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Requirements

Column Piping: Study Layout, Nozzle

Orientation & Platforms Requirements
" 3 Comments

1.0 Sequence of Column Piping Study

1.1 All available information / data from Equipment speci!cation and P&ID shall be
written on the elevation view of the column as illustrated in Fig.1, 2 & 3.

1.2 The designer now starts thinking about the proper orientation of nozzles and
provisions for access to the points of operation and maintenance.

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1.3 Considerations of the pipeline leaving the tower area and the adjacent piping shall
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be visualized.
Piping Layout Drawings Abbreviations and
1.4 The !rst step is to orient the manholes preferably all in same directions. Normally, Legends
manholes shall be oriented towards dropout area within a 30° segment of column as # July 12, 2017
this facilitates the lowering of tower internals to the main access way. The manhole
Nozzle Orientation Drawing
segment of platform should not be occupied by any piperack. # July 12, 2017

1.5 A break in ladder rise (normal 5m, maximum 7m) will occupy another segment of Centrifugal Pump Piping Design Layout
column for platform. # July 12, 2017

1.6 The levels of platforms are to be decided on the elevation view based on the Tank farm: Types, Design Considerations,
Plot Plan Arrangement, Dyke Enclosure-
manholes and access to relief valves, instrument for viewing.
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1.7 All platform levels in the proper segments of the tower with ladder location should
be drawn on plan view. The manhole shall be shown in proper segment with the angle of
orientation, and the space for the swing of manhole cover taking davit hinge as centre.
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1.8 Layout should be started from the top of the column with the designer visualizing
the layout as a whole. There will be no di"culty in dropping large overhead line straight
down the side of a column, and leaves the column at a high level and crosses directly to
the condenser. This clears a segment at lower elevations for piping or for a ladder from
grade level to the !rst platform.

1.9 Flexibility and thermal load connected with the large-dia overhead lines to the
condenser at grade level or higher level shall be considered. The relief valve protecting
the tower is usually connected to the overhead line. A relief valve discharging to
atmosphere should be located on the highest tower platform.

In a closed relief-line system, the relief-valve should be located on the lowest tower
platform above the relief -system header. This will result in the shortest relief-valve
discharge leads to the #are header. The entire relief-line system should be self-draining.

1.10 From layout point of view, it is preferable to space the platform brackets on the
tower equally and to align the brackets over each other for the entire length of the
tower. This will minimize interferences between piping and structural members.

1.11 Nozzles and piping must meet process requirements while platforms must satisfy
maintenance and operating needs. Access for tower piping, valves and instruments
in#uence placement of ladders.

1.12 In routing pipelines, the problem is faced to interconnected tower nozzles with
other remote points. The tentative orientation of a given tower nozzle is on the line
between tower centre and the point to which the line is supposed to run. Segments for
piping going to equipment at grade e.g. condenser and reboiler lines are available
between ladders and both sides of manhole.

See the Fig.4 / 5 for overall orientation of a distillation column.

Line approaching the yard/piperack can turn left or right depending on the overall
arrangement of the plant. The respective segments of these lines are between the
ladders and 180°. The segment at 180° is convenient for lines without valves and
instruments, because this is the point farthest from manhole platforms.

The sequence of lines around the tower is in#uenced by conditions at grade level. Piping
arrangements without lines crossing over each other give a neat appearance and usually
a more convenient installation.

1.13 The correct relationship between process nozzles and tower internals is very
 important. An angle is usually chosen between the radial centreline of internals and
tower-shell centrelines.

By proper choice of this angle (usually 45° or 90° to the piperack) many hours of work
and future inconvenience can be saved. Tower piping, simplicity of internal piping and
manholes access into the tower are a$ected by this angle. After this, the information
produced by the designer results in selecting the correct orientation of tower nozzles.

1.14 A davit usually handles heavy equipment such as large-size relief valves and large-
diameter blinds. If the davit is at the top of the tower, it can also serve for lifting and
lowering tower internals to grade.

Clearance for the lifting tackle to all points from which handling is required, and good
access should be provided.

