In the selection of the kind of tubing to use for your industrial plant, it is important to identify the proper material to use and the right dimensions of it, but also it is crucial to know if it can withstand extreme pressures in total safety.
60,000 PSI high pressure tubing belong to a particular category of tubing used in the some of the most extreme industrial contexts where the process critical element is, without doubts, pressure. They are designed to withstand much higher pressure than the standard and they require specific material and controls.
They usually comply with ASTM A213,ASTM A269, ASME B31.3 standards and the materials often preferred are AISI 316/316L stainless steel (cold drawn) or special materials, usually in the seamless option to achieve high dimensional accuracy, smooth surface finish and higher mechanical strength.
According to an operative, processing point of view, they withstand pressure of about 4,410 bar and a temperature between – 252°C and +649°C. in these cases, non-destructive testing are made such as Eddy Current and hydrostatic test.
When using high pressure tubing is the proper choice?
We try to report some case studies:
- Waterjet cutting that is cutting some materials such as metals, plastic, glass, stone using high pressure waterjet. It is a cold process that doesn’t modify material properties. In fact, in this case waterjet together with an abrasive can withstand high pressures between 40,000 and 90,000 PSI. Water is compressed and conveyed through high resistance tubes from the pump to the cutting head.
- In the oil&gas field – in particular in offshore and subsea plants – as well as for injection lines in case of chemical substances inside a tube or an entire process.
- In industrial and advance research laboratory where high pressure testing are made. It occurs for example for hydraulic test benches, in the aerospace and automotive industries to test valves, fittings and aerospace and hydraulic components. In these cases, the tubing connects the pump to the component to be tested.
Their use ensures competitive advantages compared to standard tubing or to lower pressure (10,000 – 30,000 PSI) tubing.
Thanks to the material they are made of and to their design, high pressure tubing ensure operational safety during the process without any deformation or break of the tube itself. Other specific advantages are the endurance and the corrosion resistance especially against aggressive chemical elements. For these reasons, it is better to use them in contexts where the operative risk is high such as in the aerospace, automotive, hydraulic, chemical and petrochemical industries.
It is also to be said that many high pressure systems do not work at a constant pressure level, but they are rather subjected to repeated and alternating cycles of pressurization and depressurization that is to mechanical stress and vibrations. In fact, if the tubing is not suitable for the purpose it was designed, both leak of pressure and flow instability may happen.
Moreover, besides these aspects, it is important to identify high pressure fittings and accessories that must be suitable to the tube and that ensure durability over time.
Considering its performance, the initial cost of 60,000 PSI tubing is surely higher, but it guarantees long-term economic advantages reducing the number of components substitutions, less extraordinary maintenance and downtime which results in a lower cost considering the entire life cycle.
To conclude, in high pressure systems, the quality of the tubing is not a simple technical detail; it is rather a safety and performance factor of the entire plant.
It is a strategic solution to guarantee the plant safety and reliability: contact us for technical advice and find the tubing best suited to your plant.