In addition to the expansion loops, the straight sections of pipes are probably not even attached to the supports to allow large sections of the pipes to move, transferring the movement to the expansion loops.
The trans-alaska pipeline has whole sections built on special skates to reduce the chance of damage from earthquakes (see “Construction” section).
It also merely rests on its supports to allow for expansion (see “Technical Details” sections).
In fact, the trans-alaska pipeline changes in length by 5 miles over the course of the year, and was built 11 miles too long to account for this.
If you can find it and you enjoy this sort of thing then try to track down the TV series “Worlds Toughest Fixes” from National Geographic. It ran for about 3 years and followed a professional rigger that helped out with all manner of big/difficult engineering jobs. One of the episodes involved replacing a faulty valve on a section of the Alaska Pipeline.
anyone know why the pipelines in the thumbnail photo make those squared shapes at regular looking intervals?
In addition to the expansion loops, the straight sections of pipes are probably not even attached to the supports to allow large sections of the pipes to move, transferring the movement to the expansion loops.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System
The trans-alaska pipeline has whole sections built on special skates to reduce the chance of damage from earthquakes (see “Construction” section).
It also merely rests on its supports to allow for expansion (see “Technical Details” sections).
In fact, the trans-alaska pipeline changes in length by 5 miles over the course of the year, and was built 11 miles too long to account for this.
fuck yeah dude thats the kind of knowledge im looking for
Wow, 5 miles is insane…
If you can find it and you enjoy this sort of thing then try to track down the TV series “Worlds Toughest Fixes” from National Geographic. It ran for about 3 years and followed a professional rigger that helped out with all manner of big/difficult engineering jobs. One of the episodes involved replacing a faulty valve on a section of the Alaska Pipeline.
Thank you, I love gaining random and interesting knowledge that will likely never be of use to me. It’s really fun!!
Possibly expansion relief? They get some pretty wild temperature swings.
That’s correct
That’s my guess too
The pipes would warp and break without those extra loops. They mitigate contraction and expansion due to temperature changes.
I’m not 100% sure, but I think they allow the pipe to flex when it expands and contracts instead of breaking