Like a pipe, a tube is a hollow structure that provides a sealed route for fluids to flow. Even though plastic is a common tube material for many industrial applications, most tubing is made from rolled or extruded metal. Pressure gauges are the most common ways to join tubes together and attach tube ends to instruments.

The fact that the end of a tube is never steadily threaded to form a connection is one of the primary distinctions between it and a pipe. If you want to form a couple, you can use a tube fitting instead of connecting a section of a tube to another tube or a steady pipe. Tubes are structures with thin walls, in contrast to pipes, which naturally have thick walls. A typical tube’s wall thickness needs to be revised to support threads. You will easily find your desired fittings from tube fittings suppliers.

In most cases, small-diameter applications call for tubes rather than pipes. The tube is the preferred method for connecting instruments to process piping because skilled workers can easily cut and bend it with simple hand tools and repeatedly break and re-make connections without compromising the seals’ integrity. The tube is frequently referred to as an impulse or impulse line when utilized as the connecting unit between an instrument and a process pipe or vessel.

Difference between single and double ferrule compression fittings

Did you know that more than fifty different brands of tube fittings are available today, each offering a unique design unit, dimension feature, and performance? Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of various fitting designs is essential when selecting the right tube fitting.

Tube fittings, by and large, come in two assortments; single ferrule or two ferrules? Ferrules for tube fittings serve various functions, two of which are creating a seal and holding the tubing in place (also known as a “grip”). A single ferrule is used in single-ferrule fittings to seal the tubing and hold it in place. These functions were divided between two distinct ferrules with double ferrule fitting. Typically, the front ferrule is made to seal the ferrule, set the tubing, and fit the body together, while the rear ferrule holds the front ferrule in place by gripping the tubing. When the system is pressurized, tubing “blow-out” is prevented by the gripping action of the rear ferrules.

Compared to other connections of the time, the development of the single ferrule tube fitting offered numerous advantages. Its essential benefit was that it required no exceptional instruments for establishment. In contrast to threaded pipe, a tube fitting could be installed quickly and easily with just a few standard forms of wrenches.

While single ferrule fittings have the advantage of “no special tools required,” two ferrule fittings offer several other significant advantages. The specialization of the front and back ferrules brought about better fixing execution and a more prominent cylinder grasp than single ferrule plans. It meant that a fit with two ferrules could handle higher pressures and better contain media than a fit with just one.

It is essential to remember that the number of ferrules in a tube fitting is only one of many design notions of variables. There are numerous options, ranging from the brass plumbing fitting found at your neighborhood hardware store to a high-performance fitting that can withstand 20,000 psi. It is essential to be aware of how the ferrule design of a fitting will affect its performance before making a decision. Consider the following at a minimum:

Does the fitting work with the media in the system?

Will the fitting seal the system media and keep it in its intended location?

Will the fitting give the cylinder hold important to contain the framework’s endlessly tension and temperature changes?

How well will the fitting function in the presence of system vibration?

Sanitary fittings

If you want a guarantee of sterility and cleanliness, sanitary fittings are cleanable tubing connections installed in proper standardized process piping systems. Sanitary fittings, like regular fittings, connect sections of piping systems to control fluid flow. However, sanitary fittings are made to stop bacteria from getting caught, growing, and spreading throughout the system.

Sanitary fittings, also known as high-purity piping or hygienic piping, are primarily utilized in the dairy, cosmetic, personal care, medical, biological, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. These ventures require elevated degrees of cleanliness, sterility, and tidiness.

In facilities that make use of potential sources of hazardous chemicals, sanitary fittings are also used to prevent contamination and reduce safety risks. As a result, sanitary fittings play a crucial role in maintaining safety and hygiene standards at all times of operation.

You can clean them easily with specific levels of sterility and hygiene while in use. They can be cleaned using an integrated clean-in-place (CIP) process or manually dismantling and cleaning them.

Stainless steel is used to make most sanitary fittings. For sanitary fittings, the materials chosen should be sterilizable, resist corrosion and withstand frequent exposure to chemicals, high temperatures, and pressure. The most common material for process piping sanitary fittings is stainless steel, though high-grade alloys are sometimes used. Stainless steel resists rust and corrosion and is naturally antimicrobial. Additionally, it is a simple surface to clean, making it an ideal choice for establishments where cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance.

As part of a process piping system, sanitary fittings are typically utilized as pneumatic or hydraulic fittings to connect sections of pipes, tubes, and hoses.