Steel Pipes Expansion Loops - Design and Sizing Guide
Steel pipe expansion loops and their importance in managing thermal expansion, and how to design and size them effectively. Key considerations, calculations, and installation tips to prevent stress and damage in piping systems.
The expansion loop is a common way to absorb temperature expansion and contraction in steel pipes. Expansion loops can be fabricated from standard pipes and elbows.
| Nominal Pipe Size (mm) | Approximate Expansion Capacity (mm) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width of Expansion Loop - w - (m) | |||||
| 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | |
| 25 | 35 | 130 | |||
| 32 | 25 | 100 | 210 | ||
| 40 | 20 | 70 | 150 | ||
| 50 | 65 | 125 | 200 | ||
| 65 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 220 | |
| 80 | 40 | 75 | 125 | 190 | |
| 100 | 35 | 65 | 115 | 150 | |
U-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required width and height of an U-bends expansions compensator.
Imperial Units
The U-loops calculation is based on equation
w = 0.015 (dl ⋅ D)1/2 (1)
where
w = width of loop (m)
dl = α ⋅ dt ⋅ S = temperature expansion (m)
α = temperature expansion coefficient (m/moC)
dt = temperature change (oC)
S = length of expanding pipe (m)
D = diameter of pipe (m)
The offset of the loop is 2 w. The length of the loop is 5 w.
Z-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
Imperial Units
L-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
Imperial Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
The L-loop calculation is based on equation
L = 0.063 (dl ⋅ D)1/2 (2)
where
L = length of loop (m)
