Openso was requested to determine potential factors causing misalignment in a heat exchanger and associated piping system. The misalignment was determined to be caused by the thermal expansion and contraction of the piping system relative to the flanges of the heat exchangers. The accumulation of plastic strain, and therefore permanent deformation at weaker sections of the piping resulting from thermal expansion, was instrumental in the formation of the total misalignment.

Field measurements were performed for a new chlorine abatement unit pipeline route in order to expand production for a chemical company. Initial pipe routing sketches for natural gas, hydrogen, chlorine, and nitrogen lines were modeled using AutoCAD Plant 3D. Pipe supports were also included in the 3D model for each pipeline from the customer interface point to end user. The routing information, types of valves, switches, instrumentation, and supports were included in the isometric drawings. Pipe stress analysis was performed based on ASME 31.3 to determine the adequacy of the supports using CAESAR-II.

A Fitness for Service (FFS) analysis was performed to simulate the replacement of certain sections of the piping with stainless steel pipe. The following items were considered in the analysis:

1. No future corrosion allowance was used for the new pipe sections; instead, 87.5% of the nominal wall thickness of the corresponding schedule of pipe was utilized to compensate for possible manufacturing tolerances.
2. One pipe support was modified to model a new support style.
3. All flanges in the model were checked to ensure compliance with ASME B16.5 and ASME Section VIII, Division 1 codes for flange stresses.