Pipes, Fittings, and Valves

Pipe and Tubing

- circular cross section, varying sizes, wall thickness and
materials of construction
Pipes, Fittings, and Valves
PIPE TUBING

Heavy walled Thin walled

Relatively large in diameter

Moderate length (20-40 ft) Several hundred feet long

Metallic pipe can be threaded Usually cannot

Slightly rough Smooth walls

Joined by screwed, flanged, or welded Connected by compression fittings, flare

fittings fittings, soldered fittings
Metallic pipe is made by welding, Extruded or cold drawn
casting, or piercing a billet in a piercing
mill
Pipes, Fittings, and Valves
Pipe and tubing
- made from various materials including metals
and alloys, wood, ceramics, glass, and various
plastics
- PVC pipes are used for water lines
- In process plants, the most common is low-
carbon steel, sometimes called black-iron pipe
- Wrought iron and cast-iron pipes are also used
for a number of special purposes.
Sizes
• Sizes are specified in terms of DIAMETER and
THICKNESS

• The term diameter for piping sizes is identified by

nominal size.

• Standard nominal diameters range from 1/8 to 30

in. For a large pipe, more than 12 in in diameter,
the nominal diameters are the actual outside
diameters.
Pipe Schedule
- Pipe schedule number increases with the
thickness
- Calculation:
http://classroom.synonym.com/calculate-pipe-schedule-number-2723.html
Tubing
• Tubing sizes are indicated by the outside
diameter.
• Normal value is the actual outer diameter
(OD)
• Wall thickness is given by BWG (Birmingham
wire gauge) number which ranges from 24
(very light) to 7 (very heavy)
Selection of Pipe Sizes
- Relative cost of investments, power,
maintenance, stocking pipe and fittings
- In small installations, rule of thumb is
sufficient
Joints and Fittings
• Depends on properties of material but
primarily on wall thickness
• Thick walled
– screwed fittings, flanges or welding
• Thin walled
– soldering, compression or flare fittings
Screwed fittings
• Threading weakens the pipe wall.
• Threading is commonly used for pipe smaller
than 3 in.

• watch video on threading

Flanges
Pipe larger than 2 in. are usually connected by flanges or
welding.
Flanges
Flanges
Allowances for expansion
Allowances for expansion
Allowances for expansion
Allowances for expansion
Stuffing boxes, packing, mechanical
seals

• Watch video
Valves