Spring Hangers in Piping Stress Analysis: Purpose, Types

and Selection Procedure

0

Table of contents:
1. Need for Spring Hangers
2. Types of Spring Hangers
3. Selection Procedure of Variable Effort Springs
4. Selection procedure of Constant effort springs
5. Spring Selection procedure in Caesar II

1. Need for Spring Hangers:

Generally, the use of spring hangers shall be the last resort for a Stress Engineer. However, in some
cases depending on the pipe routing and high temperature the use of spring hangers becomes
unavoidable.
Some such examples are piping connected to Pump, Compressors, Reboilers, Tanks, etc.
Whenever some rigid supports are not taking load due to its thermal movement or rigid supports are
causing overloading effect to equipment connection Piping engineers suggest the use of a spring hanger
to share some of the loads and to keep the piping system safe. Selection of the appropriate type of
hanger support for any given application is governed by the individual piping configuration and job
requirements.

2. Types of Spring Hangers

There are two types of Spring Hangers:
1. Variable Effort Spring Hangers: Load varies throughout its operating range
2. Constant Effort Spring Hangers: Load remains constant throughout its operating range.

3. Selection Procedure of Variable Effort Springs:

1. Identify the support close to the equipment nozzle that may be lifting up during the operating
conditions and hence causing nozzle overload.
2. Remove the rigid support and add a spring hanger in that location.
3. Modify the load cases to include the spring effect and run the analysis. Spring shall be designed at
Operating Temperature
4. Determine the hot load or operating load required and the pipe movement (up or down) at that
support location.
5. Choose the spring catalogue of any vendor from the project Approved Vendor List e.g. Anvil,
Lisega, PTP, Carpenter & Patterson are some of the popular names.
6. Estimate the travel range from the catalogue.
7. Select the smallest spring size which has the hot load within the working travel (midrange).
8. Note the Spring Rate or Spring Stiffness of the selected Spring Hanger.
9. Calculate the cold load as follows:Cold Load = Hot Load + Movement x Spring Rate (For pipe
movement up)Cold Load = Hot Load Movement x Spring Rate (For pipe movement down)
10. This calculated cold load shall be within the working range of the selected spring.
11. In case the calculated Cold load is not within the working range, then select higher spring size or the
next travel range.
12. Then calculate the Spring Variability of the selected spring for the system Hot Load and Cold Load.
13. As a general practice, the load variability shall be up to 25% throughout the total travel. However, for
critical systems such as piping connected to pumps, compressors, reboilers, etc. lesser load
variation is required to meet the allowable load requirements.

Variability (%)
OR
Variability (%)

= (Movement x Spring Rate) / (Hot Load) x 100

= (Hot Load Cold Load) / (Hot Load) x 100

14. However, if the load variation exceeds the allowed value, in the same load range selects a spring
with lower spring rate. Else, select higher size spring.
15. Repeat the steps no. 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 until suitable load variation is achieved.
16. Depending on the structural availability the spring can be installed as Hanger Type or CAN Type
(Bottom Type).
17. In case of Hanger type spring the height of the box above the Pipe is also important for proper
functioning of the spring. Note down the height and pipe lateral movement. Calculate the angle of
this lateral deflection with respect to the spring box. This angle shall not exceed 4 Degrees. If it is
more than try to install the pipe at a lower height from the pipe.
18. In case of CAN type spring, Stress Engineer must check the eccentricity of the spring load flange
and the spring base plate while providing foundation information to civil.

