Steel Pipes – Thermal Expansion Loops
Calculating and sizing steel pipe thermal expansion loops.
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.
Temperature expansion to be absorbed by the U-bends compensator (mm): 64.8
“Width” of loop (w) (m): 0.854
“Offset” of loop (2w) (m): 1.71
“Length” of loop (2 * 2w + w) (m): 4.27
Imperial Units
Temperature expansion to be absorbed by the U-bends compensator (in): 2.56
“Width” of loop (w) (in): 33.1
“Offset” of loop (2w) (in): 66.1
“Length” of loop (2 * 2w + w) (in): 165
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/m oC)
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.
Temperature expansion to be absorbed by the Z-bends compensator (mm): 64.8
“Offset” loop (w) (m): 3.59
Imperial Units
Temperature expansion to be absorbed by the Z-bends compensator (in): 2.56
“Offset” loop (w) (in): 139
L-Bends Expansion Compensator Calculator
Metric Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
Temperature expansion to be absorbed by the L-bends compensator (mm): 64.8
“Offset” loop (w) (m): 4.25
Imperial Units
This calculator can be used to calculate required offset in a Z-bends expansions compensator.
Temperature expansion to be absorbed by the L-bends compensator (in): 2.56
“Offset” loop (w) (in): 165
The L-loop calculation is based on equation
L = 0.063 (dl D)1/2 (2)
where
L = length of loop (m)
