Why is the pipeline designed this way? Why use a tee + pipe cap instead of an elbow?
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I would like to ask fellow sailors: Our company has a hydrogen pipeline with a DN150 diameter and an operating pressure of 4 MPa. The upstream side of this pipeline is connected to a reciprocating compressor. There is a flow orifice plate on this pipeline (see diagram). Why isn’t a elbow used to connect the pipeline downstream of the flow orifice plate? And what about using a tee + pipe cap connection method?
Using a tee with pipe caps instead of an elbow may be intended to facilitate the maintenance and cleaning of the flow orifice plate. Since orifice plates are used to measure flow rate, particles may clog or deposit on them, requiring regular inspection and maintenance. A tee structure is used, allowing direct access to the inside of the pipe by removing the pipe cap, which facilitates cleaning and maintenance by operators. And if elbows are used, such maintenance work may become even more difficult. Furthermore, the three-way structure can also be used as a future expansion point for the pipeline, providing greater flexibility. .
Can a branch pipe be connected in the future?
Judging from this configuration, elbows can definitely be used, as long as the radius is sufficient
No, according to our company’s* standard practice, if it is necessary to add branch pipes in the future, we will use flanges + blind flanges instead of pipe caps.
It shouldn’t be a problem of insufficient space.
The pipe spacing might already be fixed; using elbows to make connections would require changing the spacing, which is troublesome.
It’s hard to explain such things, as all sorts of strange things can happen during construction. It’s possible that there were no elbows available at the time, but there were spare tees and pipe caps; or perhaps the supervisors thought that other pipelines would need to be connected in the future. Alternatively, the spacing might not have met the requirements for standard elbows, necessitating the use of custom-made elbows. There are many possible reasons
This is the most comprehensive answer;P