Part - I: Chapter 2 - Piping Components

Professional Training and Consultation
ASME B31.3 Process Piping Course
PART - I
CHAPTER 2 . PIPING COMPONENTS
1. General :
A pipe or a tube is hollow, longitudinal product. `A tube’ is a general term

used for hollow product having circular, elliptical or square cross-section
or for that matter cross-section of any closed perimeter.
A pipe is tubular product of circular cross-section that has specific sizes

and thicknesses governed by particular dimensional standard.
2. Classification :
Pipe can be classified based on methods of manufacture or based on

their applications.
3. Methods of manufacture :
Seamless pipes are manufactured by drawing or extrusion process. ERW

pipes ( Electric resistance welded pipes ) are formed from a strip which is
longitudinally welded along its length. Welding may be by Electric
resistance, high frequency, or induction welding, ERW pipes can also be
drawn for obtaining required dimensions and tolerances.
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Pipes in small quantities are manufactured by EFW ( Electric fusion

welding ) process where in instead of electric resistance welding, the
longitudinal seam is welded by manual or automatic electric arc process.
There are spiral seam welded pipes, which are large dia pipes 500 NB
and above, and pipes are made by welding a spiral seam produced by
forming continuous steel skelp into circular shape.
Centrifugally cast pipes are made by spraying molten metal along a

rotating die where the pipes are cast in shape due to centrifugal action.
Classification based on end use:
Pipes a re classified as:

- Pressure pipes or Process pipes
- Line pipes
- Structural pipes
1. Pressure pipes are those which are subjected to fluid pressure and
or temperatures. Fluid pressure in generally internal pressure due
to fluid being conveyed or may be external pressure ( e.g. jacked
piping ) and are mainly used as plant piping.
2. Line Pipes are mainly used for long distance conveying of the fluids
and are subjected to fluid pressures. These are generally not
subjected to high temperatures.
3. Structural pipes are not used for conveying fluids and therefore not
subjected to fluid pressures or temperatures. They are used as
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structural components ( e.g. handrails, columns, sleeves etc. ) and

are subjected to static loads only.
4. Pipes Dimensional Standards :
Diameters: Pipes are designated by Nominal size, Starting form 1/8”

Nominal size, and increasing in steps.
1. Pipe sizes increases in steps of 1/8” fir 1/8” to ½” : 1/8”, ¼”, 3/8”,
½” Nominal size.
2. Sizes in steps of ¼” : ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”
3. In steps of ½” upto 4” : 1 ½”, 2”, 2 ½”, 3”, 3 ½”, 4”
4. In steps of 1” upto 6” : 4”. 5”, 6”
5. In steps of 2” upto 36” : 6”, 8”, 10” ……. Etc.
For the Nominal size upto including 12”, there is one unique O.D.
( different from nominal size ) and I.D. would vary depending on schedule
number. For Nominal sizes 14” and above, O.D. is same as Nominal size.
5. Schedule No. :
Pipes are designated by schedule number or weight designation like Std.

(S), Extra Strong (XS) and Double Extra Strong (XXS)
Pipe schedule number S is defined as :
Sch. NO. S = 1000 P/S
Where P = Internal Pressure (psi)
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S = Allowable tensile strength of material used.
Common pipe schedules are Sch 40, Sch 80, Sch 120, Sch 160, for larger
pipe sizes intermediate schedule numbers ( Sch20, Sch 30 etc. ) are also
employed ( Ref. Pipe Dimension Chart )
For Carbon steel, Pipe wall thickness tolerance is + 12 ½% i.e. Pipe wall
thickness can vary 12 ½% from thickness obtained from dimension chart.
For stainless steels schedule numbers are designated by suffix S i.e. 10S,
40S, 80S e tc.
Length : Pipes are manufactured in `random length’ which is + 20’ –0”

and in double random length + 40’ –0”.
6. Fittings
Pipe fittings are the components which tie together pipe lines, valves, and
other parts of a piping system. They are used in “making up” a pipe line.
Fittings may come in screwed, welded, soldered, or flanged varieties and
are used to change the size of the line or its direction and to join together
the various parts that make up a piping system.
The majority of pipe fittings are specified by the nominal pipe size, type,
material and the name of the fitting. Besides the end connections
mentions above (screwed, welded, soldered, flanged) it is also possible to
order bell and spigot fittings, which are usually cast iron and used for low
pressure service.
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In general, a fitting is any component in piping system that changes its

direction, alters its function, or simply makes end connections. A fitting is
joined to the system by bolting, welding or screwing, depending on many
variables in the system.
6.1 Butt-Welded Fittings
Welded fittings are used primarily in systems meant to be

