Loading-arm selection links process duty to motion geometry. Establish the material and owner compatibility basis, design conditions, connection, reach, axes, balance or support, parked position, controls, drainage, and maintenance before narrowing components.
Questions this guide organizes
- Wetted duty
- What materials, mixtures, temperatures, cleaning agents, and owner-approved wetted-material and seal requirements apply?
- Design conditions
- What direction of flow, normal and design conditions, loading or unloading mode, transfer frequency, and purge, drain, or vapor path define the duty?
- Connection and reach
- What connection type, size, orientation, vehicle nozzle range, swivel location, vertical and horizontal reach, and parking envelope are required?
- Operation and care
- How will the arm be handled, supported, connected, isolated, drained, cleaned, inspected, maintained, and kept clear when not in service?
When to use this guide
- New rail or truck transfer positions where process piping, vehicle connections, access steel, and operator motion are being coordinated.
- Replacement projects with documented current equipment, duty, reach, connection, wear history, and desired operating change.
Related decisions to coordinate
- Facility piping and supports, pumps, valves, meters, instruments, controls, isolation, vapor or return, drain, purge, and cleaning systems.
- Swivel joints, balance or support, arm sections, hoses, connection hardware, vehicle nozzles, structural loads, and operator reach.
- Platform and gangway geometry, parked equipment, grounding or bonding basis, containment, traffic, maintenance clearance, and spare strategy.
What this guide does not decide
- Nominal pipe size and reach do not establish compatibility, pressure or temperature suitability, connection loads, motion duty, or maintainability.
- A generic selector cannot choose wetted materials, seals, process controls, code basis, or owner-specific handling procedure.
- The owner, responsible process and mechanical engineers, and suppliers must validate the complete stated duty.
Information to gather
- Materials and current safety data, owner compatibility basis, design conditions, cleaning, segregation, and flow direction.
- Connection type, size, orientation, vehicle nozzle range, top or bottom position, and vapor or return connection.
- Dimensioned reach and motion sketch with source piping, support, parking position, obstructions, and operator path.
- Operating and control sequence, isolation, drainage, purge, handling, inspection, maintenance, and removal method.
- Existing equipment identification and photos plus responsible process, mechanical, structural, operations, and safety contacts.