Steel tee is a T-shaped pipe fittings that has three branches, normally has two forms with Equal Tee and Reducing Tee (Tee reducer), both are used to divide (combine) the pipelines to adjust the flow rate and change the direction.
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Steel pipe tee has been be widely used in different industries, according to material types there are:
Stainless steel tee
Carbon steel tee
Alloy steel tee
According to connecting types, there are:
Butt weld tee
Socket weld tee
Threaded tee
As far as we know, steel tee has many types, then how much do you know about above each type of tee? How to distinguish them and select the best one you need?
Below we will explain with more specifications.
Steel Equal Tee pipe fittings: The three branches of tee have same diameters.
Steel Reducing Tee / Reducer tee pipe fittings: The branch diameter is smaller than the main line diameter. Tee reducer is usually described as NPS diameters in 4” x 4” x 3”, 4” is the main line pipe diameter, and 3” is the reducing branch.
Reducing tee is used more than equal tee since it has more functions and available for more environments.
Ends in plain or beveled, connected by butt welding process. It could bear higher pressure than the other connection types. Butt weld tee dimensions shall be specified in pipe NPS (DN) and thickness in schedule, where socket weld tee or threaded tee thickness specified in pressure class ratings.
Like the other socket pipe fittings, it has a ladder shaped area, so to insert the pipe into the tee branches then welding together. It usually used for small diameter tubing systems.
Based on SW tee forms, the branch end will be threaded to male or female. So there are male branch tee and female branch tee, which if the tube with male NPT threads, then the tee shall be with female NPT threads.
Stainless steel tee used a lot in chemical, sanitary or food industries.It’s advantage is suitable for different working environments and good corrosion resistance.
Standards: ASTM A403 (For wrought Austenitic stainless steel tee pipe fittings), ASTM A270 (For seamless and welded Austenitic and Ferritic stainless steel sanitary tubing tee)
Grades: TP 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 310, 317 and 321.
Carbon steel tee material: ASTM A234 WPB, WPC; MSS SP-75 WPHY-42, WPHY-46, WPHY-52, WPHY-56, 60, 65 and 70. ASME/ANSI B16.9 for BW tee fittings, ASME/ANSI B16.11 for socket weld and threaded tee fittings.
Alloy steel material: ASTM A234 WP1, WP5, WP9, WP11, WP22, WP91
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By the cladding technology to clad stainless or alloy steel material in the inner surface of carbon steel tee, is another good option to reach a certain corrosion resistance and lower the material cost.
The common manufacturing process to make tees are cold extrusion and hot pushing. Cold extrusion normally for smaller thickness tee, where hot pushing is for large thickness. In case you need an big diameter tee above 24”, welding shall be adopted instead extrusion.
The key process to manufacture steel tee is to use the hydraulic machine to squeeze the mother pipe in a tee mould (or a reducing tee mould), under the big pressure on both pipe ends, the third branch of the tee will be extruded out. The mother pipe could be a seamless or a welded pipe, the same pipe diameter will produce the same diameter tee, means to make a 8 inch steel tee will need a 8 inch pipe. But after the extrusion, the pipe thickness will be become larger, so the tee thickness is larger than the mother pipe thickness.
For butt weld tee, dimensions ranges in 1/2”, 1”, 1 1/2”, 2′, 3”, 4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”, 24” and up to 48” (From DN 15 to DN 1200). Thickness class ranges from SCH 10, SCH 20, SCH 40, SCH STD, SCH 80, SCH XS to SCH 160.
For socket weld tee and threaded tee dimensions ranges from 3/8”, 1/2”. 3/4”, 1” and up to 4” (From DN 10 to DN 100). Pressure ratings in 2000#, 3000#, 6000# and 9000#.
• Oil and gas transmissions
• Petroleum and Oil refining
• Water treatment systems
• Chemical Industries
• Sanitary tubing
• Power stations
• Machines and equipment
• Heat exchanger
Socket Weld Tees are used when a branch-off pipe connection is needed from the mainline. Tees are categorized into two types – equal and unequal tees. Both Socket Weld Equal Tee and Socket Weld Unequal Tee are used for different purposes, so it is essential to know their differences to select the right tee for your application. This blog post will highlight the differences between Socket Weld Equal Tee and Socket Weld Unequal Tee to help you choose the best tee that suits your requirements.
Socket Weld Equal Tee and Socket Weld Unequal Tee are specialized plumbing fittings. The former includes an equal-diameter tee fitted with a socket weld, while the latter has unequal-diameter branches, also fitted with a socket weld. Both are designed to provide strong and dependable connections in high-pressure applications.
The Socket Weld Unequal Tee has two branches of different sizes connected to the mainline. The mainline diameter is usually larger, while the branch diameters are usually smaller. Socket Weld Unequal Tee allows for the connection of pipes of different sizes. It is ideal for situations where multiple pipelines are connected to a single mainline, and the diameter of the pipelines varies. Unequal Tees prevent the pipes from disturbing the flow of the primary line. The chemical, oil, and gas industries mostly use Unequal Tees because most pipes have different diameters.
When a pipe needs to be connected at a 90-degree angle or split into two pipes of equal size, the installation of an equal tee is the appropriate solution. The benefit of a socket weld connection in this circumstance includes achieving higher strength than that achievable with threaded fittings and superior joint integrity when high pressure is involved. In addition, they require less space for installation providing greater design flexibility and their resistance to corrosion makes them an ideal choice for applications involving liquids or gasses that could corrode other metals.
Socket Weld Equal Tee has an equal three-way branch. The mainline pipe and the branch pipe are of the same diameter, so flow distribution happens evenly in all three directions. It is excellent for applications where pipe diameter does not change. In constructing pipelines, such as in the chemical and food industries, the same diameter is usually maintained throughout the system, making Equal Tee an ideal choice.
An unequal tee provides more variation from an equal tee as it allows for one side branch pipe to have differing diameters from the main run pipe as opposed to being identical sizes like with an equal tee. These same beneficial features exist when using socket welding technology, including improved strength, reduced space requirements compared with threaded connections, and corrosion resistance, plus they are relatively easy to install, requiring only basic hand tools such as hammers and wrenches due to having no threading on either end.
The use of either type of socket weld fitting is commonplace in industries including petrochemical refineries, power generation plants, and Oil & Gas production facilities where temperature or pressure work together, causing vibration which can cause looser joints over time if not correctly secured using reliable mechanical joints such as those found within different types of socket welding fittings.
This product is widely used when pipes are of equal diameters, and flow distribution is essential for the system to operate correctly. The equal flow distribution provided by Socket Weld Equal Tee helps maintain a steady and balanced flow rate, which is crucial in some industries.
On the other hand, Socket Weld Unequal Tee is ideal for distributing fluid flow that varies in diameter. It is also used to connect smaller-diameter pipes to larger-diameter pipes. Unequal Tees prevent the pipes from disturbing the flow of the primary line.
In summary, the difference between Socket Weld Equal Tee and Socket Weld Unequal Tee lies in their applications. These products provide the same diameter branch, while Socket Weld Unequal Tee accommodates pipes of different diameters to maintain a steady flow rate. With the information provided in this blog post, you can select the right Tee that suits your requirements. The next time you encounter a pipework project involving Tees, you will know whether to use a both Tee. Remember, choosing the right tee will ensure your pipework system’s proper function and longevity.
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