EXPANSION FITTINGS AND LOOPS FOR HVAC PIPING

Common Piping Materials:

1. Copper
This is mostly used for supply of hot and cold tap water and a refrigerant line in HVAC
systems.

Types:
a) Soft Copper Tubing
This kind of tubing can be bent easily to travel around the obstacles of the tubing path.

Disadvantage:
 It is costlier to produce compared to non-annealed copper tubing.
b) Rigid Copper
This is mainly used in water lines. This cannot be bent easily thus an elbow fitting is
needed to curve around the corners and obstacles of the tubing path.

Copper Tubing Sizes:

Nominal Outside Type K ( inside Type L (inside Type M

Sizes Diameter diameter) diameter) (inside diameter)

1/4 9.5 mm 7.7 mm 0.31 mm -

1/2 15.75mm 13.41 mm 0.54 mm 0.56 mm
3/4 22.22mm 0.74 mm 0.78 mm 0.8 mm
1 28.57 mm 0.99 mm 1.0 mm 1.0 mm
1 1/2 41.27 mm 1.48 mm 1.5 mm 1.5 mm
2 53.97mm 1.9 mm 1.9 mm 2.0 mm
3 79.37 mm 2.9 mm 2.9 mm 2.9 mm

Type K: This has the thickes wall section and is commonly used for underground burial.
Advantage: It has suitable corrosion protection coating.

Type L: This has thinner wall section. Commonly used in residential and commercial
water supply and pressure applications.

Type M: This has an even thinner wall section. It is also used in residential and
commercial low pressure heating applications.

2. Black Iron Pipes

This is referred to a type of black coated steel. It is stronger than
plastic pipes since its made of metal.
Advantage:
 It has high temperature ratings thus it cannot easily
melt in high temperatures.
PIPE FITTINGS

1. Tees
These are fittings that act as a hub for three separate sections of a pipe. They can also be
used to combine two different components or split a single pipeline.
Sizes of Tees:
1/2”
½x½x¾ 2. 90 Degree Elbows
¾ These are used to turn pipelines in
¾x¾x½ different directions. It shifts the flow
1” direction b 90 degrees.
2”
Advantages:
These are easier to work with and are corrosion resistant if the material used is
black iron.

Sizes of 90 degree elbows:

3/8
1/2
3/4
1
2
3

1. 45 Degree Elbows
Elbow fittings allow the user to alter the direction
of a piping system around obstacles or inside walls.
These 45-degree elbows give the user more
freedom, especially when used in conjunction with 90-degree elbows.

Sizes of 45 Degree Elbows: 2. Couplings

¾“ This is used to
1” join two
pieces of
1¼“
rotating
1½“
equipment
2” while
permitting some degree of misalignment or end
movement or both. By careful selection, installation
and maintenance of couplings, substantial savings can
be made in reduced maintenance costs and downtime.
3. Bushing
It is a fastener element that is inserted into an object to add
a threaded hole. These may be used to repair a stripped
threaded hole.

4. Cap
A cap attaches to the exterior of a pipe, and may have a solvent-weld socket end or a female-
threaded interior. The exterior of an industrial cap may be round, square, rectangular, U- or I-
shaped, or may have a handgrip.

5. Barb
A barb connects flexible hose or tubing to pipes, typically has a
male-threaded end which mates with female threads.. Barb fittings
can be made of brass for hot-water applications, and plastic may be
used for cold water.

Advantage :
Barbs are considered more durable for heavy-duty use. The barb
fitting may be elbow-shaped or straight.

6. Valves
These stop or regulate the flow of liquids or gases. They are
categorized by use, such as isolation, throttling, and non-return.

Types:
a) Isolation valves: These are used to temporarily disconnect part
of a piping system, to allow maintenance or repair. Isolation
valves are typically left in either a fully open or fully closed
position.
b) Throttling valves: These are used to control the amount or
pressure of a fluid allowed to pass through, and are
designed to withstand the stress and wear caused by this
type of operation.
c) Non-return or check valves: These allow free flow of
fluids in one direction, but prevent it from flowing in the
reverse direction. They are often seen in drainage or sewage
systems, but may also be used in pressurized systems.