This is the first of a two articles focused on interchanging tube fittings and intermixing tube fitting components. Part one deals with interchanging tube fittings. Part two will take up the issues in intermixing tube fitting components.
Energy consumption is an increasingly important issue to both domestic and foreign companies. In addition to the direct energy costs, environmental regulations and the associated taxes and penalties are becoming significant issues for companies and governments seeking to have companies reduce their carbon footprints.
Recently, I have been involved in discussions about substituting tubing and tube fittings in systems that are usually built using welded pipe and pipe fittings. This is not a new topic, but as system designers and equipment manufacturers continue to look for ways to save money, tube fittings provide a proven method for reducing installed cost while maintaining reliability.
There is a variety of stainless steel tube fitting designs and installation procedures available today. Tube fittings have proven to be a fast, cost efficient, and reliable method for constructing analytical and process instrumentation systems. Tube fittings are also heavily used in process control systems, CNG vehicles, and utility systems such as pneumatics, hydraulics, and steam.
