Butt Weld Pipe Fittings Types

Butt weld fittings is one of the most popular connection type in pipeline systems. It always been required in large quantities in different industries, and especially for the large diameter pipelines.

What is Butt Weld Fittings

Butt weld is to connect pipes or fittings ends by welding. It’s a weldable steel pipe fitting that would allow to branch off, allow for change of direction of flow, attach auxiliary equipment, or reduce the size of the pipe.

In the case of forged steel butt weld fittings, you would find them to be manufactured according to ANSI/ASME B16.9.

Check the differences between socket weld fittings.

Also known by welded pipe fittings

Butt weld fittings would also be referred to as welded pipe fittings. When these would be used in stainless steel and carbon steel, they would be able to offer certain advantages as compared to socket weld and threaded fittings. Whereas socket weld would only be available up to a specific size, you would find butt weld fittings to be available in sizes starting 1/2 inch to 72 inch.

Like general category of pipe fittings, Butt weld pipe fittings includes:
Butt weld Elbow in 45 degree or 90 degree
Butt weld Tee and Reducing Tee, Reducer, Cap, Cross

Butt weld Elbow

Butt weld elbow is to change fluid direction in pipeline systems, it has long radius (LR) and short radius (SR) types, and has different degree covers 45 degree, 90 degree and 180 degree. So there are:

LR 45 degree butt weld elbow:

45 degree elbow that with long radius (1.5 x Diameter), and change fluid direction by 45 degree.

LR 90 degree elbow:

90 degree steel pipe elbow with long radius (1.5 x Diameter).

SR 45 degree elbow: Short radius (1 x Diameter) elbow in 45 degree, change direction.
SR 90 degree elbow: Short radius (1 x Dia) elbow in 90 degree.

180 degree steel pipe tee

More than 90 degree elbow we will call it as steel bend. Like LR/SR 180 degree bend.

Butt weld elbow dimensions could be specified as diameter (in NPS) and thickness according to ANSI, samples as LR 90 degree elbow 4 inch and thickness in schedule 40 or schedule 80.

Butt weld Tee

Butt weld tee (equal tee) has a 90 degree branch along with a straight pipe, it will provide a connects for to install an additional equipment to a pipeline. With the tee structural, same sides of the ends could be welded to the pipe, 90 branch was left open for weld another pipe or a device.

Same structural of the equal tee, but the 90 degree branch has a smaller size than the straight pipe diameter. So it is used to install a equipment or a pipe with smaller size.

Butt weld Reducer

It has concentric reducer and eccentric reducer two types, used for adjust the fluid rate and speed, by welded a large diameter pipe on one end and a smaller diameter pipe on the other end.