In this month’s IAC Tip of the Month, Nathan Petrie dives into a crucial yet often overlooked part of pneumatic conveying and dust collection systems: pipe supports. Whether you’re designing a new system or troubleshooting an existing one, understanding static vs. dynamic loading and planning for maintenance accessibility can save time, money, and future headaches. Watch the video below to learn the best practices—and then read on for a full breakdown.
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Watch our Tip of the Month Video to learn more:
Hi there, Nathan Petrie with another IAC Tip of the Month.
Today we’re talking about pipe supports—specifically pipe supports used in pneumatic conveying and dust collection applications.
There are two main types of loading to consider when designing or evaluating pipe supports:
1. Static Loading
2. Dynamic Loading
Static loading refers to the weight of the pipe system that hangs due to gravity. This includes:
The weight of the pipe itself (determined by material and wall thickness)
The weight of couplings and fittings
The weight of the material inside the pipe—assuming it's completely full, as a worst-case scenario
To calculate the weight of the material in a given pipe section, use this formula:
π × (inner radius)² × length × bulk density
Just make sure all of your units' line up when doing the math. This gives you the weight for that section of pipe, which is the static load the support needs to handle—especially at points like elbows or vertical drops.
Dynamic loading is most relevant in dense phase conveying. In these systems, slugs of material move at a specific velocity. When one of these slugs hits an elbow or turn in the pipeline, it exerts a force on that section of pipe. That’s dynamic loading—it changes during system operation.
To calculate this force, you need to know:
The mass of the material slug
The bulk density of the material
The velocity of the slug
As the material turns the corner, the rate of change in direction will determine the amount of force applied. These calculations are typically included in your equipment package and should be provided by your dense phase system supplier.
To manage dynamic loading, we add additional pipe supports at elbows and turns in the pipeline to keep everything secure and in place.
When installing pipe supports, we follow a few general rules:
Place supports every 10 feet along straight pipe runs
Add supports on both sides of every elbow
Also—think about future maintenance. If you need to remove an elbow or section of pipe, you don’t want the rest of the system to shift or fall. That’s why we recommend having at least two pipe supports per straight run, so the rest of the system stays supported when you remove a section.
Good support placement makes future maintenance faster, safer, and easier.
When working with pipe supports, always consider these three key factors:
Static Loading – Account for full material loads
Dynamic Loading – Especially in dense phase systems at elbows and turns
Maintenance – Design for future access and ease of disassembly
Proper pipe support planning not only ensures system reliability and safety but also makes maintenance more efficient and less disruptive.
If you have any questions about pipe support layout, loading calculations, or system design—reach out to IAC. We’re here to help.
Check out our guide to smart buying decisions for pneumatic conveying systems.