Piping Engineering

Typical Arrangement of
Air Cooler Piping
Standard
Examples

Contents
Section Page
1 Principles........................................................................................................................................................ 1
2 Arrangement of Piping.................................................................................................................................... 2
3 Air Cooler Nozzle Loading by Piping.............................................................................................................. 4
4 Relevant Documents...................................................................................................................................... 4

1 Principles
Section 6 of Working Instruction AG 0166E specifies basic design rules for air cooler piping. This standard
contains further recommendations for the arrangement of commonly used air cooler piping.

Any exploitation and/or other utilization, including but not limited to reproduction, dissemination and/or
distribution, of this document and its contents are strictly prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing
Standard GNA 0835E
by Lurgi. Offenders are liable for damages. All rights, including but not limited to all proprietary rights in Issue: Rev. 01, 01.09.2006, Page 1 of 4
relation to patents, utility models and/or other industrial property rights, are reserved.
2 Arrangement of Piping
Three types of piping arrangements for horizontal air coolers are commonly used:
Type A:
Inlet and outlet piping manifolds are significantly larger than and directly supported by the air cooler nozzles.

Outlet chamber
(typical)

Inlet chamber
(typical)

Fig 1: Piping arrangement Type A

Type B:
Inlet and outlet piping manifolds are significantly larger than the air cooler nozzles and are supported from the
air cooler supporting structure.

Outlet chamber
(typical)

Inlet chamber
(typical)

Fig. 2: Piping arrangement Type B

Standard GNA 0835E, Page 2

Type C:
”Antler“ type piping manifold for equal pressure drop per nozzle, supported from the air cooler supporting
structure.

Outlet chamber
(typical)

Inlet chamber
(typical)

Fig. 3: Piping arrangement Type C

The number of air cooler bundles varies. For clearness, only two bundles have been shown in figures 1 to 3.
Specific piping arrangements with separately valved or blanked off air cooler bundles shall be designed on a
case-by-case basis.

Standard GNA 0835E, Page 3

3 Air Cooler Nozzle Loading by Piping
Piping loads on air cooler nozzles and fluid flow distribution as specified in the P&I diagrams decide on the
type of piping arrangement.
The following decisions shall be reached together with the air cooler manufacturer in order to achieve low
nozzle loads:
a) Location of points of zero longitudinal and lateral thermal movement of the air cooler chambers.
b) Can the air cooler bundle be moved by means of thermal piping expansion, without overstressing the
nozzles?
c) Is it possible to mechanically interconnect the air cooler chambers in direction of the chamber axis by metal
buffers? Thereby, thermal movement of piping and air cooler chambers are equalized and nozzle loads
reduced.

Fig. 4: Metal buffer between air cooler chambers

d) Which metal bellows expansion joints or metal hoses would be acceptable to the client, for fixed air
cooler chambers?
e) Which piping loads can be where supported off by the air cooler supporting structure?

3.1 Piping connection on air coolers

Piping connections on air coolers shall be welded (no flanged connections).
Exceptions are only admissible if required by the licensor or by the client.
Pressure testing of the piping system must therefore be performed through the air cooler and requires the
authorization by the client and the pertinent inspection authority (of the respective country).

4 Relevant Documents

AG 0166E Working Instruction

Piping Design in Process Plants

Standard GNA 0835E, Page 4