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Nozzle Loads – Part 1

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Nozzle Loads
1.0 Introduction to Nozzle Loads
This post specifies the criteria to be adopted while defining the allowable loads acting on the
Nozzles of the various Mechanical equipments, due to the loads imposed by the connected
piping system. These loads shall be included in the Mechanical design of the equipments
during procurement.

As a minimum, the Piping Stress Engineer shall ensure that the loads on the Nozzle of the
Mechanical Equipments are within these values. In the event the loads are exceeding the
allowable loads values, prior approval from the supplier shall be taken.
It is advisable that, the Fabrication / Procurement of these equipments shall be carried out
after the confirmation of the loads on the Nozzle by both the party (Purchaser and Supplier).
2.0 Types of Mechanical Equipments
Mechanical Equipments are classified in two types viz. Fabricated Equipments& Proprietary
Equipments. Criteria for defining the allowable loads on the Nozzles of these equipments
are given below.
2.1 Fabricated Equipments
Various Mechanical Equipments like Pressure Vessels, Columns, Heat Exchangers (Shell &
Tube type and Plate type), cylindrical storage tanks, etc. are classified under this category.
• Allowable Forces & Moments
The allowable loads for the Fabricated Equipmentsshall be in accordance with Appendix-1.
These values are applicable for equipments, withcarbon steel and stainless steel as
material of construction.
For equipments made of other material, the supplier shall provide an appropriate set of
calculations for approval.

The allowable loads for the Cylindrical Storage Tanks shall be in accordance with Appendix-
2.
• Statement of Compliance
The Equipment Supplier shall check the stresses in the nozzle/equipment resulting from the
allowable loads as specified above, in accordance with WRC bulletin WRC107/ WRC297
/ASME Section VIII Division 2.
The Equipment supplier shall provide a statement of compliance with this specification.
• Higher Allowable Loads
This specification gives the maximum allowable loads which the nozzle can withstand
without failure. However, depending on the configuration of the connected Piping system or
due to the various design conditions analyzed, the loads imposed on the Nozzle may
exceed these allowable values.
In such cases, theactual loads shall be communicated to the Supplier. The Supplier shall
check the integrity of the nozzle / equipment. If acceptable, the Supplier shall approve these
loads and incorporate the same in the equipment design. However, if these loads are not
acceptable, the supplier shall submit the calculations /technical explanation supporting the
same.
Any calculations required to be done and any reinforcement required to be provided on the
equipment shall be part of Supplier’s scope of work.

Fig 1- Allowable nozzle loads

Legends:
FL – Longitudinal shear force
FC – Circumferential shear force
FA – Axial tension or compression force
ML – Longitudinal bending moment
MC – Circumferential bending moment
MT – Torsional moment
F – Resultant Shear Force
M – Resultant Bending Moment
 Notes:
1. The above loads are applicable for following equipment:
• Shell & tube and Plate type heat exchangers
• Pressure vessels
• Columns
1. Each nozzle shall be capable of withstanding the above forces and moments under the
design conditions and are considered to be acting simultaneously at the intersection of
nozzle axis with outer surface of the shell or head plates, in corroded condition.
2. All forces and moments in the above tables are positive and sign rotation is as per WRC
bulletin 107. The most stringent case caused by axial load F A acting inward or outward
shall be considered.
3. For dished ends, the resultant shear force and bending moment are calculated as:
F = SQRT {(FL) 2 + (FC)2}
M = SQRT {(ML) 2 + (MC)2}
1. The loads stated above shall be used as the design basis for nozzles. When loadings in
excess of above listed standard allowable nozzle loadings are required, the supplier will
be informed. When the information becomes available the supplier shall check and
incorporate these loads in the equipment design.

Wherever necessary, the nozzle/ vessel shall be reinforced. In case the Supplier finds that
the higher loads cannot be incorporated, he shall submit calculations/technical explanation
to justify the same, indicating the maximum load that can be incorporated.

