90 degree pipe elbow fittings

What is a 90 degree pipe elbow?

90 degree pipe elbows are the most commonly used products among elbow accessories. As pipe fittings that need to be connected, in some areas of use, right-angle pipes are required to be connected. Only 90-degree elbow sizes can be used for normal connection. Therefore, 90° elbows represent elbow types with different angles. Common angle elbows include 45-degree and 180-degree flat angles. In addition, according to project needs, other abnormal angle elbows such as 60° are also included.

In the field of engineering, we have also launched elbow products with different angles, using a variety of materials. Not only metal materials (such as carbon steel elbows, stainless steel elbows), but also plastic materials and alloy textures are used in product design.

With 90 degree elbows, they are widely used in the industrial field, covering the construction of many municipal projects and the transportation of liquid and gas. They connect pipeline projects accordingly to ensure the rationality of energy transportation and construction planning. Since the transportation of certain liquids has strict requirements on pipelines, elbow products have been continuously changed and developed. Through hot and cold processes, impact effects, and electric welding processes, elbow products are more suitable for the transportation of pipeline systems.

90 degree elbows have many uses in piping systems, including:

1. Change the direction of the pipe: enable the pipe to be connected in different directions.
2. Space installation: For pipe systems with limited space, 90-degree elbows can help the pipes bend as needed.
3. Shock absorption: Rubber 90-degree elbows can provide a certain degree of flexibility and reduce vibration and noise transmission in the piping system.
4. Connect pipes: Connecting two sections of pipes and changing the direction of the fluid helps to achieve the layout of the pipe system. The main ways to connect elbows and pipes include: direct welding (the most commonly used method), flange connection, hot-melt connection, electrofusion connection, threaded connection and socket connection, etc.

Why do people commonly use 90 degree pipe elbows?

1. Layout of transportation pipelines
In some industrial equipment or building piping systems, pipes need to be routed along walls or floors rather than directly through them. 90 degree elbows are ideal for turning pipes from one direction to another.

2. Pipeline limitations
In some cases, pipes need to avoid other obstacles, such as walls, columns, other pipes, etc. Using 90-degree elbows can help pipelines bypass these obstacles and make the pipeline layout more reasonable.

3. Space limitations
In some narrow areas, such as inside machines, compact spaces of equipment, etc., using right-angle elbows can save space and make the pipeline layout compact and efficient.

4. Fluid dynamics
In some specific fluid dynamics applications, such as fluid dynamics experiments, simulations and research of liquids or gases, 90-degree elbows are widely used. This is because 90-degree elbows can change the direction of the fluid, produce phenomena such as rotation, bending and diversion, which is very useful for studying fluid mechanics characteristics.

5. Installation and maintenance
90-degree elbows are easy to use in the installation and maintenance of pipeline systems. Due to its right-angle structure, it can be easily connected and disassembled, which is convenient for installation and maintenance operations.

90-degree pipe elbow production requirements:

1. The components of the elbow are mostly connected by welding. In order to ensure high quality, the ends of the elbows are beveled, a certain slope is reserved, and the elbows have edges. These need to be strictly controlled. The slope and edge size have a certain numerical area size. The surface manufacturing of the elbow is not much different from the manufacturing of the pipeline.

2. The components contained in the elbow need to be processed again on the surface. The inner and outer layers of the oxidized elbows are evenly coated with anti-rust paint through the spraying process. This process is very important to facilitate the transportation of products, export to foreign markets, and reduce wear and tear on elbow products.

 90 Degree Pipe Elbow VS 45 Degree Pipe Elbow:

There is not much difference between the two. The biggest difference is the different angles of the elbows. According to the actual construction situation, choose elbow products with different angles. For example, if the pipeline direction requires a right-angle turn, a 90-degree elbow product is required. If only a 45-degree turn is required, a 45-degree elbow is selected. For the same project, if two 45-degree pipe elbow products are selected, the price list is more expensive than using one 90-degree elbow, which is not cost-effective.

