Should I use copper pipes or stainless steel flexible hoses for supplying air to the valves?
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For the air supply pipes connected to pneumatic valves, in order to facilitate installation and removal, we have seen that some foreign drawings suggest the use of copper pipes with a PVC coating, while others recommend stainless steel flexible hoses. What are the requirements for using these two materials? Is copper prone to corrosion? If stainless steel flexible hoses are used outdoors, will they rust over time? Which one is more expensive?
I’ll choose 304 stainless steel tubes with a diameter of Φ8x1; remember, they need to be polished.
I’m asking experts for help. I’ve read similar posts; some suggest using stainless steel (I assume it refers to rigid pipes), others suggest using copper, and still others say either can be used. However, stainless steel flexible hoses aren’t mentioned anywhere, yet foreigners particularly prefer using this type of hose in such systems (stainless steel or copper).
Copper tubes are commonly used, but in certain applications they are not permitted, such as in ammonia-based media. Don’t choose stainless steel flexible hoses either; their price isn’t low at all.
Reference can be made to SH/T 3020-2013, the Design Specification for Gas Supply in Petrochemical Instruments, which provides detailed guidelines. Stainless steel flexible hoses can accommodate larger diameters; therefore, the choice should be based on the actual conditions.
Well, I just want to say that copper can be sold for money, but it’s easy to lose it during construction.
Previously, our factory used copper pipes; over time, rust would form on them, and if the connections were not proper, leaks could occur. We have never used flexible metal hoses, so we’re not sure about their airtightness
It’s best to use stainless steel pipes! Before 2000, copper tubes were widely used. This was because it was difficult in our country to produce stainless steel, with low output; especially before the 1980s, stainless steel was even more difficult to manufacture. Now stainless steel is cheaper, and it’s also easier to obtain than copper; moreover, using stainless steel for air ducts is better than using copper.
304 stainless steel; the diameter of the branch pipe should be at least 1/2", and the diameter of the pipe downstream of the air supply ball valve can be the same as that of the valve – generally Φ8x1 or Φ10x1 is sufficient
Of course, stainless steel pipes are better