What are pipe tees

What are pipe tees?

Pipe tees are pipe fittings and pipe connectors. Also called pipe fitting tee or tee fitting, tee joint is used at the branch pipe of the main pipe.
The tee has three openings, one inlet and two outlets; Or a chemical pipe fitting with two inlets and one outlet, including T-shaped and Y-shaped, equal diameter pipe orifice and reducing pipe orifice, which is used for the collection of three identical or different pipelines. The main function of tee is to change the direction of fluid.

Standards of tees

• ASME B 16.9 for large bore
• ASME B 16.11 for small bore

Types of pipe tees

Classification by pipe diameter

• 1. Equal tee: tee with the same diameter of main pipe and branch pipe.
• 2. Reducing tee: tee with branch pipe diameter less than main pipe diameter.

Classification according to docking form

• 1. Butt welded tee: it refers to the tee pipe fittings welded after butting with the connecting pipe fittings.
• 2. Socket tee: it refers to the tee pipe fittings that are welded or welded after the connecting pipe fittings are inserted into each end of the tee.
• 3. Ferrule tee: it is a tee fitting with ferrule joints at each end, which is inserted and then tightened.
• 4. Threaded tee: a tee fitting that connects fittings in a threaded manner.

Classification by material

It can be divided into stainless steel tee, carbon steel tee, copper tee, PVC tee, ductile iron tee, etc.
Classification by branch form

• 1. Positive tee: it is the tee fitting of the vertical main pipe of the branch pipe.
• 2. Inclined tee: it is a tee fitting with a certain included angle between the branch pipe and the main pipe.

What is a reducing tee

Reducing tee is widely used in various commercial and industrial applications.

What is an equal tee

Equre tee (or straight tee), means the branch diameter of this tee is same with the main pipe (Run pipe) diameter of this tee.

What is a lateral tee

A Lateral tee is one kind of tee fittings, which has a 45 degree branch from a pipeline: (45° Lateral Tee). It is a kind of steel pipe tee, but the branch direction is different with the straight tee. On the contrary to the lateral tee,the straight tee has a branch pipe direction of 90 degree to the run pipe.

Type of the lateral tee

Lateral tee has two types: lateral tee and latrolet (also called Lateral Outlet).

The lateral tee’s shape is like a pipe tee, the butt welding lateral tees are made from steel pipes or forgings, the manufacturing standard is ASME B16.9. there are also the forged lateral tee produced refer to ASME B16.11,the ends are socket welding and threaded.

ANSI/ASME B16.11 Forged Steel Lateral Tee dimensions:

1/4″ to 4″ class 2000 threaded,1/8″ to 4″ class 3000 threaded,1/8″ to 4 ” class 6000 threaded

Class 2000

1/8

1/4

3/8

1/2

3/4

1

1 1/4

1 1/2

2

2 1/2

3

4

A

–

7/8

31/32

1 1/8

1 5/16

1 1/2

1 3/4

2

2 3/8

3

3 3/8

4 3/16

B

–

29/32

1 1/16

1 5/16

1 9/16

1 27/32

2 7/32

2 1/2

3 1/32

3 11/16

4 5/16

5 3/4

Class 3000

1/8

1/4

3/8

1/2

3/4

1

1 1/4

1 1/2

2

2 1/2

3

4

A

7/8

31/32

1 1/8

1 5/16

1 1/2

1 3/4

2

2 3/8

2 1/2

3 1/4

3 3/4

4 1/2

B

29/32

1 1/16

1 5/16

1 9/16

1 27/32

2 7/32

2 1/2

3 1/32

3 11/32

4

4 3/4

6

Class 6000

1/8

1/4

3/8

1/2

3/4

1

1 1/4

1 1/2

2

2 1/2

3

4

A

31/32

1 1/8

1 5/16

1 1/2

1 3/4

2

2 3/8

2 1/2

3 1/4

3 3/4

4 3/16

4 1/2

B

1 1/6

1 5/16

1 9/16

1 27/32

2 7/32

2 1/2

3 1/32

3 11/32

4

4 3/4

5 3/4

6

The latrolet’s shape likes a pipe outlet,and the ends of the products could be butt welding,socket welding or threaded.The products’ standard is according to MSS-SP97,which is the same with the outlets products.

