Aug. 26, 2024
Construction & Real Estate
As industrial applications have evolved and grown more complex, the piping products and systems that serve them have had to keep pace.
While many pipe manufacturing methods exist, the most prominent discussion in the industry compares electric resistance welded (ERW) vs. seamless (SMLS) steel pipe.
Both ERW and seamless steel pipe manufacturing methods have been in use for decades; over time, the methods used to produce each have advanced. So which is better?
Welded pipe starts out as a long, coiled ribbon of steel called a skelp. The skelp is cut to the desired length, resulting in a flat rectangular sheet. The width of that sheet&#;s shorter ends will become the pipe&#;s outside circumference, a value that can be used to calculate its eventual outside diameter.
The rectangular sheets are fed through a rolling machine that curls the longer sides up toward one another, forming a cylinder. In the ERW process, high-frequency electrical current is passed between the edges, causing them to melt and fuse together.
An advantage of ERW pipe is that no fusion metals are used and the weld seam cannot be seen or felt. That&#;s opposed to double submerged arc welding (DSAW), which leaves behind an obvious weld bead that must then be eliminated depending on the application.
Welded pipe manufacturing techniques have improved over the years. Perhaps the most important advancement has been the switch to high-frequency electric currents for welding. Prior to the s, low-frequency current was used. Weld seams produced from low-frequency ERW were more prone to corrosion and seam failure.
Most welded pipe types require heat treatment after manufacture.
Seamless piping begins as a solid cylindrical hunk of steel called a billet. While still hot, billets are pierced through the center with a mandrel. The next step is rolling and stretching the hollow billet. The billet is precisely rolled and stretched until it meets the length, diameter and wall thickness as specified by the customer order.
Some seamless pipe types harden as they&#;re manufactured, so heat treatment after manufacturing is not required. Others do require heat treatment. Consult the specification of the seamless pipe type you&#;re considering to learn whether it will require heat treatment.
ERW and seamless steel piping exist as alternatives today largely due to historical perceptions.
Generally, welded pipe was considered inherently weaker because it included a weld seam. Seamless pipe lacked this perceived structural flaw and was considered safer. While it&#;s true that welded pipe does include a seam that makes it theoretically weaker, manufacturing techniques and quality assurance regimens each have improved to the extent that welded pipe will perform as desired when its tolerances aren&#;t exceeded. While the apparent advantage is clear, a critique of seamless piping is that the rolling and stretching process produces an inconsistent wall thickness compared to the more precise thickness of steel sheets destined for welding.
The industry standards that govern the manufacture and specification of ERW and seamless steel pipe still reflect those perceptions. For example, seamless piping is required for many high-pressure, high-temperature applications in the oil & gas, power generation and pharmaceutical industries. Welded piping (which is generally cheaper to produce and is more widely available) is specified across all industries as long as the temperature, pressure and other service variables do not exceed parameters noted in the applicable standard.
In structural applications, there&#;s no difference in performance between ERW and seamless steel pipe. While the two can be specified interchangeably, it wouldn&#;t make sense to specify for seamless when cheaper welded pipe works equally well.
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Featured content:An important note to make as piping products are specified for a project is that the specification books (such as those provided by ASTM, ASME, ANSI and API, among others) that engineers use to guide the specs they write only list pipe grades without referencing whether they&#;re produced via ERW or seamless pipe manufacturing. Not all grades can be produced by both means.
For example, a potential mix-up can occur if an engineer specifies welded pipe with a large outside diameter and wall thickness without knowing it would be impossible to manufacture it. This error would likely go unnoticed until a purchase order is placed, at which time a pipe supplier would notify the customer that the order couldn&#;t be fulfilled as written.
Also, a good grasp of industry standards could lead to cost savings. The A106 and A53 carbon steel pipe standards are a good example. In this article, we discuss how pipe complying with the former must be seamless while pipe complying with the latter can either be seamless or welded. For example, if an engineer must follow the A53 standard on a given project, he or she may still have the flexibility to choose which type to specify based on the specifics of the application.
American Piping Products stays fully-stocked with the best inventory of welded and seamless steel piping products in the industry. We source our stock from mills around the world, ensuring buyers get the pipe the need faster regardless of any applicable statutory restrictions.
In our steel pipe buyer&#;s guide, we&#;ll help you navigate the piping procurement process from start to finish to ensure you get what you need as quickly as possible when it&#;s time to buy. If a piping purchase is in your near future, request a quote. We&#;ll provide one that gets you exactly the products you need&#;fast.
Getting the right pipe starts here.
Get the buyer's guideThere are various options for stainless steel pipes available in the market today. Electric Resistance Welding (ERW) and Electric Fusion Welding (EFW) pipes are popular among them. To make the right choice, it&#;s important to understand the difference between the two and which would suit a specific application. This blog will discuss ERW vs EFW stainless steel pipes and help you make an informed decision.
Stainless steel ERW pipe stands for electric resistance welded pipe, a carbon steel pipe coated with a thin layer of chromium to add corrosion resistance. This process creates a strong and durable pipe, ideal for use in various industries such as oil and gas, construction, and automotive. In addition to its strength and corrosion resistance, stainless steel ERW pipes have high ductility and machinability, making them versatile for different applications. With its numerous benefits and widespread usage across various sectors, it&#;s no wonder why stainless steel ERW pipes have become the go-to choice for piping solutions. From superior durability to exceptional performance under extreme conditions, these pipes offer unmatched value for businesses looking for reliable infrastructure components. So, if you need high-quality piping solutions that can withstand the test of time, look no further than stainless steel ERW pipes!
ERW stainless steel pipes are made by rolling a steel plate into a cylindrical shape and then joining the edges together. This is done through a high-frequency electric current applied through electrofusion. ERW pipes are used for low to medium-pressure applications. The main advantage of ERW pipes is their cost-effectiveness, as they are relatively cheaper compared to EFW pipes. They are commonly used for water supply and the transport of non-corrosive fluids.
EFW stainless steel pipes, on the other hand, are made by combining molten steel from two separate ends and then welding them together. The fusion method ensures the pipe is stronger, denser, and more uniform than the ERW pipe. This makes EFW pipes suitable for high-pressure, high-temperature, and corrosive applications where strength and durability are a priority. EFW pipes are commonly used in the chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas industries.
In general, ERW steel pipes are cost-effective and suitable for low to medium-pressure applications. EFW steel pipes are the more expensive option and offer better strength and durability for high-pressure and corrosive applications. ERW pipes are relatively simpler to manufacture, while EFW pipes require more complex welding procedures, which increase their cost.
The choice of a stainless steel pipe also depends on other factors, such as the required pipe diameter, wall thickness, grade, and end-use. ERW pipes are commonly available in smaller diameters and thicknesses, while EFW pipes are available in larger sizes with heavier wall thicknesses. The grade of stainless steel used in the pipes also affects their properties and suitability for specific applications. Finally, it&#;s essential to consider the end-use and whether the pipe will be used in a corrosive, high-pressure, or high-temperature environment.
Choosing between ERW and EFW stainless steel pipes depends on the specific application requirements, such as pressure, temperature, and the fluid being transported. ERW pipes are cost-effective and suitable for low to medium-pressure applications, while EFW pipes offer better strength and durability for high-pressure and corrosive environments. The choice also depends on other factors such as pipe diameter, wall thickness, grade, and end-use. Consult with a stainless steel pipe expert before making a final decision.
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