PROCEDURE FOR COLUMN LINE STRESS ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION
Columns are one of the principal equipment of any processing plant.
Columns are cylindrical steel vessels that are used for distilling raw
materials in the production of such products as gasoline, diesel, and
heating oil. Looking to the construction of column, it has number of trays at
different elevation. Temperature at each tray location differs based on
process. This article highlights column modeling in CAESAR-II and stress
analysis procedure for column connected lines. Same procedure can be
adopted for Reactor line, Stripper line stress analysis.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR COLUMN LINE ANALYSIS

Column G.A.drawing with all dimensions, nozzle orientation, materials etc.
Column temperature profile.
LDT and P&ID.
Column line ISO.
Allowable nozzle load for column nozzle from MV001. CAESAR-II axis system
should match with MV 001 drawing axis for comparing nozzle allowable loads
and moments. Column nozzle is checked for axial force, circumferential moment
and longitudinal moment. Nozzle in skewed direction is checked for axial force
and resultant moment.

PIPING & COLUMN MODELLING IN CAESAR-II

Piping connected to columns is having first rest support taken from column
itself. This support is also knows as vessel clit support. Clit support is designed
by mechanical group based on piping load calculated by pipe stress engineer.
As column will have thermal growth due to temperature, first support
should be modelled properly and correct temperature must be given. Improper
modelling may result in lifting of this support and nozzle load will exceed
allowable limits. The procedure to model clit support is also discussed in

subsequent topic. Procedure for top nozzle connection is discussed. Same can
be implemented for side and bottom nozzle.
Modeling for top nozzle connection
As shown in Fig.1, piping is connected at column top nozzle. Column can
be modeled by either rigid modeling or by using pipe element with actual
dimensions. Lets start modeling from line to column. Rest support from column
is modeled at last.

 Enter all pipe properties in CAESAR-II spread sheet. Model node 10 to 20 as

pipe element in +Y direction. At node 20 trunnion support is located, which can
be modeled as described in later step.
Model node 20 to 30 in +Y direction. Define bend at node 30.
Model node 30 to 40 in X direction. Define bend at node 40.
Model node 40 to 50 in -Y direction. Model flange connection from node 50 to
60 as rigid element and enter weight of flanges.
Model node 60 to 70 in -Y direction. This is nozzle stand out distance from
column. At the location of column and nozzle junction, it requires to check nozzle
load (axial force and moment) due to piping reaction. To obtain this, enter
ANCHOR restraint at node 70 with C-NODE as 71.
Column modeling start after node 71. Model node 71 to 80 with diameter and
thickness of column. Node 80 and node 20 should have same elevation. This
node is required to model rest support which is taken from vessel. Enter correct
column material, operating and design temperature from the vendor drawing.
Column can also be modeled as rigid element.
Model node 80 to 90 in -Y direction with length up to column bottom tan line.
This element should be divided in number of elements to enter temperature
gradient profile and to consider effect of varying thickness at different zones.
Column is having different operating temperature at different zones. To simulate
actual condition, column must be modeled with OPERATING TEMPERATURE
GRADIENT PROFILE.
Model node 90 to 100 in -Y direction with length of column skirt. Calculate the
skirt temperature by using REAL excel sheet of SKIRT TEMP CALCULATION.
For skirt modeling use skirt diameter and wall thickness. This finish the column
modeling.
Modeling of clit support taken from vessel: Model trunnion support from
node 20 to 110 as pipe element with diameter and thickness of trunnion. Provide
ambient temperature for this element. Enter +Y restraint and friction factor 0.3
at node 110 with C-NODE 111.

Now model element from 111 to 120 with

ambient temperature as rigid element. Length and orientation should be such

that it can touch to column periphery. Model element from 120 to 80 as rigid
element with diameter and thickness equal to column diameter and thickness
value. It should have same temperature of column.

Similarly model other

trunnion with node no 20-130-131-140-80.

LOAD CASES IN CAESAR-II FOR STRESS ANALYSIS

Abbreviation:

W = Weight; T= Temperature; HP = Hydro Pressure; WW =

Water Filled Weight; P = Design Pressure. U1 = Uniform load (N-S Seismic); U2

= Uniform load (E-W Seismic); WIN1= Wind Load Case in North; WIN2= Wind
Load Case in South; WIN3= Wind Load Case in East; WIN4= Wind Load Case in
West; Wind Shape Factor = 0.7.
Load Cases for Static and Wind Analysis
CASE1: WW+HP (HYD)
CASE2: W+P1+T1 (OPE) Design temperature case.
CASE3: W+P1+T2 (OPE) Operating temperature case.
CASE4: W+P1 (SUS)
CASE5: W+P1+T2+WIN1 (OPE)
CASE6: W+P1+T2+WIN2 (OPE)
CASE7: W+P1+T2+WIN3 (OPE)
CASE8: W+P1+T2+WIN4 (OPE)
CASE9: L5-L3 (OPE)
CASE10: L6-L3 (OPE)
CASE11: L7-L3 (OPE)
CASE12: L8-L3 (OPE)
CASE13: L9+L4 (OCC)
CASE14: L10+L4 (OCC)
CASE15: L11+L4 (OCC)
CASE16: L12+L4 (OCC)
CASE17: L2-L4 (EXP)
CASE18: L3-L4 (EXP)

For load case no 2, 3, and 4, column nozzle load is checked and it should
be within acceptable limit as specified in MV-001.

 For load case no 1, 4, 13, 14,15,16,17 and 18 stress value is checked and it
should be less than allowable stress as specified by relevant code.

Wind load profile should be used as shown in SAWP-PL-093.

Load Cases for Seismic Analysis
For seismic stress analysis make separate file as FILE NAME_sei. In this
file remove design and operating temperature and enter ambient temperature as
T1. Replace all +Y restraint by Y restraint. Remove all friction and guide gap
at restraints. Click on uniform load in CAESAR spread sheet and enter 0.34
value in UX and UZ direction. Activate uniform load in Gs option in Kaux
special execution parameters. Make load cases as below:
CASE1: W+P1 (SUS)
CASE2: U1 (OCC)
CASE3: U2 (OCC)
CASE4: L1+L2 (OCC)Combination method---Abs
CASE5: L1+L3 (OCC) Combination method---Abs

For load case no 4 and 5 stress value is checked and it should be less
than allowable stress as specified by relevant code.
WRC Bulletin 297
To take the advantage of nozzle flexibility, WRC 297 is used for nozzle load
checking.

This is used when nozzle load obtained by rigid anchor load is

exceeding the allowable limits (As discussed above).

For detail refer CAESAR-II Application Guide Chapter 3-8. In quick look,
Click on NOZZLE on Caesar input spread sheet.
Click on WRC-297.
Enter nozzle node, vessel node, vessel wall thickness, distance to stiffener etc.
Enter vessel centre line direction cosine Vx, Vy and Vz. For example here in
vertical column Vx = 0; Vy = 1 and Vz = 0.
Enter vessel temperature and material etc.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED

For column piping, especially over head lines, after first rest support taken from
column, Spring support (as second support) can be used to reduce excessive
clit load on first support.
In column piping analysis, the hydro test case to be made after consulting
piping regarding which portion to be get hydro test, so that extra load doesnt
get transferred. This is very important as far as clit loading is concerned.
In most cases, over head lines are gas filled but it should be checked with
process that weather the lines will have liquid filling in upset condition or in future.
If yes, then liquid filled condition should also be analyzed.