Self-Test C-1.17: Calculate the Expansion and Contraction of Various Piping Materials Due to Heating and Cooling
Complete Self-Test C-1.17 and check your answers.
- The coefficient of linear expansion is the increase in unit of measure for one degree increase in heat.
- True
- False
- The coefficient of linear contraction is the decrease in unit of measure for one degree decrease in heat.
- True
- False
- How much linear expansion would occur if a 58′ stainless steel pipe installed at –18°F were heated to 250°F?
Answer: in.
- An 18.5-m length of PVC pipe was installed in a commercial building. If the pipe underwent a temperature change of +22°C, what increase in length would it experience?
Answer: mm
- A 45′ length of CPVC pipe was installed in a commercial building when the ambient temperature was 65°F. If the pipe were put into service transporting a chilled brine and were cooled to 5°F, what would be its new length?
Answer: ft. in.
- A 3-in. carbon steel steam pipe is 40 m long and is 10°C. at the time of installation. How much linear expansion can be expected when the temperature is raised to 150°C (steam)?
Answer: mm
- A 3-in. copper hot water supply line is installed at a temperature of 32°F. When the line is put into use, the temperature of the hot water will be 160°F. The total length of the line at the time of installation is 69 feet 4 inches. What will its new length be?
Answer: ft. in.
- A 2-in. ABS drain line, 60 ft. in length, is installed in a building under construction. There are no doors or windows installed at this point of construction. The time of year is midwinter and the temperature is 5°F. After the building is completed, the temperature will rise to 92°F. How much linear expansion will occur in the 2-in. pipe?
Answer: in.
- A hot water heating system is installed with [latex]1\frac{1}{4}\text{-in.}[/latex] carbon steel wall fin convector. One particular run is 30 m long. The fin temperature at the time of installation was 15°C. At peak heating season, the pipe temperature rises to 82°C. How much linear expansion must be allowed for on the wall fin installation?
Answer: mm
- A 26-m copper chilled water line is installed in a building. The temperature at time of installation is 29.5°C. After the pipe is put in service, cold water running in the pipe is 3°C. How much contraction should we allow for?
Answer: mm
Transpose the linear expansion formula to solve the following questions:
- A stainless steel pipe is installed in a brewery. The pipe temperature at time of installation was 62°F. During the brewing process the pipe reached a temperature of 210°F and increased [latex]1\text{' }\frac{11}{2}\text{"}[/latex]. How long was the pipe when it was installed?
Answer: ft.
- A PVC pipe is installed in a fertilizer plant. The pipe temperature at time of installation was 11°C. During the process, the pipe reached a temperature of 70°C and increased 18 mm in length. How long was the pipe when it was installed?
Answer: m
- A cast iron stack 128′ long is installed in January when the temperature is –18°F. During final inspection, the stack is [latex]\frac{3}{8}\text{"}[/latex] longer. What was the temperature of the building when the inspection took place?
Answer: °F
- A 77′ polypropylene pipe is installed in a geothermal header. At the time of installation, the temperature of the pipe was 50°F. During the process, the fluid it contains has a temperature of 120°F. When heated, the pipe becomes [latex]\frac{15}{16}\text{ in.}[/latex] longer than at the time of installation. What is the coefficient of linear expansion of the polypropylene pipe? Give your answer to the accuracy of seven (7) decimal places.
Answer: CLE
Answer Key: Self-Test C-1.17 is on the other page.