1.15 Very often, interpretation of process requirements inside a tower is more exact
than for exterior piping design. The location of an internal part determines, within strict
physical limits, the location of tower nozzles, instruments, piping and the steelwork. The
layout designer has to concentrate on a large-scale drawing of tower-internal details and
arrangement of process piping to !nalize the piping study.

1.16 Access, whether internal or external is very important. This includes accessibility of
connections from ladders and platforms and internal accessibility through shell
manholes, handholes or removable sections of trays. A manhole opening must not be
obstructed by internal piping.

1.17 Reboiler-line elevations are determined by the draw o$ and return nozzles and
their orientation is in#uenced by thermal #exibility considerations. Reboiler lines and the
overhead lines should be as simple and direct as possible.

1.18 Fig.6 shows the segments of tower circumference allotted to piping, nozzles,
manholes, platform brackets and ladders as normally recommended to develop a well-
designed layout.

2.0 Nozzle Orientation and Level

Nozzles are located at various levels on the tower to meet the process and
instrumentation requirements.

2.1 Manholes
Nozzles are to be oriented keeping provision for maintenance and operation needs.

Manholes are usually located at bottom, top and intermediate sections of tower. These
access nozzles must not be located at the downcomer sections of the tower or the seal
pot sections of the tower.

Where internal piping is arranged over a tray, manhole shall be provided but it should be
ensured that the internals do not block the maintenance access through the manhole.

Possible location of manhole and handholes within the angular limits of b° are
illustrated in detail-2 of Fig.4

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Fig 1- Sample Piping and Instrumentation Diagram around a Column
Fig 2 -Evaluation of the Flow Diagram for a Distillation Column to Visualize an Orderly
Arrangement of Piping
Fig 3- Typical Nozzle Location and Platform Elevations

Fig 4- Details of a Typical Distillation Column

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Fig 5- Typical Tower Piping Arrangement

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 Fig 6- Typical Tower Area Division for Various Facilities

2.2 Reboiler Connections

Reboiler connections are normally located at the bottom section of the tower. Detail-1
of Fig.4 shows reboiler draw-o$ connections for single-#ow tray. This connection can be
very important for arranging tray orientation. The simplest, most economical location for
reboiler connections with the alternative location within the angular limits of a° is
shown. The angle a° depends on the size of reboiler draw o$ nozzle and the width of the
boot (dimension ‘b’) at the tray down #ow.

The return connection from the thermosyphon reboilers is shown in detail-1 of Fig.4.

These lines should be as simple and as direct as possible, consistant with the
requirements of thermal #exibility.

For horizontally mounted thermosyphon reboiler, the draw o$ nozzle is located just
below the bottom tray and for vertically mounted recirculating thermosyphon reboiler,
the draw o$ nozzle is located at the bottom head. For both the systems, the return
nozzles are located just above the liquid level as shown in Fig.7
Fig.7.
 Fig 7 – Reboiler Connection

2.3 Re#ux Connections

Re#ux nozzles are provided with internal pipes that discharge the liquid into the sealpot
of the tray below. Detail 3 of Fig.4 shows the re#ux connections. Care must be taken
that the horizontal leg of the internal pipe clears the tops of bubble caps or weirs. It
must be ensured that the internal pipe can be fabricated for easy removal through a
manhole or can be fabricated inside the tower shell.

2.4 Overhead Connections

The vapour outlet nozzle is usually a vertical nozzle on the top head of tower. In
addition, the vent and relief valve could be located on the top head with a typical
platform arrangement for access to vent, instrument connections and top manhole. In a
closed relief line system, relief valve should be located on the lowest tower platform
above the relief system header. This will result in the shortest relief valve discharge
leads. The entire relief line system should be self draining.

