installation guide for easy-brace - vibtech...avt-eb-im1a issue 1 09/18 small bore connection (sbc)...

Installation Guide for Easy-Brace® Small Bore Connection (SBC)

Universal Bracing System

AVT-EB-IM1a Issue 1 09/18 Small Bore Connection (SBC) Universal Bracing System

AVT Reliability, Unit 2 Easter Court, Europa Boulevard, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 7ZB t: +31 765 649 292, e: [email protected], www.avtreliability.com

AVT-EB-IM1a2 - page 2 of 15

Safety Notice ● Use correct tools during installation and ensure that they are in good condition.

● Molykote 1000 is to be applied to fixing threads to prevent galling. Refer to Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for safe use.

● Conduct installation in accordance with AVT Reliability® instructions.

● Carry out own risk assessment before installing.

● If in doubt contact AVT Reliability® for advice.

Vibration Measurements AVT Reliability® recommends that during the installation, before and after vibration measurements

are taken on both mainline and SBC pipework to quantify both amplitude and frequency.

Where possible, ‘bump’ testing should also be conducted to identify the natural frequency change to

ensure this does not closely match any of the expected excitation frequencies.

The Easy-Brace® will not reduce main line vibration, which may require further remedial work, such

as the installation of additional fixed supports or Visco-elastic dampers.

Recommended Tools and Equipment ● 24mm Spanners

● 6mm Allen Key

● Torque Wrench (set at 20Nm)

● Torque Wrench (set at 200Nm)

● 24mm Socket

● 6mm Allen Key Socket

● 14mm Allen Key Socket

● Molykote 1000 Paste

● Shears

● Stainless Steel Tube Cutter

● Molykote 1000 anti-galling compound




Standard Easy-Brace® The standard Easy-Brace® kit is suitbale for the most SBC’s configurations that fit within the following

criteria:

● Pipe or Flange diameters between 60mm and 600mm

● Max SBC length L = 800mm

● Minimum arm length = 200mm

● Maximum pipe temperature 100°C (with standard Tico-S liner material)

● Most effective vibration frequency range 1-50Hz

Other sizes or versions are available, please contact AVT Reliability® for further information.

< 800mm

< 800mm < 800mm




Standard Easy-Brace Configurations This manual cover the installation of the standard Easy-Brace installations based on a 4-arm brace

system with additional cross bracing.

Configuration A

Configuration B

Configuration C




Key Components (1) Main Pipe Clamp Assembly

(2) SBC Clamp Assembly

(3) Main Strut

(4) Uni-Clamp Assembly

(5) SBC or Pipe Clamp Half

(6) Tico S Liner

(7) M16x90 Hex Setscrew

(8) M16 NORD-LOCK® Washer

(9) M16 Full Nut

(10) M16 Half Nut

(11) T-bar (used on 3-arm and 4-arm installations)

(12) M8x40 Socket Head Screw


(14) Uni-Clamp Base

(15) Uni-Clamp Cap

(16) M16x60 Socket Head Screw


(18) M16 Full Nut

4

3

1

5

6

7

8

9

10

2

12

13

11




Note: NORD-LOCK® Washers

To reduce the possibility of the Easy-Brace® mechanical fixings working loose, NORD-LOCK® (NL)

washers are to be installed with the following fixings:

● M8 setscrew securing Uni-Clamp Base and Cap

● M16 setscrew securing Uni-Clamp Halves.

● M16 setscrews securing SBC/Pipe Clamp Halves.

15 14 12 13 16 17 18




Installation Instruction Prior to starting the installation, check the type of installation (A, B, or C), number of arms (2, 3 or 4)

and if cross-bracing is required. The instructions provide guidance and best practice installing Easy-

Brace 4-arm vesion. If you require support contact AVT Reliability.

Step 1a: Install Mainline / SBC Clamps

● Select relevant pipe clamps for mainline pipe and SBC.

● SBC clamps should typically be positioned so that the distances between the centrelines through them as shown by dimensions ‘a’ and ‘b’ below equalised where possible.

● For Type C (3-arm, 4-arm version) the distance to clamp bars is to be equlaised as shown by dimension ‘c’.

● Note T-bars are shown in the illustrations below but actually fitted in Step 2.

● Fit clamps with supplied Tico S liner material under clamps to prevent corrosion due to possible dissimilar metals.

Type A

a

b




Type B

Type C

a

b

Orientate pipe clamps so bars are parallel and equal distance

c

c




Step 1b: Install Mainline / SBC Clamps

● Ensure Molykote 1000 is applied to bolt threads.

● Secure clamp halves (5) together using fixings (7, 8, 9, 10) as shown.

● Position half nuts (10) centrally during tightening so that they do not stop the clamp flanges closing together during tightening.

Step 1c: Install Mainline / SBC Clamps

● Tighten the M16 hex setscrew (7) with full nut (9) in small steps alternating between sides of the clamp in order to maintain equal gap between clamp flanges.

● There is no recommended torque setting for this fastener. Instead, it is necessary to tighten sufficiently, using spanners, to achieve a good tight connection of the pipe clamps onto the pipe, without causing excessive deformation of the pipe.

● To be effective, the pipe clamp must be tight enough to prevent rotation of the pipe clamp on the pipe.

NB: Take care not to cause deformation of pipework wall with over tightening.

b

a




Step 1d: Install Mainline/SBC Clamps

● Use inner half nut (10) to lock the flange to setscrew (7) head side first.