‌Purpose and application scenarios‌:

In the layout of water pipes, 90-degree elbows are usually used in situations where right-angle turns are required, especially in horizontal and vertical layouts. However, since 90-degree elbows are not as good as 45-degree elbows in terms of water pressure and drainage, using 90-degree elbows may cause damage such as noise and elbow rupture when a larger water flow is required.

In contrast, the 45-degree elbow, due to its smaller angle, can form a certain slope at the bend, which plays a buffering role and reduces the impact of water flow on the pipe wall, especially when the water flow is large or mixed with foreign objects, which can effectively protect the elbow from damage. In addition, using two 45-degree elbows to connect instead of one 90-degree elbow can not only reduce blockage, but also facilitate drainage.

Other considerations:
The 90-degree elbow may impact the pipe wall due to the vertical fall of the water flow, causing noise, and its pressure bearing capacity is poor, and it is easy to be damaged when the water flow is large.

The 45-degree elbow is not easy to be blocked due to its angle design, and it is more suitable for wall drainage systems because it does not take up too much space and is also conducive to beauty and cleanliness.

In short, the choice of 90-degree elbow or 45-degree elbow depends on the specific installation needs and scenarios. In situations where right-angle turns are required and the water flow is small, the 90-degree elbow may be a suitable choice; in situations where a large water flow is required, protection and beauty are emphasized, the 45-degree elbow is more suitable.

Manufacturing method of 90 degree pipe elbow:

1. Pushing
Pushing elbow is the most important forming and manufacturing process of elbow. Pushing machine, core mold and heating equipment are needed. The tube blank with finished material is put on the core mold, and it is pushed, heated and formed at the same time. This method has fast production speed and is suitable for mass production. The elbows manufactured have beautiful appearance and relatively uniform thickness. It has become the main forming method for carbon steel elbows and alloy steel elbows, and is also used for some specifications of stainless steel elbows.

2. Stamping
Stamping is an early elbow forming and manufacturing process. Cold pressing or hot pressing can be selected according to different materials. The tube blank is placed in the outer mold. After the upper and lower molds are merged, the tube blank moves along the gap reserved by the inner mold and the outer mold under the push of the press to complete the forming process. Stamping has been replaced by pushing or other manufacturing methods. In some specifications of elbows, due to small production volume and too thick or too thin wall thickness, stamping process can be selected.

3. Butt welding
Butt welding elbows are made of steel plates. Draw the expansion diagram of the butt welding elbows, then cut the material by gas cutting, then heat it and press it into shape on a press, and then two and a half pieces of elbows will come out, and then cut the edges, then splice and weld, and the butt welding elbow will be formed. Butt welding elbows are mainly used for large elbows. Large-diameter elbows can also be pushed and stamped, but the process cost of butt welding elbows is lower than the cost of the other two.

Application areas of 90-degree pipe elbows:

The 90-degree elbow is a common pipe connector, widely used in various industrial and civil pipe systems. The following are some common applications:

1. Building and water supply and drainage systems: 90-degree elbows are often used in water supply and drainage pipe systems in buildings. They can connect faucets, toilets, sinks and other equipment to allow water to flow smoothly.
2. HVAC systems: 90-degree elbows are used for pipe connections in heating and air conditioning systems. They can connect radiators, air conditioning units, fan coils and other equipment to ensure that hot and cold air can be transferred smoothly.

3. Chemical and pharmaceutical industries: In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, 90-degree elbows are used to connect various pipeline equipment, such as reactors, distillation towers, filters, etc. They can help accurately control the flow and direction in chemical processes.
4. Oil and gas industries: In the oil and gas industries, 90-degree elbows are used for connecting and turning oil and gas pipelines. They can adapt to high-pressure and high-temperature environments and ensure that oil and gas can flow safely and efficiently from one direction to another.
5. Automation and mechanical engineering: 90-degree elbows are also used in the fields of automation and mechanical engineering. They are often used in pipeline systems for conveying materials, such as assembly line conveying systems, conveyors and conveying pipelines.

In general, 90-degree elbow pipe fittings play an important role in multiple industries due to their unique angles and functions, and are an indispensable part of the pipeline system.

Read more: SCH 80 pipe elbow or Stainless steel pipe fittings vs Carbon steel pipe fittings