Boiler Pipe

Types

Boiler Pipe & Tube, Seamless Boiler Tube, Low and Medium Pressure Boiler Tube, High Pressure Boiler Tube, Carbon Steel Boiler Tube

Standard:

ASTM A179, ASTM A192, ASTM A210 (A&C), ASTM A213 (T-5, T-9, T-11, T-22, T-91), ASTM A178, ASTM A209, ASTM A335, DIN 17175, GB3087, GB5310, JIS G3454/G3461/G3462

Material:

Carbon Steel (SA192, SA210)

Alloy Steel (A335 P11/P22/P91)

Low-Alloy Steel (15CrMoG, 12Cr1MoVG)

Stainless Steel (upon request)

Application:

Used for manufacturing superheated pipelines, the steam pipe, boiling water tube, flue tube, small flue tube, etc.of low, mediam and high pressure boiler, the general industry boiler.

Sizes:

Out diameter:10mm to 510mm
Wall thickness:1.5mm to 26mm

What is a Boiler Tube?

Boiler tubes are a type of steel tubes, and boiler tubes are generally made of seamless tubes. Boiler tubes are pipes used to transport high-temperature and high-pressure fluids. They are commonly used in equipment such as industrial boilers, heat exchangers, and power stations. Boiler tubes have the characteristics of high temperature resistance, high pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, etc., and are one of the most important components of these equipments.

Boiler tubes are usually made of carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel and other metal materials. Their quality and performance directly affect the safe operation and energy efficiency of the boiler.

HSCO steel supplies high-quality seamless boiler pipes manufactured to ASTM A192, ASTM A210, and ASTM A335 standards—the most widely recognized specifications in the global boiler industry.

Types of Boiler Tubes:

Based on the location and function of the tubes within the boiler:

● Fire-tube Boiler Tubes: High-temperature flue gas flows through the inside of the tubes, while the outer wall of the tubes is filled with water for heating. These boilers have a simple structure and are commonly used for small to medium-sized heating or industrial applications.

● Water-tube Boiler Tubes: Water flows inside the tubes, while high-temperature flue gas is heated on the outside of the tubes. This design can withstand higher pressures and temperatures and is widely used in large power plants and chemical plants.

Key Characteristics & Material Fundamentals

The mechanical properties of boiler tubes are determined by their chemical composition and heat treatment process. Standards specify requirements for tensile properties (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation), hardness, toughness, and high/low temperature performance.

Operating Conditions & Material Selection:

● Low to Medium Pressure (≤350°C): Typically use low-carbon steel, available as hot-rolled or cold-drawn tubes (e.g., 20#, 20G).

● High Pressure (>350°C): Require materials with high creep strength, oxidation resistance, and corrosion resistance, such as low-alloy steel (e.g., 15CrMoG, 12Cr1MoVG) or alloy steel (e.g., ASTM A335 P11/P22/P91).

Common Materials for Boiler Tubes:

Boiler tubes are typically manufactured from carbon steel, alloy steel, or stainless steel. The material selection depends on the operating temperature, pressure, and corrosiveness of the environment. Below are the common materials categorized by type.

1. Carbon Steel Boiler Tubes

Carbon steel boiler tubes are the most basic and cost-effective option, suitable for low to medium temperature and pressure applications. Common grades include ASME SA179, SA192, and SA210 (A-1 and C).

Standard	Grade	Typical Applications
ASME SA179	SA179	Heat exchangers, condensers, low-temperature service
ASME SA192	SA192	High-pressure boilers, superheaters, minimum wall thickness applications
ASME SA210	A-1, C	Medium to high-pressure boilers, superheaters. Grade C offers higher strength

2. Alloy Steel Boiler Tubes

Alloy steel boiler tubes contain chromium (Cr) and molybdenum (Mo) to improve high-temperature strength and creep resistance. Common grades include ASME SA213 T11, T12, 15CrMoG, SA213 T22, 12Cr1MoVG, SA213 T23, T91, and T92.

