Butt weld pipe fittings allow for changing the direction of flow, reducing pipe sizes and attaching auxiliary equipment.

What is a buttweld pipe fitting?

A buttweld fitting is a weldable pipe fitting that allows for change of direction of flow, to branch off, reduce pipe size or attach auxiliary equipment. Forged Steel buttweld fittings are manufactured in accordance with ANSI / ASME B16.9.

Butt weld fittings are available as elbows, tees, caps, reducers and out lets (olets). These fittings are the most common type of welded pipe fittings and are specified by nominal pipe size and pipe schedule. Buttweld fittings use seamless or welded pipe as the starting material and are formed (through multiple processes) to get the shape of elbows, tees and reducers etc. Just as the pipe is sold from Schedule 10 to Schedule 160, butt weld pipe fittings are sold the same way. Welded butt weld fittings are more common in stainless steel due to cost advantage. SCH 10 fittings are also more common in stainless steel butt weld fittings.

Common material for butt weld fittings are A234 WPB (A & C also available), High Yield Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel 304 and 316 and Nickel Alloys.

Buttweld pipe fittings comprise of long radius elbow, concentric reducer, eccentric reducers and tees. They are an important part of industrial piping systems to change direction, branch off or to mechanically join equipment to the system. Buttweld fittings are sold in nominal pipe sizes with specified pipe schedule. BW fitting’s dimensions and tolerances are defined as per ASME standard B16.9.

Butt Weld fittings are also called Welded Pipe fittings. These welded fittings in carbon steel and stainless steel offer many advantages compared to threaded and socket weld fittings. The latter are only available up to 4-inch nominal size whereas butt weld fittings are available in sizes from ½” to 72”. Some of the benefits of Buttweld fittings are mentioned below. 

Types of Butt Weld Pipe Fittings

Welded pipe fittings in carbon steel and stainless steel are the joining components that make possible the assembly of valves, pipes and equipment onto the piping system. Welded fittings compliment pipe flanges in any piping system and allows:

• Change direction of flow in a piping system
• Connect or joint pipes and equipment
• Provide branches, access and takeoffs for auxiliary equipment

A common example using welded pipe fitting is a pipe reduced by concentric reducer, welded to a weld neck flange and connected to equipment. The figure below represents a complete collection of butt welded pipe fittings.

LR 90 Elbow: Fittings that change direction in a piping system are called elbows. The directional change is given in degrees, such as 45 or 90. Long radius 90 degree elbow has the center line of elbow at 1.5 x  NPS from elbow end. 3R elbow has center line at 3 x NPS from elbow end.

LR 45 Elbow: Long radius 45 degree elbow changes the direction by 45 degrees.

SR90 Elbow: Short Radius 90 degree elbow is the same as LR90, except for the measurement between end of elbow to the center line is 1 x NPS.

LR 180 degree Bend: Long Radius 180 degree return bend allows complete reversal of flow. The distance between end of elbow and the center line is 3 x NPS.

SR 180 degree Bend: Short Radius 180 degree return bend allows complete reversal of flow but in a much tighter turn. The distance between end of elbow and the center line is 1 x NPS. 

Tee: Butt weld pipe Tee allows a 90 degree branch off from a running pipe. This allows for connecting auxiliary equipment to a pipe. A tee is welded on both sides to the pipe; leaving the branch open for branch off. 

Reducing Tee: Butt weld reducing tee has a branch that is smaller than the main run. This allows for branching off to a smaller pipe or equipment from the main run.

Concentric Reducer: A concentric Reducer is also called welded concentric coupling. It allows for connecting a large pipe to a smaller pipe by means of welding. A concentric reducer allows a welded connection between two pipes with the same center line. 

Eccentric Reducer: An eccentric reducer is also called welded eccentric coupling. It allows for welding a large pipe to a smaller pipe with an offset center line. The offset of the center line in an eccentric reducer is; Offset = 1/2 x (Largest ID - Smallest ID) 

Weldolet: A weldolet, also called welding outlet, is a way of connecting a welded connection that is contoured at the bottom to match the contour of the pipe. So one end of the welding outlet is welded on the pipe, whereas the other end is open to be welded to any other pipe or equipment. A welding outlet requires mentioning the size of out let and the "Run Size" of pipe so the contour can match the contour of the pipe. The size of the welding outlet will always be smaller than run size such as 1/2" welding outlet can be used on pipe (run size) 1/2" and bigger. 

Welded Stub End: Stub ends are used with lap joint flange to be welded onto the pipe.