4. Selection procedure of Constant effort springs:

Whenever in the Piping system the pipe tends to lift up by more than 2inches i.e. 50mm in that case use
of Variable Spring Hangers is not suitable. This is because of the large Load variations throughout its
operation. In such cases the Constant Effort Springs are used. Irrespective of the displacement the Spring
Exerts same load on the Piping system absorbing the displacements.
Some examples of higher vertical movements of the pipe are high temperature, long runs, equipment
nozzle displacements, well displacement, or where it is necessary to restrict transfer of load to adjacent
terminal of equipment or where the spring variability exceeds 25%.
1. Identify the support close to the equipment nozzle that may be lifting up during the operating
conditions and hence causing nozzle overload.
2. Remove the rigid support and add a spring hanger in that location.
3. Modify the load cases to include the spring effect and run the analysis.
4. Determine the load and the total movement.
5. Total movement = design movement + over travel (Over Travel is included only when the design
movement is more than 2inch or 50mm)
6. Over travel = 20% of the design movement or 25mm whichever is higher.
7. Choose the spring catalogue of any vendor from the project Approved Vendor List e.g. Anvil,
Lisega, PTP, Carpenter & Patterson are some of the popular names.
8. Select a suitable constant spring from the table and ensure that the spring selected must lie within
the working range (Between red and black line)
9. Note the spring rate and Hot Load & Cold Load (Both will be same because of the constant effort
spring)
10. Use this spring rate and Constant effort load and use in the stress analysis.
11. Depending on the structural availability the spring can be installed as Hanger Type or CAN Type
(Bottom Type).
12. The spring box must be able to move freely without any restriction.
13. In case of Hanger type spring the height of the box above the Pipe is also important for proper
functioning of the spring. Note down the height and pipe lateral movement. Calculate the angle of
this lateral deflection with respect to the spring box. This angle shall not exceed 4 Degrees. If it is
more than try to install the pipe at a lower height from the pipe.
14. In case of CAN type spring, Stress Engineer must check the eccentricity of the spring load flange
and the spring base plate while providing foundation information to civil.

5. Spring Selection procedure in Caesar II:

1. Hanger Design Control Data:
Input sheet for Hanger Design Control is shown below

Spring Selection procedure in Caesar II

A. A no. of Hangers at a given location can be selected e.g. 1 for spring on Horizontal line and 2 for
spring on vertical line with trunnions.
B. Calculate Actual Cold Loads:Indicates that CAESAR II makes one additional pass after the hanger
design is completed and the hangers are installed, to determine the actual installed loads that
should be used when the hangers are first installed and the load flanges adjusted in the field. This
calculation tends to be important in the following situations:
A. The stiffness of the piping system is small

B. The stiffness of the hanger selected is high

C. The hanger travel is large. This is usually more important in smaller diameter piping systems that
are spring supported away from equipment nozzles.
D. Actual cold loads should be calculated when springs in smaller diameter lines are to be adjusted
in the cold position.
C. Always select short range springs
D. Maximum allowable load variation shall not exceed 25%
E. Rigid support Displacement Criteria: This is te minimum amount of spring travel. Usually this cell if
left blank.
F. Maximum allowed travel limit: indicates the maximum vertical movement allowed beyond which a
constant effort spring will be selected.
G. Hanger Table: select the prefered vendor from the list
H. Multiple Load Case Design Options: Select the maximum load and maximum travel case (Usually
Maximum Design Temperature case)
2. CAESAR-II Piping Input Sheet for Spring Hangers
If we double click on the Hangers in the Piping Input sheet, Spring Hanger parameters sheet will be
activated as shown below

Select the node no. where the spring has to be used

Hanger Table will show the Vendor selected in the Hanger Design Control Data, however it can be
changed
Available space shall be left blank in case of Hanger type spring but for CAN type spring the space
available for installation of the spring shall be entered. CAESAR-II will help in selecting a suitable CAN
type spring based on the space available.
Allowable load variations will show same value as in the Hanger Design Control Data, however this
can be changed.
Select short range spring and take a preliminary run
Edit the load cases to include the spring effect.
Spring shall be designed at Operating Temperature

Note down the Hot load at Operating temperature and enter in the Operating load cell
Select Maximum load and travel case (Usually Maximum design temperature)
Free Restraint at node: Anchor or Restraints from equipment connections which are very near to the
hangers are usually freed during the hanger design restrained weight run, so that loads normally going
to the equipment nozzle are carried by the hanger. The hanger can be designed to take almost the full
weight of the pipe between the anchor and the hanger.
Using this field enter the node number & the direction in which free code is to be used.
Predefined Hanger Data: After finalizing the spring enter the Spring Rate and Cold Load for Variable
Spring Hanger or Constant Effort for Constant Spring Hanger.