Notes:
1. Each nozzle shall be capable of withstanding the above forces and moments under the
design conditions in the worst-case combination of direction of forces & moments and
internal pressure, and are considered to be acting simultaneously at the intersection of
nozzle axis with outer surface of the shell or roof plates, in corroded condition. Supplier
to provide all the necessary calculation to demonstrate the compliance to above, in
accordance with API 650 Appendix P / BS 2654 or required FE calculation if any
standard method can’t be applied.
2. Vendor to provide necessary reinforcement to comply with above standard allowable
nozzle loadings requirement.
3. Tabulated loadings also apply to roof nozzles, except that the radial load becomes
vertical load, and the allowable resultant shear force and bending moment should be as
follows, rather than individual allowable shear force and bending moment components:
F = SQRT {(FV) 2 + (FH) 2}
M = SQRT {(ML) 2 + (MC) 2}
1. The loads stated above shall be used as the design basis for nozzles. When loadings in
excess of above listed standard allowable nozzle loadings are required, the supplier will
be informed when the information becomes available.
The supplier shall check and incorporate these loads in the equipment design.
Wherever necessary, the nozzle/tank shall be reinforced. In case the Supplier finds that the
higher loads cannot be incorporated, he shall submit calculations/technical explanation to
justify the same, indicating the maximum load that can be incorporated.

1.1 Proprietary Equipment

Various Mechanical equipments like Pumps, Compressors, Expanders, Plate-fin heat

exchanger, Air cooled Heat Exchanger etc. are classified under this category. Allowable
loads for the nozzles of these equipments are generally available from equipment supplier.
However, some of the proprietary equipment are designed and constructed as per
International codes with standard set of allowable loads. In any case, loads imposed by the
connected piping system shall be confirmed and approved the supplier.
• Centrifugal Pumps
API 610, Table 5 gives the allowable forces and moments on the Pump Nozzles (Suction
and Discharge). However, if the loads acting on the Pump nozzles exceed these values, the
allowable loads can be increased to 2 times, provided the criteria specified in Annex F are
satisfied. This shall be approved and confirmed by the Pump Vendor. As a general practice,
approval shall be taken from the vendor for 2 times API 610 at the initial stage of the
project.

However,if one or more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same
shall be approved & agreed with the Pump Vendor.
• Metering Pumps/Pumps as per NFPA code
The minimum allowable nozzle loads shall be as provided by the Pump Supplier.
• Pumps (API 676, Rotary Positive Displacement)
 The minimum allowable nozzle loads shall be as per API676, Table 2. However, if one or
more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved &
agreed with the Pump Vendor.
• Centrifugal Compressors & Turbo Expanders
The allowable forces and moments acting on the nozzles of centrifugal compressors shall
be designed in accordance with API 617, the forces and moments shall be 1.85 times the
values based on the load criteria of NEMA SM23. However, if one or more components of
the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the
Vendor.
• Reciprocating Compressors
The minimum allowable nozzle loads shall be as per API 618 values. However, if one or
more components of the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved &
agreed with the Vendor.
• Rotary Positive Displacement Compressors (API619)

The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Rotary Positive Displacement Compressors is
generally taken as 1.85 times NEMA SM23 Values. However, if one or more components of
the forces and moments are still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the
Vendor.
• Brazed Aluminium Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers
The allowable nozzle loads for Brazed Aluminium Plate-Fin HeatExchanger shall be 3 times
the value in ALPEMA (Standards of theBrazed Aluminium Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger
Manufacturer’s Association) Table 5-1. However, it shall be approved and agreed by the
Vendor.
• Air Cooled Heat Exchangers
The minimum allowable nozzle loads on Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers due topiping
reactions shall be as listed below.
Nozzle Rating Allowable Load
150 & 300 # 2 times API 661 Values
600# 4 times API 661 Values
900# 6 times API 661 Values
However, it shall be approved and agreed by the Vendor.
• Gas Turbines
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Gas Turbines shall be as provided by Supplier.
• Fired Heaters
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Fired Heaters shall be THREE times as specified
in API-560. In case the same is procured as a package item, Nozzle loads shall be as per
Cl. 5.2.14 below.
• Steam Turbines-NEMA SM 23
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for Steam Turbine is generally taken as 1.85 times
NEMA SM23 Values. However, if one or more components of the forces and moments are
still exceeding, same shall be approved & agreed with the Vendor.
• Reforming furnace-Vendor to give
• Large storage tanks-API 650
• Any other proprietary equipment
The minimum allowable nozzle loads for any other proprietary equipment shall be as
provided by Supplier.