A concentric reducer connects two pipes with different internal diameters, using materials such as rubber, stainless steel, and copper. It is commonly used in the oil and gas industry and can be joined by seamless integration or welding. Piping designers must carefully define specifications to ensure cost-effectiveness and safety. Concentric reducers can be obtained from catalogs or online suppliers, but delivery times vary.
A concentric reducer, also known as a conical expansion joint, is a fitting used to connect two pipes or tubes with different internal diameters. Both pipes must share a common centerline or alignment to facilitate the flow of fluid or a substance. The reducers can be manufactured using rubber, stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, titanium alloy, copper, nickel, cast iron, brass or other materials which have met the standards of the pipe industry. It is normally used to join vertical pipes that need to be anchored for safety reasons. Concentric reducers are common in both onshore and offshore operations of the oil and gas industry where there is a high volume of cargo transfer and vapor recovery.
The two ends of a concentric reducer have unequal diameters to achieve the purpose of joining two pipes with different diameters. Its smaller end joins the smaller tube while the larger diameter end joins the larger tube. The ends of a concentric reducer are joined by a cone-shaped transition section to form a single assembly. Joining the two ends of a concentric reducer can be done by seamless integration or by welding.
Generally, the length of a concentric reducer is short compared to its diameter. This can make the change in the flow of fluid or other substances abrupt. A piping designer may choose to have multiple concentric reducers if abrupt flow changes need to be avoided.
A designer must also carefully define the specifications of the concentric reducers that will be used in a pipeline project to achieve the most cost-effective results without compromising safety. Designers typically decide the make, size, dimensions, and wall thickness of concentric reducers that will be installed in different sections of the piping system. The most important consideration should usually be the compliance of the chosen concentric reducer brand with global and local standards on specification, quality and safety.
Some concentric reducers are manufactured according to international standards and predefined specifications; others are manufactured to customer specifications. They are presented in catalogs which can be obtained from local and foreign suppliers. Several manufacturers and suppliers have websites, some of which have online order forms. Delivery times, especially for custom orders, vary from manufacturer or supplier and from source to source. Buyers should therefore take order and delivery times into account in project planning to avoid installation delays.
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