When installing piping systems in confined spaces, it is very important to make maximum use of the available cross-sectional area of the gap between the confining walls of the structure. It is also worth considering that if a leak occurs, getting to a hard-to-reach place for repair work will be a difficult task, so it is better to take care in advance to ensure maximum reliability for the entire long service life. To achieve both goals at the same time, it is quite reasonable to use as a source material seamless profile steel pipes for several reasons at once, which become clear after listing the features of this type of ferrous rolled metal.
Properties of seamless profile pipes and their analogues
In the production of seamless profile steel pipes using hot or cold rolling methods, the metal is deformed to obtain the required shape. This operation is carried out with the application of great efforts, the creation of which requires the expenditure of a considerable amount of energy. Also, waste that requires reprocessing is formed, therefore, the finished products are more expensive in terms of cost than analogues produced using simpler technologies, but the costs are fully offset by the benefits obtained. Let us list some of the most important features of this material:
- The solid-drawn wall has very high strength, evenly distributed over all its sections. This quality allows operation under high pressures without fear of ruptures and leakage of the working medium from the internal space to the outside.
- The absence of seams makes it possible to bend at a large angle without the risk of depressurization due to the initially tightly aligned edges spreading to the sides.
- The rectangular or square cross-section shape allows for a tighter packing of several specimens, minimizing gaps between them to zero, which is not possible for cylindrical specimens.
All of the listed properties of seamless profile steel pipes, either individually or in combination, are useful in various industries. Examples of use include industrial boilers for centralized hot water supply systems, boilers, and parts for land and sea vehicles.
If the requirements for materials for solving a problem are not so strict, it is advisable to consider cheaper analogues as a replacement. If it turns out that they fully satisfy the limit parameters specified in the design calculations, there is no particular sense in giving up the opportunity to save some money.
Eelectrowelded profile steel pipes
The cheapest of those described in the text electric welded profile steel pipes they bend poorly and are not designed for high pressures, so they are used mainly to create various metal structures, not pipeline systems. In addition to the low price, the much lower mass per unit of length due to thinner walls also contributes to savings. They can be used to make:
- frames for low buildings or canopies;
- parts of bodies, wagons, containers;
- fence sections, railings for balconies, stairs, platforms;
- gate frames, metal doors.
The material is easy to cut, joined by electric arc welding, and fasteners for covering roofs or side spans of buildings can be screwed into it without any problems.
Profile galvanized pipes
For structures that are permanently exposed to the open air, they may be preferable galvanized profile pipes, which differ from the previous ones only by the presence of a protective zinc layer on the surface. In the event of favorable conditions for the development of corrosion, it takes it upon itself, and the iron, thanks to the resulting galvanic element, remains unchanged and is able to take on all mechanical loads for many years. Of course, such a coating somewhat increases the price of the material, but maintaining reliability and an appearance not spoiled by rust over a long period of operation is worth it.
Flat oval steel pipes
For structures on children's and sports grounds, the fight against injury is relevant. The ideal choice for them would be flat oval steel pipes, which do not have clearly defined corners, but, unlike round ones, have greater rigidity in one of the two directions perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis. Thus, swings, exercise machines, and gymnastics equipment become safer, more reliable, and even more beautiful.