What Are The Things You Need To Know about Seamless Pipes?

One of the most widely-used products in various industries is the seamless pipe. This material can be manufactured in many different ways, depending on the usage. Generally, seamless pipes are used to transfer fluids from one point, or location, to another. Knowing more about the functions of seamless pipes is essential, in order to understand its usage in these specific industries. Because of its ubiquity and versatility, it has become quite taken for granted. There is still much to learn about how greatly the material contributes to the overall process of a major industrial undertaking.

Used in many industries

Before being introduced to the many uses of a seamless pipe, it’s first and foremost important to understand what exactly the material looks like. Basing from the name of the product itself, a seamless pipe is a hollow continuous pipe which can be made of carbon or stainless steel.

As mentioned above, this metal product is used for the transmission of fluids from one area to another. In order to facilitate this transmission of fluids, seamless pipes offer no breaks, serrations, or gaps in its structuring, allowing the free-flowing of the fluids. The lack of gaps is essential to avoid possible contamination of the substances it is carrying. Seamless pipes are also designed as such to avoid overflows or spillages. It is for this very reason that many industries, such as the petrochemical, shipbuilding, and boiler industries, have relied on stainless steel pipes, and its thicker and more durable variants, for a majority of the heat exchange processes involved in their operations.

Petrochemical industries

It is without a doubt that one of the markers of industrialization is the eventual reliance on high-intensive manufacturing processes. Through the usage of raw materials such as gas and oil, many manufacturing byproducts have been possible.

Typically, the petrochemical industry has eventually branched out in the utilization of oil and gas to process a wide range of products. These products include rubber, pharmaceuticals, adhesives which are used in many areas featuring the medical, as well as, the food industry.

Because of the seamless pipe’s ability to withstand great levels of pressure, it has been a useful tool for the petrochemical industry which involves many complex heat exchange processes.

Shipbuilding

A ship’s piping is essential in order for it to run operations smoothly. This, however, may not necessarily be evident to the bystander who might assume that a ship is mainly powered through mechanical processes, like simply steering, and navigation. Through seamless pipes, a ship’s control systems are able to operate as they were intended to do. These metal products are able to efficiently transmit fluid from one area to another. The structuring of the product also prevents issues like a blasted pipeline which can lead to disastrous outcomes.

Boiler industries

Simply put, a boiler is a closed vessel where steam or vapor is heated and generated, to produce electrical, fuel, or nuclear energy. Because of the high-pressure and high-temperature processes involved in this process, thicker versions of the seamless pipes are used. The absence of gaps in their formation prevents potential major problems like pipeline explosions.

Types of seamless pipes

There can be many different types of seamless pipes, depending on the alloying of the metal. Two of these types are made from carbon, or stainless steel

Carbon

Stainless steel pipes made from carbon as the primary alloying element are more malleable and durable. These pipes also allow for more efficient heat distributions

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is one of the most versatile materials, allowing several industries to take advantage of its attractive properties. Its high resistance to corrosion offers seamless pipes made of this material more durability and longevity.

Benefits of seamless commercial pipes

Aside from high-intensive mechanical and chemical processes, seamless pipes are also employed in a wide range of commercial usages because it is a strong material, it is uniform in shape, and it is able to withstand great amounts of pressure.

Strong material

Seamless pipes are the stronger material compared to seamed or welded pipes because they’re able to withstand harsher conditions. Without welded gaps, seamless pipes are less prone to pipe failures and leaks.

Uniform shape

The round cross-section present in seamless pipes makes it more useful compared to welded pipes, in terms of installation of fittings, or other piping needs.

Withstands great pressure

Unlike in welded pipes, the 

quality of welding does not need to be measured in seamless pipes, in order to determine the pressure rating. This is important because the gaps present in welded pipes are generally considered to be its weakest point, allowing the seamless pipe to be subjected to greater levels of pressure.

How are seamless pipes made?

Though there are other more complex chemical and mechanical processes involved, manufacturing seamless pipes is simply done through the stretching of a workable material, such as steel. Through this process, a long and hollow cylindrical product is made. A pointy, bullet-shaped piercer is then used to even out the hollowing in the structure.

Key Takeaway

Seamless pipes are primarily used by many industries like the petrochemical, shipbuilding, and boiler industries for many of their complex heat exchange processes. Knowing the many functions of seamless pipes, industries can continually come up with many technological advancements to improve upon the material and use it in many more unprecedented ways.