into consideration. All in all, this process requires a good understanding of the design fundamentals, along with the industrial code of practice and other regulations related to pipe system design. The correctly designed systems will provide the best performance of a furnace while also meeting the safety requirements and regulations.
