Factors Influencing Pressure Pipe Selection
Pressure pipes are available in various materials and dimensions. The specific pipe that will serve your needs can be identified after putting several factors into consideration. This article discusses some of those important factors that can help you to select the most appropriate pressure pipes for your needs.
Fluid Temperature
Different pressure pipes are designed to work best with fluids at different temperatures. For example, it may not be appropriate for you to select pressure pipes that were made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) if you want those pipes to transport heated water. Metallic pipes may be a better option for such an application.
The Environment of Use
You should also consider where the pressure pipes are going to be installed before you select the pipes to use. Certain pipe materials, such as PVC, are better suited to indoor or sub-grade purposes. This is because those pipes can degrade rapidly if they are exposed to direct sunlight. Some metallic pipes may also need special treatments in order to protect them from corrosion in sub-grade applications. You should also consider the chemicals to which the pressure pipes will be exposed after installation. Select the pipes that will resist the cleaning and other chemicals to which they will be exposed.
Fluid Velocity
At what rate will fluid be flowing through the pressure pipes that you wish to acquire? Fluid velocity has an impact on several factors. For example, some pressure pipes can emit high noise levels when fluids are coursing through them beyond certain velocity thresholds. Similarly, different pipes start suffering erosion corrosion when the fluid exceeds the recommended velocity rating. Study the data sheets of the different pressure pipes and select the ones which will handle the velocity of the fluids in your application.
Fluid Viscosity
It is also worthwhile to consider the viscosity of the fluids that will flow through the pressure pipes. This can influence the required internal and external diameter of the pipes. For example, fluids with high viscosity should not be transported in pressure pipes with small internal diameters because one may be compelled to pump the fluids at a very high pressure in order to force them through the narrow pipes. That high pressure can shorten the life of the pipes eventually.
Some suppliers of pressure pipe provide calculators that can help you to determine the attributes of the most suitable pipes for your application. Use those tools so that you avoid making a mistake while calculating those variable manually.