Piping and plumbing fittings

Fittings are used in pipe and plumbing systems to

connect straight pipe or tubing sections, to regulating
or measuring fluid flow.
The term plumbing is generally used to describe
conveyance of fluid in ordinary domestic or
commercial environments.
Piping is often used to describe high-performance
(e.g. high pressure, high flow, high temperature,
hazardous materials) conveyance of fluids in
specialized applications
Common fittings for both Piping and Plumbing

Elbow
An elbow is a pipe fitting installed between two
lengths of pipe or tubing to allow a change of
direction, usually a 90° or 45° angle. When the two
ends differ in size, the fitting is called a reducing
elbow or reducer elbow.
90 Degree Elbow. where change in direction required
is 90°
45 Degree Elbow. where change in direction required
is 45°
A 90 degree elbow is also called a "90 bend" or "90 ell“.
A 45 degree elbow is also called a "45 bend" or "45 ell".
Coupling
A coupling connects two pipes to each other. If the
size of the pipe is not the same , the fitting may be
called a reducing coupling. Coupling would require
either solvent welding or  soldering.
Union
A union is similar to a coupling, except it is designed
to allow quick and convenient disconnection of pipes
for maintenance or fixture replacement. A union
provides a simple transition, allowing easy connection
or disconnection at any future time.
Reducer
A reducer allows for a change in pipe size to
meet hydraulic flow requirements of the system, or to
adapt to existing piping of a different size.
Tee
A tee is the most common pipe fitting. It is used
to either combine or split a fluid flow. It is a
type of pipe fitting which is T-shaped having two
outlets, at 90° to the connection to the main
line. A tee is used for connecting pipes of
different diameters or for changing the direction
of pipe runs. They are made of various materials
and available in various sizes and finishes. They
are extensively used in pipeline networks to
transport two-phase fluid mixtures. 
Cross
Cross fittings are also called 4-way fittings. A cross has
one inlet and three outlets, or vice versa.
Cap
A type of pipe fitting, usually liquid or gas tight, which
covers the end of a pipe.
Barb
A barb is used to connect flexible hoses to pipes.
 Connection Types
Much of the work of installing a piping or plumbing
system involves making leak proof, reliable
connections.
Fastener
A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically
joins two or more objects together.
Threaded pipe
A threaded pipe is a pipe with a screw thread at one
or both ends for assembly.
Solvent welding
A solvent is applied to PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), CPVC
(Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride), ABS (Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene), or other plastic piping, to partially
dissolve and fuse the adjacent surfaces of piping and
fitting. 
Dichloromethane chemically welds certain plastics;
Dichloromethane along with tetrahydrofuran  used
to weld plumbing.
Soldering 
It is a process in which two or more metal items are
joined together by melting and flowing a filler metal
(Tin-Lead alloys, Tin-Zinc alloys) into the joint, the
filler metal having a lower melting point than the
work piece (pipe).
Brazing
Brazing is a thermal joining process in which the two
pieces of the base metal are joined when a molten
brazing filler metal (brass alloys) is allowed to be
drawn into a capillary gap between them. It is used to
join most metals and alloys commonly used in
engineering. It is closely related to soldering, but uses
harder materials and higher temperatures. Brazing
can be used to join pipes, rods, metal pieces without
leaving any gap.
Welding
Welding of metals differs from soldering and brazing,
in that the connection is made without adding a
special low-melting-point material (e.g. solder) to
complete a joint. Instead, the material of the pipe or
tubing is itself partially melted in a carefully controlled
manner, and the fitting and piping are directly fused
together. 
Compression fittings
Compression fittings consist of a tapered concave
conical seat, a hollow barrel-shaped compression ring,
and a compression nut which is threaded onto the
body of the fitting and tightened to make a leak proof
connection. Fittings are typically made of brass or
plastic, but stainless steel or other materials may be
used.
Flange fittings
Flanges are generally used when there is a connection
to valves, in-line instruments and/or connection to
equipment nozzles is required. Flange fittings
generally involve pressing two surfaces to be joined
tightly together, by means of threaded bolts, wedges,
clamps.
Clamp
 Pipes Tube

1. It is heavy walled and 1. It is thin walled and

relatively large in dia and often comes in coils
comes in moderate several hundreds feet
lengths of 20 to 40 ft. long.

2. Metallic pipes can be 2. Tubes can not be

threaded. threaded.

3. Pipes wall are usually 3. Tubes has very smooth

slightly rough. walls
4. Lengths of the pipe are 4. Lengths of tubes are
joined by screwed, connected by
flanged or welded fittings. compression fittings,
soldering fittings.

5. Metallic pipe is made 5. Tubing is usually

by welding casting extruded.

Pipe and tubing are made from many materials

metals, alloys, ceramics, alloys, wood, glass and
various plastics.
 Sizes
•Pipes and tubes are specified in terms of their wall
thickness and their diameter.
Nominal Diameter
•Diameter is indicated by nominal diameter. They are
actually outside diameters. For steel pipes standard
nominal diameter ranges from 1/8 to 30 in.
•Standard sizes for steel pipes are IPS (Iron Pipe Size)
or NPS (Normal Pipe Size).
Schedule number.
Wall thickness of pipe is indicated by Schedule
number which increases with thickness. 10 Schedule
number are used. 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140
and 160.

Sizing of Tubes
Size of the tube is indicated by outer diameter.
Wall thickness is ordinarily given by BWG number
(Birmingham Wire Gauge) . Range from 24 (very light)
to 7 (very heavy).
 Selection of pipe Size
Pipe size selection depends on
•Cost of Pipe and fitting.
•Cost of energy needed for pumping the fluid.

V opt = 12 m 0.1/ ρ0.36

For water and similar fluids, optimum velocity is 3 to 6
ft/sec. For air or steam at low to moderate pressure,
its value ranges from 20 to 80 ft/sec.