MSS-SP97 Latrolet Dimensions:

NB

Out-let Size

Dimensions

CL 3000 Threaded and Socket Weld

CL 6000 Threaded and Socket Weld

Standard & XS Butt Weld

Sch. 160 and XXS Butt Weld

A

B

C

E

A

B

C

E

A

B

C

E

A

B

C

2 1/2 – 1 1/4

1/4

1 9/16

2 11/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 9/16

2 11/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 5/16

2 3/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 9/16

2 5/16

1 7/16

12 – 3

2 1/2 – 1 1/4

3/8

1 9/16

2 11/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 9/16

2 11/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 5/16

2 3/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 9/16

2 5/16

1 7/16

12 – 3

2 1/2 – 1 1/4

1/2

1 9/16

2 11/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

1 3/8

2 5/32

1 7/16

1 9/16

12 – 3

1 1/2 – 1 1/4

5 – 2

1/2

1 7/8

2 3/4

1 3/4

1 29/32

1 13/16

2 3/4

1 3/4

12 – 6

1 1/2 – 1 1/4

5 – 2

3/4

1 7/8

2 3/4

1 3/4

1 29/32

1 11/16

2 17/32

1 3/4

1 29/32

12 – 6

2 1/2 – 2

5 – 3

3/4

2 3/16

3 1/4

2 1/8

2 3/16

2 1/8

3 1/4

2 1/8

12 – 6

2 1/2 – 2

5 – 3

1

2 3/16

3 1/4

2 1/8

2 3/16

2 1/2

3 21/32

2 5/8

2 15/32

1 31/32

3

2 1/8

2 3/16

2 1/2

3 13/16

2 5/8

12 – 6

2 1/2 – 2

5 – 3

1 1/4

2 1/2

3 27/32

2 5/8

2 15/16

2 3/4

4 7/32

3 1/32

2 5/8

2 9/32

3 19/32

2 5/8

2 15/32

2 3/4

4 1/4

3

12 – 6

2 1/2 – 2

5 – 3

1 1/2

2 3/4

4 7/32

3 1/32

2 15/32

3 31/32

3 1/32

2 5/8

12 – 6

5 – 4

8 – 6

1 1/2

3 3/8

5 7/16

4 1/8

3 5/32

3 3/8

5 3/8

4 1/8

12 – 10

5 – 4

8 – 6

2

3 3/8

5 7/16

4 1/8

3 5/32

3 3/8

5 7/16

4 1/8

3 5/32

3 3/16

5 1/4

4 1/8

3 13/32

12 – 10

5 – 4

8 – 6

2 1/2

3 5/32

5 3/16

4 1/8

3 5/32

12 – 10

Order to Spe-cific Run Pipe Sizes

3

3 13/16

6 1/4

4 31/32

3 25/32

Order to Spe-cific Run Pipe Sizes

4

4 3/4

7 13/16

6 7/16

4 9/16

Materials of lateral tees

Carbon steel: ASTM/ASME A234 WPB-WPC
Alloy steel: ASTM/ASME A234 WP 1-WP 12-WP 11-WP 22-WP 5-WP 91-WP 911 
Stainless steel: ASTM/ASME A403 WP 304-304L-304H-304LN-304N

                           ASTM/ASME A403 WP 316-316L-316H-316LN-316N-316Ti 

                           ASTM/ASME A403 WP 321-321H ASTM/ASME A403 WP 347-347H
Low temperature steel: ASTM/ASME A402 WPL 3-WPL 6 
High performance steel: ASTM/ASME A860 WPHY 42-46-52-60-65-70

Size range: 1/2 to 72 inches
Pressure: SCH5 to SCH160

Applications of lateral tees

Lateral tees are widely used in various commercial and industrial applications. Industrial applications include:

• Chemical processing
• Petroleum
• Pulp/paper
• Refining
• Textile
• Waste treatment, Marine
• Utilities/power generation
• Industrial equipment
• Automotive
• Gas compression and distribution industries
• Pipe Tees are also recommended for industrial plant fluid power systems.

