What Are Flexible Hose And Their Applications
A flexible hose is used in industries to transfer a wide range of fluid, including gaseous fluids, like air, steam, gases, and liquids, like water, oils, and chemicals. It is a type of piping used to connect two distant points to enable these substances’ easy transportation. Flexible hoses have leverage over rigid hoses as they can yield underloading without fracturing. Below in this article, we will cover the What Are Flexible Hose And Their Applications.
You can purchase flexible hose in India at affordable rates. The top flexible hose manufacturer in India produces flexible hoses for various industrial purposes. These hoses are made of non-metals like soft plastic or synthetic rubber. In contrast, rigid pipes are made of concrete, clay, or ductile iron, limiting their ability to yield under load without sustaining damage.
Top 3 Types Of Flexible Hose
- Stainless Steel Hose
It is made of two separate components. The first part is a thin corrugate tube that makes up the core of the stainless steel hose. The corrugated pipe gives it the flexibility to move in any direction. Besides this tube, it also consists of a stainless steel wire around the core. The wire sheaths the inside line and provides a protective layer to the hose.
The flexibility of the stainless steel hose makes it suitable for various industrial use. Stainless steel hoses are tough, resilient, and have more extended durability. It can also resist heat and corrosion effectively. These properties allow it to survive in harsh and right environmental conditions. The corrugated inner tube enables the hose to transfer both gaseous and liquid substances. Stainless steel hose is used in the petrochemical industry, chemical smelting, automotive industry, and power generation industry. It is also used in the rectification of misaligned piping. It can also absorb the vibrations produced in industrial machinery.
- PTFE Convoluted Hose
PTFE convoluted hose is categorized into three groups. The first one is the “Tube only” PTFE Convoluted Hose. It consists of a base layer of PTFE convoluted tubing and is lightweight. It can work under low pressure.
The second type is the braided polymer tube. It is sheathed with orange polypropene monofilament. The third one is the stainless steel PTFE convoluted hose. It has a high pressure-resistant capability and can be used in harsh environments.
- PTFE Smooth Bore Hose Pipe
It is made from one piece of PTFE tubing. It has a seamless finish, great flexibility, and minimum porosity. It can resist oxidization under the presence of chemicals.
Applications Of Flexible Hose
Flexible hoses have broad applicability. Some of its typical applications are:
- A flexible-fuel hose is used to carry fuel safely.
- It is used to transfer liquids under high pressure in the oil industry.
- In the chemical and medicine industry, it allows liquids and gases to move around quickly.
- It is used to carry air from a surface compressor or air tanks.
- It acts like a fire hose to quickly transfer water to the fire location or a fire fighting service.
- It can convey water to a sprinkler/garden hose.
- It is used to water crops for drip irrigation.
- It is used for heat tracing.
- It is also used for Auto heater tubing, Ventilating ducting, Moderate suction lines, Automotive exhaust, Dust collecting Ducting, Air Blower ducting, Wiring conduit, Refrigeration tubing armor, Carburetor air intake, hot ash granulate, and many more.
Components Of A Flexible Hose
A flexible hose has four essential components.
- Corrugated Tubing: It is the core component of a flexible hose. It plays a vital role in supplying the value-added attributes to the assembly, such as corrosion-resistant properties, pressure rating, and flexibility. The minimum dynamic bend radius expresses the flexibility of the hose.
- Braid: It is the second component of the flexible hose. It contributes to the capability of the assembly to withstand high pressure. Several factors like wire radius, number of wires per carrier and on the braiding machine, and percentage of braid coverage contribute to the wire braid’s functionality. Proper functionality elongates the life cycle of the hose.
- Braid Collars: It joins the inner corrugated hose and the braid together during the cap welding process into the cap weld bead. It protects and isolates the corrugation near the cap weld. Braid collars make sure that the bending stress is distributed correctly on the right groove. This preserves the life cycle of the flexible hose assembly.
- End Fittings: It is the final component. Selecting the right end fitting is essential. You need to check the size, alloy, and pressure requirement of the application to choose the correct fitting. The proper selection allows the flexible hose to be customized to fit into the desired application.
To Conclude:
Flexible hoses transfer fluids and fluidized solids between two distant points. According to its composition, it is suited for usage in various industries and can endure corrosion and high/low pressure.