KUWAIT CANCER CENTER

EXPANSION JOINTS CALCULATION

Expansion joint Sizing theory:

An expansion joint is installed in a steam system to absorb the thermal expansion and compression of the pipe system. All pipes
will be installed at ambient temperature. Pipes carrying hot fluids such as steam operate at higher temperature.
It follows that they expand, especially in length, with an increase from ambient to working temperatures. This will create stress
upon certain areas within the distribution system, such as pipe joints, which in the extreme, could fracture. The amount of the
expansion is readily calculated using the below equation;

Expansion (mm) = L x ΔT x α …………………… (1)

Where:
- L : Length of pipe between anchors [m].
- ΔT : Temperature difference between ambient temperature and operating temperature [°C].
- α : Expansion coefficient [mm/m°C].
For carbon steel pipe [11 .7 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]
For stainless steel pipe [17.3 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]

SAMPLE OF CALCULATION: EJ-1

Length of pipe = 30mtrs.
Ambient temperature, T1 = 25°C
Operating temperature, T2 = 139°C (At 2.5bar working pressure – From steam table)
Expansion coefficient = 17. 3x 10-3mm/m°C
Expansion (mm) = L x (T2 – T1) x α
= 40 x 114x 17.3 x 10-3
= 50.16mm

Expansion Length of pipe Ambient Working Temperature Thermal Expansion

No. Joint Ref. m temperature temperature difference expansion mm
°C °C °C coefficient

BASEMENT CAR PARK

1 EJ-1 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
BASEMENT
2 EJ-2 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
3 EJ-3 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
4 EJ-4 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
5 EJ-5 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
6 EJ-6 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
7 EJ-7 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
8 EJ-8 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
9 EJ-9 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
10 EJ-10 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
11 EJ-11 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
12 EJ-12 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
13 EJ-13 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
14 EJ-14 30 25 139 114 0.0117 40.01
15 EJ-15 40 25 195 170 0.0117 79.56
16 EJ-16 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
17 EJ-17 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
18 EJ-18 25 25 195 170 0.0117 49.73
19 EJ-19 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
20 EJ-20 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
21 EJ-21 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
 KUWAIT CANCER CENTER
EXPANSION JOINTS CALCULATION

Expansion joint Sizing theory:

An expansion joint is installed in a steam system to absorb the thermal expansion and compression of the pipe system. All pipes
will be installed at ambient temperature. Pipes carrying hot fluids such as steam operate at higher temperature.
It follows that they expand, especially in length, with an increase from ambient to working temperatures. This will create stress
upon certain areas within the distribution system, such as pipe joints, which in the extreme, could fracture. The amount of the
expansion is readily calculated using the below equation;

Expansion (mm) = L x ΔT x α …………………… (1)

Where:
- L : Length of pipe between anchors [m].
- ΔT : Temperature difference between ambient temperature and operating temperature [°C].
- α : Expansion coefficient [mm/m°C].
For carbon steel pipe [11 .7 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]
For stainless steel pipe [17.3 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]

SAMPLE OF CALCULATION: EJ-1

Length of pipe = 30mtrs.
Ambient temperature, T1 = 25°C
Operating temperature, T2 = 139°C (At 2.5bar working pressure – From steam table)
Expansion coefficient = 17. 3x 10-3mm/m°C
Expansion (mm) = L x (T2 – T1) x α
= 40 x 114x 17.3 x 10-3
= 50.16mm

Expansion Length of pipe Ambient Working Temperature Thermal Expansion

No. Joint Ref. m temperature temperature difference expansion mm
°C °C °C coefficient

THIRD FLOOR
1 EJ-1 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
2 EJ-2 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
3 EJ-3 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
4 EJ-4 35 25 139 114 0.0173 69.03
5 EJ-5 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
6 EJ-6 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
7 EJ-7 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
8 EJ-8 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
9 EJ-9 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
10 EJ-10 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
11 EJ-11 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
12 EJ-12 30 25 139 114 0.0173 59.17
13 EJ-13 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
14 EJ-14 35 25 195 170 0.0117 69.62
15 EJ-15 20 25 195 170 0.0117 39.78
16 EJ-16 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
17 EJ-17 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
18 EJ-18 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
19 EJ-19 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
20 EJ-20 30 25 195 170 0.0117 59.67
 KUWAIT CANCER CENTER
EXPANSION JOINTS CALCULATION

Expansion joint Sizing theory:

An expansion joint is installed in a steam system to absorb the thermal expansion and compression of the pipe system. All pipes
will be installed at ambient temperature. Pipes carrying hot fluids such as steam operate at higher temperature.
It follows that they expand, especially in length, with an increase from ambient to working temperatures. This will create stress
upon certain areas within the distribution system, such as pipe joints, which in the extreme, could fracture. The amount of the
expansion is readily calculated using the below equation;

Expansion (mm) = L x ΔT x α …………………… (1)

Where:
- L : Length of pipe between anchors [m].
- ΔT : Temperature difference between ambient temperature and operating temperature [°C].
- α : Expansion coefficient [mm/m°C].
For carbon steel pipe [11 .7 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]
For stainless steel pipe [17.3 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]

SAMPLE OF CALCULATION: EJ-1

Length of pipe = 30mtrs.
Ambient temperature, T1 = 25°C
Operating temperature, T2 = 139°C (At 2.5bar working pressure – From steam table)
Expansion coefficient = 17.3x 10-3mm/m°C
Expansion (mm) = L x (T2 – T1) x α
= 30 x 114x 17.3 x 10-3
= 39.44mm

Expansion Length of pipe Ambient Working Temperature Thermal Expansion

No. Joint Ref. m temperature temperature difference expansion mm
°C °C °C coefficient

SIXTH FLOOR
1 EJ-1 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
2 EJ-2 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
3 EJ-3 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
 KUWAIT CANCER CENTER
EXPANSION JOINTS CALCULATION

Expansion joint Sizing theory:

An expansion joint is installed in a steam system to absorb the thermal expansion and compression of the pipe system. All pipes
will be installed at ambient temperature. Pipes carrying hot fluids such as steam operate at higher temperature.
It follows that they expand, especially in length, with an increase from ambient to working temperatures. This will create stress
upon certain areas within the distribution system, such as pipe joints, which in the extreme, could fracture. The amount of the
expansion is readily calculated using the below equation;

Expansion (mm) = L x ΔT x α …………………… (1)

Where:
- L : Length of pipe between anchors [m].
- ΔT : Temperature difference between ambient temperature and operating temperature [°C].
- α : Expansion coefficient [mm/m°C].
For carbon steel pipe [11 .7 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]
For stainless steel pipe [17.3 x 10-3mm/m°C] [Ref. Thermal properties of metals - Expansion table]

SAMPLE OF CALCULATION: EJ-1

Length of pipe = 30mtrs.
Ambient temperature, T1 = 25°C
Operating temperature, T2 = 139°C (At 2.5bar working pressure – From steam table)
Expansion coefficient = 17.3x 10-3mm/m°C
Expansion (mm) = L x (T2 – T1) x α
= 30 x 114x 17.3 x 10-3
= 39.44mm

Expansion Length of pipe Ambient Working Temperature Thermal Expansion

No. Joint Ref. m temperature temperature difference expansion mm
°C °C °C coefficient

ROOF
1 EJ-1 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
2 EJ-2 40 25 139 114 0.0173 78.89
3 EJ-3 25 139 114 0.0173 0.00
4 EJ-4 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
5 EJ-5 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44
6 EJ-6 20 25 139 114 0.0173 39.44