START-Elements – Express Analysis and Sizing

Along with the analysis of piping systems of any complexity, PASS/START-PROF performs a wide spectrum of calculations “on the fly” thereby helping piping designers to make the right decisions. PASS/START-PROF calculates pipe and fitting wall thicknesses, span lengths, as well as sizes of typical piping assemblies. It also checks flange leakage, pump and equipment loads, buried and above ground pipeline longitudinal stability, pipe wall stability under vacuum, and other loads.

Besides the analysis of arbitrary configuration pipelines, we have implemented a working tool along with a piping handbook for piping designer — a START-Elements option. PASS/START-PROF software is designed for rapid flexibility estimation of piping fittings, their strength and stability analysis.

START-Elements allows the user to do the following:

• Analyze stress of L, Z and U-shaped piping loops (buried and above-ground)
• Pipe and fitting wall thickness calculation or maximum pressure allowed according to the code selected
• Calculate maximum allowable distances between supports via strength and stiffness analysis
• Check general and local stability of straight and curved pipe elements under the thermal expansion, external pressure (vacuum) and soil pressure loads
• Calculate minimum pipeline laying depth for underground pipeline stability analysis
• Calculate maximum pipeline laying depth for buried pipeline by polyurethane insulation stress analysis
• Calculate allowable load on saddle support for large-diameter pipes
• Calculate allowable distances between single action (one time) compensators and their closing temperature
• Calculate bellows stiffness if the manufacturer’s data are absent
• Flange leak check
• Centrifugal pump load check per API 610 (ISO 13709), GOST 32601-2013 and Kellogg method (L.C. Peng Pipe stress engineering)