What is Pipe Fittings?

Pipe Fittings are Piping component that helps in Changes the direction of the flow such
as elbows, tees. Changes the size of the pipe such as reducers, reducing tees. Connect
different components such as couplings and stop the flows such as Caps.

Pipe Elbow
The Elbow is used more than any other
pipe fittings. It Provides flexibility to
change the pipe direction. Elbow mainly
available in two standard types 90° and
45°. However, it Can be cut to any other
degree. Elbows are available in two radius
types, Short radius (1D) and Long radius
(1.5D).
Long Radius Elbow

In long radius elbow, centreline radius is 1.5 times the

nominal size of the pipe or you can say 1.5 times the
diameter of the pipe. Normally long radius elbows are
used in piping as pressure loss is less as compared to
short radius elbow. It required more space than short
radius elbow.

Short Radius Elbow

In short radius elbow, centreline radius is same as the nominal size of the pipe or you
can say one times the diameter of the pipe. Short radius elbows are used under limited
space application. However, it has a high-pressure drop due to a sudden change in the
direction of flow.

Returns – 180 Degree Elbow

Returning elbows are used to make a 180º change in
direction. Available in short & long pattern. Returns
are used in the heating coil, heat exchanger, tank vent
Reducing Elbow

Miter Bend
Miter bends are not standard pipe fittings they are
fabricated from pipes. Usually, they are preferred
for size 10” & above because large size elbow is
expensive. Use of miter bend is restricted to the
low-pressure water line. Miter bend can be
fabricated in 2, 3, & 5 pieces.

Pipe Tee
Pipe tee is used for distributing or collecting the fluid from the run pipe. It is a short
piece of pipe with a 90-degree branch at center. There are two types of Tee used in
piping, Equal / Straight Tee and Reducing / Unequal Tee.

Straight Tee

In straight tee, the diameter of the branch is same as the diameter of the Run (Header)
Pipe.

Reducing Tee

In reducing tee, diameter of the branch size is smaller

than the diameter of the Run (Header) Pipe

Barred Tee

A barred tee which is also known as a scrapper tee is

used in pipelines that are pigged. The branch of the
tee has a restriction bar welded internally to prevent
the pig or scrapper to enter the branch. The bars are
welded in the branch in a way that it will allow restriction free passage of the pig from
the run pipe.

Wye Tee / Lateral

It is a type of Tee which has the branch at a 45° angle, or
an angle other than 90°. Wye tee allows one pipe to be
joined to another at a 45° angle. This type of tee reduces
friction and turbulence that could hamper the flow. Wye tee
is also known as a lateral.

Cross
Cross is also known as four-way pipe fitting. A cross has
one inlet and three outlets (or vice versa). Generally,
crosses are not used in process piping to transport fluid.
But forged crosses are common in the fire water
sprinkler line.

Pipe Reducers
A pipe reducer changes the size of the pipe. There are two types of reducer used in
piping Concentric & Eccentric.

Concentric Pipe Reducer or Conical Reducer

In Concentric reducer which is also known as a conical reducer, the center of both the
ends is on the same axis. It maintains the centerline elevation of the pipeline. When
the center lines of the larger pipe and smaller pipe are to be maintained same, then
concentric reducers are used.

Eccentric Reducer

In Eccentric reducer, the center of both the ends is on different axis as shown in the
image. It maintains BOP (bottom of pipe) elevation of the pipeline. When one of the
outside surfaces of the pipeline is to be maintained same, eccentric reducers are
required.

Offset = ( Larger ID – Smaller ID) / 2

Swage Reducer
The swage is like reducers but small in size and used to connect pipes to smaller
screwed or socket welded pipes. Like reducers, they are also available in concentric &
eccentric type. Swages are available in different end types. Such as both plain ends or
one plain and one threaded end.
Pipe Caps
The cap covers the end of a pipe. Pipe caps are used at the dead
end of the piping system. It is also used in piping headers for future
connections.

Stub Ends
Stub ends are used with lap joint flange. In this type of flange,
the stub is butt welded to the pipe, whereas flange is freely
moved over the stub end. It is basically flange part but covered
under ASME B16.9 that is why it is considered as pipe fittings.

Piping Union
Unions are used as an alternative to flanges
connection in low-pressure small bore piping where
dismantling of the pipe is required more often.
Unions can be threaded end or socket weld ends.
There are three pieces in a union, a nut, a female
end, and a male end. When the female and male ends
are joined, the nuts provide the necessary pressure
to seal the joint.

Pipe Coupling
There are three types of coupling available;

 Full Coupling
 Half Coupling
 Reducing Coupling
Full Coupling

Full Coupling is used for connecting small bore pipes. It used to connect pipe to pipe or
pipe to swage or nipple. It can be threaded or socket ends types.

Half Coupling

Half Coupling is used for small bore branching from a vessel or large pipe. It can be
threaded or socket type. It has a socket or thread end on only one side.

Reducing Coupling

Reducing coupling is used to connect two different sizes of pipe. It is like concentric
reducer that maintains a center line of the pipe but small in size.

Pipe Nipple
Nipple is a short stub of pipe which has a male pipe thread at each end or at one end.
It used for connecting two other fittings. Nipples are used for connecting pipe, hoses,
and valves. Pipe nipples are used in low-pressure piping.

Socket weld and Threaded Pipe Fittings

Socket weld and Threaded Pipe Fittings are forged product and classified based on its
pressure-temperature rating. Socket weld & Threaded end fittings are available from
NPS 1/8” to 4”. These fittings are available in four pressure-temperature rating class.

 2000 class fittings are available in only in threaded type.

 3000 & 6000 class fittings are available in both Threaded and Socket Weld types.
 9000 class fittings are available in only socket weld type.

Socket and threaded fittings are used for small bore and low-pressure piping.

Socket Weld Elbow

Socket Weld Tee and Cross
Threaded Pipe Fittings

Pipe Fittings Dimension of the fittings must meet the requirements of the standard,
  For Wrought Product (WP) Dimension is covered in
 ASME B16.9- which is standard for Factory-made Wrought Butt-welding
Fittings for size NPS 1⁄₂ to NPS 48” and
 And B16.28- which is standard for Wrought Steel Butt-Welding Short Radius
Elbows and Returns for size NPS 1⁄₂ to NPS 24”
 For Forged Fittings Dimension are covered in
 ASME B16.11- a standard for Forged Steel Fittings that covers Socket Welding
and Threaded fittings

Special Thanks to Sophie Shi & Mr. Tom for providing Images. You can Visit their
website for your further product inquiry.