A butt weld fitting is a weldable pipe fitting that can be used to adjust the flow path, minimise pipe size, branch off or attach auxiliary equipment. Elbows, tees, tops, reduces, and outlets are some of the examples of butt weld pipe fittings. Butt weld stainless steel and carbon steel fittings are used to adjust the direction of a piping system, branch it off, or mechanically connect equipment to it. The most common form of welded pipe fitting is the elbow, which is specified by the nominal pipe size and pipe schedule. Welded butt weld fittings are favoured and more commonly used because it is so cost-effective. A234 WPB, High Yield Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel 304 and 316, and Nickel Alloys are all popular materials used for butt weld fittings.
Types of butt weld pipe fittings
Welded pipe fittings, available in carbon steel and stainless steel, are the connecting components that enable valves, pipes, and equipment to be attached to the piping system. In any piping system, welded fittings complement pipe flanges and allow:
● The adjustment of the flow direction in a piping method.
● Provide access, branches and take-offs for auxiliary equipment.
● Enables pipes and machinery to be linked and joined together.
There are various types of butt weld fittings that serve different purposes including LR 90 Elbow, LR 45 Elbow, SR 90 Elbow, LR 180 degree bend, SR 180 degree bend, Tee, reducing tee, concentric reducer, eccentric reducer and more.
What do short radius (SR) and long radius (LR) mean?
The terms SR45 elbow and LR45 elbow are frequently used. The angle of the bend for butt weld fitting to adjust the direction of flow is 45 or 90 degrees. The pipe bend on a long radius elbow (LR 90 Elbow or LR 45 Elbow) would be 1.5 times the pipe's diameter. As a result, the bending radius of a 6-inch LR 90 is 1.5 times the nominal pipe dimension. A short radius elbow (SR45 or SR90) has a pipe bend equal to the size of the fitting.
Apart from these, you might also come across terms like 3R or 3D as well as concentric and eccentric reducers while talking about butt weld fittings. Firstly, the terms 3R and 3D are interchangeable. The bending radius of a 3R butt weld elbow is three times the nominal pipe dimension. The smoothness of a 3R elbow is superior to that of an SR or LR fitting. Symmetrical concentric reducer buttweld fitting has both ends aligned down the centre. The ends of an eccentric reducer butt weld fitting are offset from one another and are not symmetrical.
Conclusion:
There are several benefits of using butt weld pipe fittings. Some of these benefits include a more robust connection, adding additional strength to the piping system, offering seamless flow inside the pipe, being cost-effective and the fact that there are various turn radius available for different applications. These are some of the reasons why these fittings are preferred for a wide array of applications.