Materials of tees

Various materials used in the production of pipe tees are:

• Stainless steel
• Carbon steel
• Cast iron
• Nickel
• Aluminum
• Copper
• Brass
• Bronze
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Polypropylene etc.

Finishes on Pipe Tees

Pipe Tees are available in various finishes. Some common finishes are like:

• Galvanized finish
• Nickel plated
• Black cast
• White coating
• Gold finish
• Electroplated etc.

Features of Pipe Tees

• There are three female openings in a T shaped pipe tee.
• There are straight pipe tees which have the same size openings.
• Reducing pipe tees have one opening of different size and two openings of the same size.
• There are sanitary pipe tees which are used in waste lines. These kind of pipe tees have a curved branch which is designed for a clean out plug. They are used to prevent obstruction of waste.
• A cross pipe tee has four equal sized female openings.
• A wing pipe tee has lugs to fasten the fitting to a wall or stud.
• A compression pipe tee uses compression fittings on two or more ends.
• A test pipe tee has a threaded opening. This opening is used in conjunction with a threaded plug for a clean-out opening on a drain pipe.

Applications of pipe tees

Pipe Tees are widely used in various commercial and industrial applications. Industrial applications include:

• Chemical processing
• Petroleum
• Pulp/paper
• Refining
• Textile
• Waste treatment
• Marine
• Utilities/power generation
• Industrial equipment
• Automotive
• Gas compression and distribution industries

Pipe Tees are also recommended for industrial plant fluid power systems.

How is the tee made?

Tee is a kind of pipe fitting used at the branch of pipeline. At present, the commonly used processes for manufacturing tee with seamless pipe include hydraulic bulging and hot pressing.

Hydraulic bulging

The hydraulic bulging of tee is a forming process of expanding branch pipe through axial compensation of metal material. The process is to use a special hydraulic press to inject liquid into the pipe blank with the same diameter as the tee, and squeeze the pipe blank through the synchronous centering movement of the two horizontal side cylinders of the hydraulic press. The volume of the pipe blank becomes smaller after extrusion, and the liquid in the pipe blank increases with the volume of the pipe blank. When the pressure required for the expansion of the tee branch pipe is reached, The metal material flows along the inner cavity of the die and expands out of the branch pipe under the dual action of the liquid pressure in the side cylinder and the tube blank.

Hot pressing

Hot pressing of tee is to flatten the pipe blank larger than the tee diameter to the size of the tee diameter, and open a hole at the part of the stretched branch pipe; The tube blank is heated and put into the forming die, and the die for drawing the branch pipe is installed in the tube blank; Under the action of pressure, the tube blank is compressed radially. In the process of radial compression, the metal flows to the branch pipe and forms a branch pipe under the tension of the die. The whole process is formed through the radial compression of pipe blank and the stretching process of branch pipe. Different from the hydraulic bulging tee, the metal of the hot pressing tee branch pipe is compensated by the radial movement of the pipe blank, so it is also called radial compensation process.

How to make a welded tee?

Tee pipe is a pipe fitting used at the branch and diversion of the pipeline. It is divided into same diameter tee and reducing tee according to the same difference between the main pipe and the branch pipe, and according to the included angle between the axis of the branch pipe and the axis of the main pipe（ α) Divided into orthogonal tee（ α 90 °) and skew tee（ α< 90°)。

Manufacture of orthogonal tee with the same diameter

Before scribing, draw a positioning cross on the main pipe and branch pipe, and gently punch it with a sample punch, and then align the center of the female and male sample plates with the center line of the pipeline respectively, and draw a cutting line, then cutting can be carried out. Cutting shall be carried out according to the requirements of the groove. All grooves shall be made on the branch pipe. The angle of the groove is 45 ° at the fillet weld and 30 ° at the butt weld. The groove angle shall be gradually reduced from the fillet weld to the butt weld (i.e. sharp corner), and the transition shall be uniform. During the assembly of tee with the same diameter, the size of the opening on the main pipe shall match the diameter of the branch pipe, and the inner seam at the weld shall be flat. During the assembly, the angle between the branch pipe and the main pipe shall be corrected to 90 ° with a wide seat angle ruler, then it shall be fixed by spot welding, and finally welded.

