It is very appropriate to say that the Equipment and

Piping layout design is an ART and not a

SCIENCE. There is not a single formula available
for the design of Equipment and Piping layout. The
equipment layout design can be as rational as the
mathematics of fluid flow but with the language of
projective geometry. Mathematics is abstract;
geometry is visual. All engineering courses have
mathematics; few have the subject of projective
geometry but none has layout design

However, systematic methods and procedures can be

developed

from

engineering

principles,

specifications, practical engineering know-how, and

just SIMPLE COMMON SENSE.
During the planning stages, the Piping
Engineer could meet with simple ideas that can effect
substantial cost savings. Let us take a practical
example to it.

Fig.1.1a

Fig. 1.1b

The design must take constructibility, economics,

safety, quality and operation into account. All these
should be achieved within the shortest schedule and
will demonstrate the technical capacity along with
creative talent and common sense approach to problem
solving.
Although the tools to achieve these goals have
changed from pencil and paper to computer
graphics, the responsibilities of the Piping Engineer
remains the same.

PHILOSOPHY OF IN-PLANT PIPING

o
o

Valve Location

Electrical/Instrument Cable Trays

Statutory requirements

Miscellaneous

YARD PIPING
P & I diagram, equipment layout, piping specifications,
equipment drawing and the vendor requirement for proprietary
equipment form the basis of a piping layout. In areas where
piping is critical, the equipment locations are fixed only after a
piping study is made.
The first step in the development of pipe rack is the generation
of a line routing diagram. A line routing diagram is a
schematic representation of all process and utility piping systems
drawn on a copy of plot plan or it could be planometric
representation of the utility and process line diagrams. Although
it disregards the exact locations, elevations or interferences, it
locates the most congested area.

The pipe rack splits the plant area into convenient parts.
The pipe rack takes various shapes such as straight, L, T, and
C or U. This configuration is based on the overall arrangement
and site conditions. Based on the incoming/outgoing lines and
locations, the pipe rack is laid.

Fig. 2.3.1

Fig. 2.3.2

Fig. 2.3.3

Fig. 2.3.4

Fig. 2.3.5

Fig. 2.3.6

Fig. 2.3.7

1.5 TO 2M

TYPE 1
5 TO 6M

1TO 1.2M

TYPE 2

Fig. 2.3.8

5 TO 6M

TYPE 3

A pipe bent consists of a vertical column or columns and a horizontal

structural member or members that carries piping system above
headroom.
Spandrels are horizontal structural member located along the
longitudinal centre line that are used for structural stability, pipe support
or intermediate pipe bents.

The Headroom normally provided is as below.

Sr.
Description
Headroom
No.
(mm)
1.
Clear head room under
2200
Structures/pipe lines
inside operating area.
2.
Head room over rail
7000
(from top of rails)
3.
Clear headroom above
7000
crest of road for crane
movement.
4.
Clear headroom above
600
crest of road for truck
movement.
5.
Clear headroom above
4500
crest of road between
process units.

Fig. 2.3.9a

Fig. 2.3.10

Fig. 2.3.11

Fig. 2.3.13

Fig. 2.3.14

Fig. 2.3.15

Fig. 2.3.16

Fig. 2.3.17

Fig. 2.3.18

Fig 2.3.19

Fig 2.3.20

Fig 2.3.21a

Fig 2.3.21b

Fig 2.3.22

Fig. 2.3.24

2.3.8 CRITICAL EXAMINATION TECHINIQUE

The quality of the equipment and piping layout can be
established by the Critical Examination Technique where you
ensure that all the following parameters are well addressed
a) It is process adequate?
b) It is operator friendly?
c)It is construction clear?
d)Has adequate maintenance access provided?
e)How to evacuate in case of emergency?
f)Has safe fire fighting access provided?
g)Standard practices where applicable has been adopted?
h)Is the piping arrangement aesthetic ?
i)Is supporting arrangement adequate and aesthetic ?
j) Is piping adequately flexible ?

The complexity of piping system design, maintenance,

and troubleshooting requires the process Engineers, the
Maintenance Engineers and the Piping Engineers on the
same Wavelength and work more closely together.