permanent. They have the same wall thickness as the mating pipe.
Among the many advantages of butt welded systems are the
following :
1. They have a smooth inner surface and offer gradual

direction change with minimum turbulence.
2. They require much less space for constructing and hanging
the pipe system.
3. They form leak-proof constructions.
4. They are almost maintenance free.
5. They have a higher temperature and pressure limit.
6. They form a self-contained system.
7. They are easy to insulate
8. They offer a uniform wall thickness through-out the system.
One of the major disadvantages of butt-welded systems is that are

not easy to dismantle. Therefore, it is often advisable to provide
the system with enough flanged joints so that it can be broken
down at intervals. ( One of the main uses of the butt-welded
system, is for steam lines, which are usually in high-temperature/
high-pressure service ).
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6.2 Socket Welded Fittings
Socket welded fittings have certain advantages over butt-welded

fittings. They are easier to use on small-size pipelines and the
ends of the pipes need not be beveled since the pipe end slips into
the socket of the joint. With socket-welded fittings there is no
danger of the weld protruding into the pipeline and restricting flow
or creating turbulence. Thus, the advantages of the socket-welded
system are :
1. The pipe does not need to be beveled.

2. No tack welding is necessary for alignment since joint and
the pipe are self -aligning.
3. Weld a material can not extend into the pipeline.
4. It can be used in place of threaded fittings, therefore,
reducing the likelihood of leaks, which usually accompany
the use of threaded fittings.
5. It is less expensive and easier to construct than other
welded systems.
One of the major disadvantages of this type of fitting is the

possibility of a mismatch inside the fitting where improperly aligned
or mated parts may create a recess where corrosion could start.
Socket-welded fittings have the same inside diameter as standard

(Schedule 40), extra strong (Schedule 80), and double extra strong
(Schedule 160) pipe, depending on the weight of the fitting and
mating pipe. Socket-welded fittings rare covered in ASA B16.11.
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They are drilled to match the internal diameter of schedule 40 or

schedule 80 pipe.
6.3 Flanged Fittings
Flanged connections are found on piping systems throughout the

petrochemical and power generation fields on pipelines that are a
minimum of 2 in.(5.08 cm ) in diameter. The majority of flanged
fittings are made of cast steel or cast iron.
Flanged steel fittings are used in place of cast iron where the
system is subjected to shock or high-temperature/ high-pressure
situations where the danger of fire is prevalent, because cast iron
has a tendency to c rack or rupture under certain stresses. A
flange may be cast or forged onto the ends of the fitting or valve
and bolted to a connecting flange which is screwed or welded onto
the pipeline, thereby providing a tight joint. An assortment of
facings, ring joint grooves, and connections are available in flange
variations.
One advantage of flanged systems is that they are easily

dismantled and assembled. One of the disadvantages is that they
are considerably than an equally rated butt-welded system,
because of the large amount of metal that go into making up joints
and flanges. Moreover, flanged fittings occupy far more space than
the butt-welded or screwed equivalents. Because of this higher
weight load, a flanged system becomes far more expensive to
support or hang from the existing structure.
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Professional Training and Consultation

ASME B31.3 Process Piping Course

A pipe or a tube is hollow, longitudinal product. `A tube’ is a general term

A pipe is tubular product of circular cross-section that has specific sizes

Pipe can be classified based on methods of manufacture or based on

Seamless pipes are manufactured by drawing or extrusion process. ERW

Pipes in small quantities are manufactured by EFW ( Electric fusion

Centrifugally cast pipes are made by spraying molten metal along a

Classification based on end use:

Pipes a re classified as:

structural components ( e.g. handrails, columns, sleeves etc. ) and

4. Pipes Dimensional Standards :

Diameters: Pipes are designated by Nominal size, Starting form 1/8”

Pipes are designated by schedule number or weight designation like Std.

Pipe schedule number S is defined as :

Sch. NO. S = 1000 P/S

Where P = Internal Pressure (psi)

S = Allowable tensile strength of material used.

Length : Pipes are manufactured in `random length’ which is + 20’ –0”

In general, a fitting is any component in piping system that changes its

6.1 Butt-Welded Fittings

Welded fittings are used primarily in systems meant to be

1. They have a smooth inner surface and offer gradual

One of the major disadvantages of butt-welded systems is that are

6.2 Socket Welded Fittings

Socket welded fittings have certain advantages over butt-welded

1. The pipe does not need to be beveled.

One of the major disadvantages of this type of fitting is the

Socket-welded fittings have the same inside diameter as standard

They are drilled to match the internal diameter of schedule 40 or

6.3 Flanged Fittings

Flanged connections are found on piping systems throughout the

One advantage of flanged systems is that they are easily

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