Spring hanger selection and design guidelines using Caesar II

Introduction:
Spring hangers are an integrated part of Piping Industry. The use of spring hangers for supporting pipe
weights are welknown to every piping engineer. Whenever some rigid supports are not taking load due
to its thermal movement or rigid supports are creating bad effect to equipment connection Piping
engineers suggest the use of a spring hanger to share some of the loads and to keep the piping system
safe. Selection of the appropriate type of hanger support for any given application is governed by the
individual piping configuration and job requirements. There are two types of Spring hangers. a) Variable
Spring Hanger- Loads vary throughout its operating range and b) Constant Spring hanger: Load
remains constant throughout its operating range.
The following write up will provide a simple guideline for selection of both Variable and constant Spring
hanger while analysing a piping system using Caesar II.
Selection Procedure of Variable Effort Springs:

1.Determine the hot load required and the pipe movement (up or down).
2.Estimate the travel range from the catalogue.
3.Select the smallest spring size which has the hot load within the working travel (mid range).
4.Ensure that the cold load lies within the working range of the spring i.e. between the two dark black
lines shown in the selection chart.

Calculate the cold load as follows:

Cold Load = Operating Load + Movement x Spring Rate (For pipe movement up)
Cold Load = Operating Load Movement x Spring Rate (For pipe movement down)
5.If the Cold load lies beyond the working range in the selection chart, then select higher spring size
or the next travel range.
6.

Check the variability in selected spring

Generally for non critical systems, the variability is limited to 25% through out the total travel. For critical
systems such as steam connections terminating at turbines and pipes connected to rotating equipment
Like compressor etc. variability is limited to 10%.If the variation exceeds the allowed value, choose
higher size spring or smaller spring rate at same load range.
7.Select the type and check the feasibility of the spring depending on space available and type of
structure available.
Selection procedure of Constant effort springs:
Constant Effort spring shall be selected where the vertical movement exceeds 50 mm, or where it is
necessary to restrict transfer of load to adjacent terminal of equipment or where the Spring variability
exceeds 25%.

1.

Determine the load and the total movement.

Total movement = design movement + over travel
Over travel = 20% of the design movement or 25mm whichever is higher.

2. Select the spring from the load chart keeping in mind that the spring selected must lie within the
working range (Between red and black line)
3. Select the type and check the feasibility of the spring depending on space available and type of
structure available.
4. The Spring box must be able to move freely without any restriction.

5. Stress Engineer must check the eccentricity (See Fig 1 below) of the spring load flange and the
spring base plate while providing foundation information to civil.

Spring Selection procedure in Caesar II:

1.

CAESAR-II Default Setting for Hanger Selection:

Before making input for spring selection it is always better to make a default Caesar setting for hanger
design.

Fig 2. Caesar II Default hanger setting

2.

CAESAR-II Auxiliary Spreadsheet setting for Hanger Selection

During spring selection at a particular node the following auxiliary spreadsheet appears. The setting of
this spreadsheet is to be done as illustrated in below diagram.

Fig. 3 Caesar II Auxiliary spreadsheet for hanger selection

NOTE-1: Maximum Allowed Travel Limit:
This field is used to specify a limit on the amount of travel a variable support hanger may
undergo. CAESAR will be forced to select a Constant Effort Spring if the movement exceeds the limit
in this field, even though a variable effort spring would have fulfilled our purpose.
Constant effort hangers can be designed forcefully by inputting a very small number i.e. 0.001 in this
field.
NOTE-2: Free Code:
Anchor or Restraints from equipment connections which are very near to the hangers are usually freed
during the hanger design restrained weight run, so that loads normally going to the equipment nozzle
are carried by the hanger.
The hanger can be designed to take almost the full weight of the pipe between the anchor and the
hanger
Using this field enter the node number & the direction in which free code is to be used.
Free Codes are:1.Free the anchor or restraint in the Y direction only.

2.Free the anchor or restraint in the Y and X directions only.

3.Free the anchor or restraint in the Y and Z directions only.
4.Free all translational degrees of freedom for the anchor or restraint. (X,Y and Z)
5.Free all translational and rotational degrees of freedom for the anchor or restraint. (X, Y, Z, RX, RY,
and RZ). Refer Figure below.
The option 5 above usually results in the highest adjacent hanger loads, but should only be used when
the horizontal distance between the hanger and the anchor is within about 4 pipe diameters as shown
in Fig 4.

