Finite Element Analysis of Square-Shaped Compensator for Overhead Pipeline with Thermal Fluid-Solid Coupling

Abstract

In the present study, the square-shaped compensator for the overhead pipeline in a chemical industrial park was selected as the research object. The pipeline gallery had 10 sets of support columns, 4-layer pipe racks and 27 pipes to transport the flow mediums in different temperatures and pressures. By taking into account the factors such as gravity, medium temperature, flow force acted on the pipeline, etc, the ANSYS finite element model was established sophisticatedly to perform the thermal fluid-solid coupling computation. The distributions of displacement, axial force, shear force, bending moment and stress of the square-shaped compensator were obtained. The maximum values and the corresponding positions in these distributions were found and analyzed. The reliability of the square-shaped compensator was judged by checking the secondary stresses. The study aims to explore a safety assessment method for the application of complex overhead pipelines, and to provide solid technical support for the safety operation of overhead pipelines.