Manufacturing Process of Welded Pipes

What is the Manufacturing Process for Welded Pipes?

Welded Pipes are manufactured from Plate or from continues Coil or strips. To manufactured welded pipe, first, Plate or coil is rolled in the circular section with the help of plate bending machine or by a roller in the case of continues process.

At the start of the welded pipe manufacturing process so called slabs or billets are cast in a steel mill. Dependent on the external dimensions and wall thickness there are different methods of producing welded pipes and tubes. Metallica’s manufacturing facilities perform three types of welding processes: Electric Resistance Welding (ERW), Fusion Welding (EFW) and Double Submerged Arc Welding (DSAW). In the ERW and EFW manufacturing process welded pipes are formed by hot or cold rolling plate and welding the seam. In order to keep the outside (O.D.) surface of a welded pipe smooth and uniform a cutting tool called scarfing blade is used to remove the weld flash. Scarfing from the inside (I.D.) welded flash is also possible. With a heat treating at the end of the manufacturing process the weld zone of the steel pipe can be made less visible. Due to the weld seam lower operating pressures are stated in accordance with ASME compared to seamless pipes. In general welded tubes possess tighter dimensional tolerances than seamless pipes and are less costly if produced in same quantities.

1.

ERW or HFI / HFW pipe manufacturing

Less thickness pipe, mainly ERW / EFW or HFW welded pipe are formed by continues rolling method. In this method, a flat metal strip from the strip coil is feed into the series of roller assembled in line. These rollers gradually form the strip in the circular section. At the end of rolling assembly, this pipe is continuously welded by welding machine.

ERW/EFW and HFW are welding methods in which pipe is welded without adding filler material. However, EFW welding method can be used with filler material also.

A process for producing welded tubes is Electric Resistance Welding (ERW) also known as Contact Welding. The manufacturing starts by cold-forming a coiled plate of steel with eligible thickness and certain width into a cylindrical shape. As the cylindrical plates come together, an electric current using heat merges the abutting edges together to create the final product.

In HFW/HFI welding, a high-frequency current is used to create weld joints. Whereas, in EFW welding process; the external high energy electric arc is used to create a weld joint. Once the welding is done, the excess weld material from outside and inside of the pipe is removed with the help of trimmer tools. However, the product is still often referred to as ERW pipe, even though the weld may have been produced by the HFI / HFW (High Frequency Welded Pipe) process.

2.

EFW pipe manufacturing

Processing of Electric Fusion Welding, also called Continuous Welding begins as coiled steel with appropriate thickness, width and weight is made. To form a continuous ribbon of steel several coils are welded together. Then the steel ribbon is heated to the necessary temperature and formed into an oval. In the next step the edges of the tube strip are permanently pressed together by rolls in order to receive a forged weld.

In the last stage sizing rolls convert the welded tube into specific dimensions.

3.

DSAW pipe manufacturing

In Single Seam SAW pipe, wedding is done with the help of submerged arc welding process. In this method, a welding arc is submerged in

welding flux. A Continues solid filler wire is fed from the outside. The pipe is welded first inside and then from the outside.

The process of producing Double Submerged Arc Welded Pipes first contains forming steel plates into cylindrical shapes. Later on the edges of the rolled plate are forged so that v-shaped notches are on the exterior and interior area of the seam. Then the pipe seam is being welded by an arc welder submerged under flux. In the case of high thickness pipe, multiple pass welding is done.

In a Spiral SAW pipe, steel plate from the de-coiler is formed in a spiral loop. This spiral loop is then welded from inside and outside of the pipe. Because of the method of manufacture, a wide variety of diameters can be produced. Spiral saw pipes are used for low-pressure services.

Whereas Straight SAW pipes are used for medium to high-pressure services. Spiral saw pipes are less costly compared to straight saw pipe.

Once the welding is completed, Weld seams are subjected to various non-destructive testing such as RT & UT to ensure the soundness of the weld material; pipes are hydro tested to ensure strength and ability to remain leak proof under pressure. In the last stage of inspection, the pipe is checked visually and dimensionally by competent inspection engineer. He will ensure that pipe is meeting the code, standard, and specification requirements. Once the Inspection engineer cleared the pipe, it will mark as per the standard requirements & send for the packaging. Once the Inspection engineer cleared the pipe; visually and dimensionally, it will mark as per the standard requirements & send for the packaging.

Metallica is a leading manufacturer and supplier of welded pipes and tubes providing an extensive selection of all grades and dimensions to the oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical and power industries. We work closely together with certified pipe manufacturers from around the

world and have a huge range of different welded pipes constantly on stock ranging from Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) Pipes, Fusion Welded (EFW) Pipes to Double Submerged Arc Welded (DSAW) Pipes.