2.5 Bottom Connections

The liquid outlet is located on the bottom head of the tower. If the tower is supported on
skirt, the nozzle is routed outside the skirt as shown in Fig.8
Fig.8. The elevation and
orientation of this line is generally dictated by the pump NPSH requirement and the
pump suction line #exibility. (see Fig.9)
 Fig 8- Details of Tower Skirt

Fig 9 -Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) of Bottoms Pump

2.6 Temperature & Pressure Instrument Connections / Level Instruments

The temperature and pressure instrument connections are located throughout the
tower. The temperature probe must be located in a liquid space and the pressure
connection in a vapour space as shown in Fig.10
Fig.10.
 Fig 10- Typical Temperature and Pressure Instrument Nozzle Location

The level instruments are located in the liquid section of the tower usually at the bottom.
The elevation of the nozzles is decided by the amount of liquid being controlled or
measured and by standard controller and gauge glass lengths. Level controllers must be
operable from grade or platform and level gauges / switches may be from a ladder if no
platform is available.

Fig.11, 12, 10, 13 & 14 illustrates a few instrument connections on tower.

Fig 11- Typical Instrument Vessel

 Fig 12- Typical Arrangement for Level Instrument

Fig 13- Typical Temperature and Pressure Instrument Arrangements

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Fig 14- Typical Common Bridle-Level Instrument Arrangement

3.0 Access and Maintenance Facility

3.1 Access whether internal or external is very important. This includes accessibility of
connections from ladders and platforms and internal accessibility through shell
manholes, handholes or removable sections of trays.

3.2 Tower maintenance is usually limited to removal of exterior items (e.g. relief or
control valves) and interior components (e.g. trays or packing rings) Handling of these
items is achieved by !xed devices (e.g. davits or trolley beams) or by mobile equipment
(e.g. cranes). When davits or beams are used, they are located at the top of the tower,
accessible from a platform and designed to lower the heaviest removable item to a
speci!c drop out area at grade level.

When mobile equipment is used, a clear space must be provided at the back (side
opposite to

piperack) of the tower that is accessible from plant auxiliary road.

Fig. 15, 16, 17 & 18 illustrates the access and maintenance facilities to be considered
in the piping arrangement around a tower.
Fig 15- Platform Width Requirements
Fig 16- Typical Arrangement of External Piping around Column
Fig 17- Typical Operator Access
 Fig 18- Typical Plan and Elevation View of Tower Area

On free-standing columns, access for major maintenance to insulation or painting will

usually require the erection of temporary sca$olding. Space for sca$olding at grade level
and provision of cleats on the shell to facilitate sca$old erection should be considered.

3.3 Utility stations of two services viz. steam and air are usually provided on
maintenance platforms.

Steam and air risers should be located during piping study to keep adequate cleats for
support.

(see Fig.19)
 Fig 19- Typical Platform Arrangement

4.0 Platforms and Ladders

4.1 Platforms on towers are required for access to valves, instruments, blinds and
maintenance accesses. Platforms are normally circular and supported by brackets
attached to the side of the tower. Generally, access to platforms is by ladder.
Fig.20
20 illustrates the platform requirements.

Fig 20 – Tower Platform and Ladder Elevation Requirements

4.2 Platform elevations for towers are set by the items that require operation and
maintenance.
The maximum ladder run should not exceed 7m.

4.3 Platform widths are dictated by operator access. The clear space on platform width
shall be min.900mm.

For platforms with control stations, the width of platform shall be 900mm plus the width
of control station.

The platform for manholes and maintenance access, adequate space for swing the cover
#ange #ange must be provided.

4.4 Top-head platforms for access to vents, instruments and relief valves are supported
on head by trunions.

4.5 Access between towers may be connected by common platforming.

4.6 It is preferable to space platform brackets on tower equally and to align brackets
over each other over the entire length of shell. This minimizes the structural design and
interferences from piping.

4.7 On very wide platforms or those that support heavy piping loads, knee bracing is
required in addition to the usual platform steel. The potential obstruction immediately
under the knee brace must be kept in mind during platform design.

4.8 Fig. 3, 15, 21, 22, 20 & 19 illustrates a few platform considerations.

Fig 21- Typical Platform Orientation

 Fig 22- Details of Circular Platform Bracket Spacings

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3 COMMENTS

P.R.SREEKANTH
June 8, 2015 at 12:19 pm

Very Good
Reply

M.H. ARDI
December 31, 2015 at 1:17 am

GOOD, CLEAR, ACCEPTABLE

Reply

mainuddin
December 6, 2016 at 8:55 am

very Good,
Thank You
Reply

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