Standard	Grade	Typical Applications
ASME SA213	T11	Boiler, superheater, and heat exchanger tubes
ASME SA213	T12	Superheaters, reheaters, headers (≤550°C)
GB 5310	15CrMoG	High/medium pressure boiler steam pipes and headers (≤540°C)
ASME SA213	T22	Superheaters (≤580°C), steam pipes and headers (≤540°C)
GB 5310	12Cr1MoVG	Superheaters, reheaters, main steam systems (≤580°C)
ASME SA213	T23	Superheaters, reheaters, water walls for large power plant boilers
ASME SA213	T91	High-temperature superheaters, reheaters (≤625°C)
ASME SA213	T92	Ultra-supercritical boiler components (up to 650°C)

3. Stainless Steel Boiler Tubes

Stainless steel boiler tubes offer excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance for the most demanding high-temperature environments. Common grades include ASME SA213 TP304H, TP347H, Super304H, and HR3C.

Standard	Grade	Typical Applications
ASME SA213	TP304H	High-temperature superheaters, reheaters (≤650°C for pressure, ≤850°C for oxidation resistance)
ASME SA213	TP347H	Ultra-supercritical boiler final-stage superheaters, high-stress high-temperature components
ASME SA213	Super304H (S30432)	Ultra-supercritical boilers, metal wall temperatures up to 700°C
ASME SA213	HR3C (TP310HCbN)	Ultra-supercritical boiler superheaters in severe corrosive environments

Important Note on Temperature Limits:
● Carbon steels (SA179, SA192, SA210) are generally limited to operating temperatures below 500°C.
● Low-alloy steels (T11, T12, T22) are suitable up to about 580°C.
● Martensitic steels (T91, T92) can operate up to 620-650°C.
● Austenitic stainless steels (TP304H, TP347H, Super304H) can handle temperatures up to 650-700°C and above.

Product Applications:

Power Generation
● Superheater and reheater tubes
● Main steam pipelines
● Water wall tubes

Industrial Boilers
● Fire tubes and water tubes
● Boiling water tubes
● Arch brick tubes

Heat Exchangers & Petrochemicals
● Heat exchanger tubes
● Air preheater units
● Economizer tubes

ASME SA179 boiler tube

How to choose the right boiler tube material?

1. Temperature & Pressure Requirements
High Temperature & High Pressure: Choose alloy steel (ASTM A335 P11/P22/P91) or low-alloy steel (15CrMoG, 12Cr1MoVG).
Standard Operating Conditions: Carbon steel (ASTM A192, A210, 20G) is typically sufficient.

2. Corrosive Environment
If the boiler environment contains corrosive gases or liquids (e.g., acidic conditions), select materials with enhanced corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel or nickel-based alloys.

3. Material Properties
The material must offer good thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and structural stability to ensure efficient heat transfer and safe operation under load.

4. Cost Considerations
Balance material performance against project budget. While alloy steels offer superior performance, they come at a higher cost. For non-critical applications, carbon steel is often the most economical choice.

Need expert advice on material selection?

Our engineering team can help you match the right material to your specific project requirements.

Out Diameter Torlerances

Standard	Out Diameter	Tolerance
GB3087	≤180	±1.0%(min: ±0.5mm)
GB5310	≤50	±0.5mm
GB5310	>50	±1.0%

Wall Thickness Tolerances

Standard	Wall Thickness(mm)	Tolerance
GB3087	3-20	+15%,12.5%
GB3087	>20	±12.5%
GB5310	<3.5	+15%,-10%
	3.5-20	+15%,-10%
	>20	±10%

Chemical composition and mechanical properties

Standard	Grade	Chemical composition(%)					Mechanical properties
Standard	Grade	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Tensile Strength(Mpa)	Yield Strength(Mpa)	Elongation(%)
DIN17175	St35.8	≤0.17	0.10-0.35	0.40-0.80	≤0.030	≤0.030	360-480	≥235	≥25
DIN17175	St45.8	≤0.21	0.10-0.35	0.40-1.20	≤0.030	≤0.030	410-530	≥255	≥21

Why Choose HSCO for Boiler Pipes?

Global Standards: We supply boiler pipes to ASTM, ASME, GB, and JIS standards, ensuring compatibility with international engineering projects.

● Complete Traceability: Every pipe comes with full material test certificates (MTC), providing full traceability and quality assurance.
● Wide Size Range: We offer standard and custom sizes to meet your exact specifications.
● Competitive Pricing: Direct manufacturing ensures cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.
● Reliable Delivery: Our efficient production and logistics network ensures on-time delivery for projects of any scale.