Manufacture of reducing orthogonal tee

Before scribing, draw a positioning cross line on the main pipe and branch pipe, and gently punch it with a sample punch. Align the center of the male and female sample plates with the center line of the pipe, draw a secant, and then cut. During assembly, use a wide seat angle ruler to correct the angle between the branch pipe and the main pipe to be 90 °, the pipe end of the branch pipe shall be flush with the inner wall of the main pipe, and the branch pipe shall not extend into the main pipe cavity.

Manufacture of inclined tee with the same diameter

The marking, blanking and splicing of skew tee with the same diameter are the same as that of straight tee with the same diameter. The groove can be flexibly controlled according to the included angle and the size of opening, so as to meet the welding requirements. Generally, the upper half of the main pipe and branch pipe on the obtuse angle side can be fully beveled. The groove angle is 30 ° ~ 35 °, and the lower half is only 30 ° at the sharp angle, and then gradually transition to 45 °. After gradual and uniform transition, the groove at the included angle of the two pipes is the largest.

Manufacture of reducing inclined tee

The marking, blanking and splicing methods of the reducing oblique tee are the same as those of the same diameter tee. The difference is that when the branch pipe is inserted into the main pipe, its pipe end shall be flat with the outer wall of the main pipe, and the pipe end shall not extend into the main pipe cavity.

Manufacture of equal diameter and equal angle tee

The marking, blanking and alignment of equal diameter and equal angle tees are the same as those of positive tees, except that the included angles of tees are 120 ° to each other, which shall be carefully checked with a protractor during alignment.

Fabrication of equal diameter tee with arbitrary angle

The marking and blanking of equal diameter tee at any angle are the same as that of equal diameter straight tee. During assembly, the required angle shall be carefully calibrated with protractor.

How to buy high quality pipe tees?

Stainless steel tee is a common connecting pipe fitting for stainless steel pipe installation. It is used to connect three stainless steel pipes during pipe installation, including water pipe turning radian. Stainless steel tee is divided into Y-shaped tee, reducing tee and high-pressure tee.
The tee is made of stainless steel, alloy steel, carbon steel, cast iron, etc. The tee component made of stainless steel is the most common and reliable connecting pipe fitting of stainless steel water pipe. The connection methods between stainless steel tee and pipe fitting mainly include welding, flange connection and threaded connection.
The use of tee in stainless steel pipe has four main advantages:

• 1. In the traditional pipeline connection, the sealing surfaces wear each other and affect the sealing performance, but the use of tee joint can effectively eliminate this situation, and the flow resistance of stainless steel tee is small.
• 2. The tee assembly has the advantages of simple structure, light weight and small volume. It can be repaired directly and save cost.
• 3. The stainless steel tee has strong sealing performance and is not affected by the connecting pipe fittings. The valve can be fully opened and closed, so that the sealing surface will not be corroded.
• 4. It has a wide range of applications and can be applied in high vacuum and strong pressure environment.

What should we pay attention to when purchasing stainless steel tee?

• 1. Before purchasing the tee, you need to clarify your own needs and whether the medium to be transported is oil, water or other fluids.
• 2. Test the transport medium flow.
• 3. The tee is selected according to the transmission medium and control flow.

Source: China Pipe Tee Manufacturer – Yaang Pipe Industry Co., Limited (www.epowermetals.com)

(Yaang Pipe Industry is a leading manufacturer and supplier of nickel alloy and stainless steel products, including Super Duplex Stainless Steel Flanges, Stainless Steel Flanges, Stainless Steel Pipe Fittings, Stainless Steel Pipe. Yaang products are widely used in Shipbuilding, Nuclear power, Marine engineering, Petroleum, Chemical, Mining, Sewage treatment, Natural gas and Pressure vessels and other industries.)

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