Fig. 4 Maximum Spring distance for using Free Code

NOTE-3: Number of hangers at location:
For better stability, the base type spring support of 24 and larger is used with 2 spring cans.
Few important points to keep in mind while Spring selection:

For can type springs the spring height should be kept minimum from stability point of view. If
spring height is less the moment on spring will reduce and tilting of spring (Fig. 5) can be avoided
or significantly minimized.
The spring which has lower spring rate will have lower load variation.
While designing the spring hanger the sustained sagging should be minimized within +/-1 mm
so that original piping system is not strained much.

Fig. 5 Effect of Spring Height

TBE of vendor Spring hangers: Main points to consider before placing

an order
Introduction:
I am sure all Piping engineers are aware with the term TBE i.e, Technical Bid Evaluation. Whenever any piping item is to
be purchased from vendor before placing final order it is required to check the items from technical view point to satisfy that
the item is meeting all technical requirements for which the item is intended. In a similar way all spring hanger (both variable
and constant) quotations received from spring vendors are checked thoroughly. The following write up will provide a
guideline about the major points which must be checked for the Spring hangers to work properly.

Spring hot load, Cold load, Spring rate, Variability: It is intended that vendor datasheet should meet the client
datasheet exactly. If in the start of project the spring vendor is decided and the offer is taken from that decided
vendor then all the above mentioned data will match exactly. However sometimes it is not possible to determine the
spring vendor at start of the project and all springs are designed based on any standard spring vendor (such as
Lisega, Carpentar and Patterson, PTP, Anvil or any other) and when finally order is placed from some other vendor
the data varies. So in this context Piping Engineer (Materials engineer or Stress engineer) should check the
acceptability of each Spring hanger. Normal practise is to match the hot load exactly. And because of different
spring rate depending on vendor the cold load will vary. However it is required to match the Spring rate as nearer
as possible So the Cold load will also be nearer to the client datasheet value. A mismatch of roughly +/-5% is
acceptable for Static equipment and Centrifugal Pump connected lines. For highly strain sensitive critical rotary
equipment like Steam turbine, Centrifugal compressor etc connected lines the stress engineer should input the
exact offer values and check the stress results. In addition to the above it is to be checked that the hot load and
cold load lies within the range provided by the catalogue. The variability is also to be checked and to be kept within
25% (10% for rotary equipment connected lines).

Overall Spring Height with all attachments: One of the major points which sometimes missed out for checking
is Elevation or overall spring height (In certain cases Spring casing diameter). One should critically check the actual
space available and the space required for placing the spring hanger. If the overll height with all attachments is
more than the available space in construction site then the Spring hanger need to be rejected or vendor is required
to provide separate revised offer for that spring. During initial design phase it is better to keep some extra space for
the spring hanger assembly as that can be later adjusted after receipt of actual vendor offer by adjusting rod length
for top mounted springs or by adjusting dummy length or shoe height for bottom mounted springs.

Attachment materials: The spring hanger (top mounted Springs) attachments which will be directly in contact with
the pipe like lug, clamp etc should of similar material as that of pipe. This must be ensured while doing TBE.

PTFE or SS plate requirements: Sometimes for bottom mounted spring hangers PTFE or SS plate is required
above the spring load flanges. While performing TBE it is to be checked whether the PTFE/ SS plate of proper
dimension is provided by vendor or not as well as provided as a loose item or attched with load flange. The height
of this items to be included in over spring height while designing or making datasheet.

Other Miscellaneous data: Few other miscellaneous data are required to be checked which are listed below:
o Whether the items supplied are corrosion resistant or not?
o Whether Spring coil is coated or not?
o Whether all testing requirements are met?
o Vendor should properly indicate the cold (Blue mark) and hot loads (Red mark) properly
o Whether travel stoppers/preset pins are properly installed or not?
o Whether all items are painted as per governing specification or not?

Any additional data from experienced engineers are welcome. Please provide your input in comments section.