● Use other half nut (10) to lock the flange to full nut (9) side as shown.

Step 1e: Install Mainline/SBC Clamps

● Repeat the process for the remaining clamp assemblies

● Ensure that the Tico S liner material (6) is positioned uniformly and that the clamps provide an even clamping pressure to the pipe/SBC.

● Re-check the tightness on each side to ensure the clamps are secure

Step 2: Install T-Bar Clamps

● Depending on the configuration install T-Bar Clamps (11) as shown onto clamp bar (applies to 3-arm and 4-arm brace configurations only).

● Lightly tighten with 4 No. M8x40 Socket Head Screws (12) with M8 NORD-LOCK® Washers (13) using 6mm Allen key.

● Tighten across corners ensuring gap between T bars is taken up equally.

● Torque M8x40 (12) Socket Head Screws.

● M8 A4-80 Stainless Steel recommended torque is 20Nm




Step 3a: Install Uni-Clamps

● Position each Uni-Clamp assembly (4) on the each Clamp Bar (Ø32mm).

● Lightly tighten 4 No. M8x40 Socket Head Screws (12) with M8 NORD-LOCK® Washers (13) using 6mm Allen key.

● Tighten lightly across corners ensuring gap between cap and base is taken up equally.

● Uni-Clamp should still be able to be rotated easily by hand to allow for fine adjustment later.

● Remove the Cap from the free end of the Uni-Clamp.

Step 3b: Install Uni-Clamps

● Remove the Cap from the free end of the Uni-Clamp ready to accept Struts.

Step 3c: Install Uni-Clamps

● Orientate the appropriate Uni-Clamps so that they are aligned with each other.

● Measure the closest distance between the Uni-Clamp bases as shown.

● The required Main Strut length is this distance plus 115mm.

● Cut Struts to length using tube cutter within ±1mm.

● Repeat for other Main Struts.

Length between Uni-Clamps




Step 4a: Install Main Struts

● Insert Main Strut checking it will pass through the Uni-clamp Cap when fitted.

● Secure Uni-Clamp Caps with M8x40 Socket Head Screws (12) & NORD LOCK Washers (13).

● Adjust angle of Uni-Clamp parts to ensure the Main Strut sits fully home within the Uni-Clamp assemblies. Loosen other fixings as necessary to achieve adjustment.

● Lightly tighten fixings in small steps and on opposite corners to ensure clearance around bar is taken up equally.

NB: Struts to be loosely assembled and checked to be fully home prior to fully tightening to avoid loading the SBC pipe.

Step 4b: Install Main Struts

● Hand tighten all Uni-Clamp M8 socket head screws (12).

● Hand tighten all Uni-clamp M16 socket head screws (16).

● Check the clearances between clamp mating parts are taken up.

End of Strut should be visible




Step 5: Torque Fixings

● Before torqueing fixings check Struts are fully seated within Uni-clamps and Struts pass through the Uni-clamp Caps.

● Methodically torque the Uni-Clamp Cap M8 socket screws (12).

● M8 A4-80 Stainless Steel recommended torque is 20Nm.

● Methodically torque the Uni-Clamp M16 socket screws (16).

● M16 A4-80 Stainless Steel recommended torque is 185Nm.

NB: Recommended torque does not apply to pipe clamp assemblies due to risk of deformation of pipe wall.

Step 6: Optional Cross Brace

● For additional lateral support a cross-brace option is available for stiffening configurations where pairs of arms are near-parallel or excessively long.

● Uni-Clamps should be fitted close to the existing Uni-Clamps on Main Struts to minimise bending.

● Follow the procedure as detailed in Steps 3 - 5.

● Cross brace Uni-Clamp should be positioned as close as possible.

Cross Brace Uni-Clamp positioned as close as possible to existing Uni-Clamps while avoiding clash with mainline.




Easy-Brace® 4-arm Type A with Cross-Bracing




Performance Statement AVT Reliability® believe that, if fitted correctly and properly maintained, the installation of Easy-

Brace® will be beneficial in reducing relative vibration levels between a Small Bore Connection (SBC)

and mainline, significantly reducing the risk of fatigue damage. AVT Reliability® is unable to

guarantee that a failure could never occur. However the actual performance cannot be guaranteed

and can only be assessed once the brace assembly has been installed and tested with plant in

operation. This is also to ensure the modification has not resulted in any unexpected detrimental

effects. AVT Reliability® recommends that during the installation, before and after, vibration

measurements are taken on both mainline and SBC pipework to quantify both amplitude and

frequency and also natural frequency ‘bump’ testing to identify the natural frequency change to

ensure this does not closely match any of the expected excitation frequencies. The Easy-Brace® will

not reduce main line vibration, which may require further remedial work, such as the installation of

additional fixed supports or visco-elastic dampers, or dynamic vibration absorbers, or process

changes to remove the excitation energy at source

Contact Information AVT Reliability Ltd.

Unit 2 Easter Court

Europa Boulevard

Warrington

Cheshire

WA5 7ZB

Tel. +44 161 486 3737

For advice or support with Easy-Brace® installations please contact AVT Reliability on Tel: +44

(0)161 486 3737 or contact us through our website www.avtrelaibility.com

installation guide for easy-brace - vibtech...avt-eb-im1a issue 1 09/18 small bore connection (sbc)...

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