Section 5 — Piping
IPE Engineering Practice IPE-EP-5-6-2
Document number: IPE-EP-5-6-2 · Section: 5 — Piping
CoInafsletcatilo nA Prouinbta E nEgningeeirninege Prriancgtic Pesractices Piping for Rotating Equipment 3. (*)Minimize forces due to pressure pulsations to a point which will permit the piping to be restrained by conventional pipe guides, anchors, or supports. 9.3.2 (*)Pulsation bottles shall be designed per EP 7–1–1, unless otherwise specified by the Owner’s Engineer. 9.3.3 Major forces due to gas pulsations will act along the axis of the pipe. Therefore, the pipe shall be anchored to prevent axial vibration and still allow freedom to accommodate movements due to thermal expansion. 9.3.4 The piping design shall provide access for chemical or mechanical cleaning and inspection of the intake piping from the outlet flange of the first major vessel to the compressor flanges. The piping design shall also provide access to the recycle and start–up bypass piping if these lines enter the “clean” section of the intake system. 9.3.5 Each section of suction or discharge pipe bounded by block and/or control valves shall have one drain and one vent connection adjacent to each valve for independent flushing or purging of that section of pipe. This shall apply to piping up to the block or control valve nearest the first major vessel. 9.3.6 Piping between parallel cylinders of reciprocating compressors shall be installed close to the compressor to allow maintenance access to both sides of adjacent cylinders. 9.3.7 Suction and discharge headers and laterals shall be close to grade to permit installation of restraints. Where the lateral rises to the top of a cylinder, the length of the elevated line shall be arranged or supported to withstand vibration. A minimum of five (5) pipe diameter of a straight run of pipe shall be provided in the suction line immediately before each compressor cylinder. 9.3.8 End welding caps on connections to compressor headers are not permitted. Each end of the header shall have blind flanges to allow cleaning. 9.3.9 (*)Where blinds are specified, spectacle or figure eight blinds shall be used. 9.3.10 Check valves, knockout pots, or permanent strainers shall be provided, as required, in the miscellaneous piping lines connected to the process suction line. 9.3.11 Temporary strainers per EP 5–4–5 shall be installed in horizontal runs of the process suction lines as closely as possible to the inlet flanges of the pulsation suppression devices. Permanent strainers shall not be used. 9.3.12 Piping runs shall be supported to avoid coincidence between piping natural frequencies and excitation frequencies generated by nearby equipment. 9.3.13 The suction, interstage, and discharge headers, and all piping between headers (other than safety valve piping) shall not be supported by, guided by, or attached to any portion of the building or shelter for the compressors.
CoInafsletcatilo nA Prouinbta E nEgningeeirninege Prriancgtic Pesractices Piping for Rotating Equipment 13.4.2 Hydrostatic testing shall be per EP 5–5–3 and these following supplemental requirements: 1. All piping, other than lube and seal oil piping, shall be hydrostatically tested with water or a light oil at 1–1/2 times the design pressure or 100 psig, whichever is greater. Lube and seal oil piping shall be hydrostatically tested with light oil at 1–1/2 times the design pressure or 100 psig, whichever is greater. 2. Piping systems in vacuum service shall be tested to 15 psig.
© 2026 Inflection Point Engineering, LLC. All rights reserved. The content of this page — including calculation methods, reference data, written analysis, interactive tools, and source code — is the intellectual property of Inflection Point Engineering, LLC and is protected under applicable copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, modification, or derivative use in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written consent.
Disclaimer. This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Calculations, reference data, and methodologies are based on published standards and accepted engineering practice but are not a substitute for engineering judgment, site-specific analysis, or review by a licensed Professional Engineer. Inflection Point Engineering, LLC makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose of any content presented here, and shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from its use. Users assume all risk associated with applying this content to real-world design, operations, or decisions.
© 2026 Inflection Point Engineering, LLC. All rights reserved.