Key Considerations to Buy Compression Tube Fittings for Chemical Process Industries

Compression tube fittings are available in varied dimensions, forms, and are made of different materials. Spend some time to know the important considerations that you need to focus on while buying compression tube fittings.

Compression tube fittings are used in different chemical industries including oil and gas, petrochemical/chemical processing, pulp & paper, and research laboratories. There is a wide variety of compression tube fittings available in the market. If you plan to buy these fittings; you should be able to distinguish between different types of fittings. Here are some important factors that you need to consider.

Materials

You can buy compression tube fittings that are made of different materials including stainless steel and brass. The best material for your installation mainly depends on the application. For example, stainless steel is recommended for high purity applications and corrosive gases as the material have exceptional durability, non-reactivity, superior resistance, and high surface finish properties. The stainless steel compression tube fittings are compatible with low-velocity oxygen applications and most gas types. If the industrial use comprises of high-velocity oxygen applications, you need to consider raw brass fittings due to their low friction flow properties, resistance, and good strength.

Sizing

Once you have determined the right material of the compression tube fitting, you need to pay attention to the sizing of the tube fittings. Proper sizing is critical as undersized or oversized tube fittings will be completely incompatible or connect and seal inadequately. The size of the tube fittings can be determined by the outside and inside diameter of its corresponding connections.

End Connections and Threads

Simple threads are designed to provide a simple connection between pipes and there is no seal between the connections. The thread size is generally based on the inside of the tube. When you go to buy compression tube fittings, you need to pay attention to thread types and their characteristics.

There are different thread types such as tapered pipe thread (NPT), parallel pipe thread (BSP), SAE, metric thread, unified screw thread, and many more. The pressure rating of the tube fittings changes with thread type (male and female), material type, and thread size. Before buying any compression tube fittings, you need to be certain about the threads compatibility with the application.

The tapered threads are ideal for fluids under pressure or gases. The seal reliability of the tapered threads can be improved by adding a seal tape. Some applications in chemical industries require dry threads which means the sealant can cause contamination or corrosion of the tubing and the tube fittings as well.

Pipe End NPT and ISO pressure ratings

Though the material and thread are important elements in determining pressure ratings, they are not all-inclusive. You need to pay specific attention to Pipe End NPT and ISO pressure ratings while selecting right compression tube fittings. The pressure ratings of the tube fittings depend on the wall thickness of the fittings.

Since the walls of the fitting are slender at male or female ends, the walls of the fitting need to be a bit thicker to achieve same pressure ratings. Based on the application and pressure requirements, you may be required to get specially designed fittings that have SAE/MS integral ends.

Tube Fittings for Gas Applications

The tube fittings used in gas applications need to achieve a gas-tight seal wherever they are fitted. The tube fittings should be able to seal any minor surface imperfections.

These are important factors to select compression pipe fittings.

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