5 Things to Know Before Buying Flexible Metal Hose

A metal hose delivers a host of applications. Whether it is for oil distribution or gas processing, there is a wide range of hoses and Stainless Steel Fittings you can choose from. While selecting the right metal hose for your application, you might have several questions such as, why to use a metal hose, the safety aspect of a metal hose, its cost-effectiveness for industrial applications, and more.

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Considering such factors to use metal hose, will help you better understand its applications. Let us help understand the uses of metal hose, especially while purchasing them from a leading metal hose manufacturer.

What is a Metal Hose?

A metal hose is a type of flexible piping that is available in two basic categories depending on application and design. The common types of metal hoses are corrugated hose and strip wound hose.

• Strip wound hoses feature a highly mechanical strength. On the other hand, corrugated hoses are capable of rendering maximum leak tightness because of the material. These are also capable of withstanding higher pressure.
• Corrugated hoses feature the trait of pressure tightness under the impact of extreme conditions like available in space or during the transportation of cooled liquid gas or environment including aggressive seawater. They also tend to be corrosion-resistant.
• Metal hoses have been in existencefor more than a century. The advent of metal hoses has also led to flexible and variable elements like metal expansion joints and metal bellows in addition to flexible metal pipes.

When Should You Use a Metal Hose?

One of the most frequently asked questions is when to use metal hoses. While there are several types of hoses available in the market, including composite hoses, rubber hoses, fabric hoses, PTFE hoses, the wide range of benefits of metal hoses makes it a highly sought-after option.

Most industries make use of metal hose assemblies due to the overall durability and ease of use. Some of the applications of metal hoses include connection of gas lines to appliances that are moveable along with the transfer of steam, oil, or water. However, the ultimate decision on the type of hose to purchase will depend on the application.

Top Important Considerations While Using Metal Hose

Metal hose is a type of flexible hose. It is a strong, high-quality, and durable hose that is capable of withstanding standard wear & tear of any plant life. A top-quality flexible hose or chemical hose remains resistant to corrosion, moisture, and other environment-based contaminants. These hoses are also immensely lightweight, puncture-resistant, and easy to handle.

As metal hoses are highly durable, they are not prone to permeation. In addition to this, they feature end-fitting configurations. This feature makes it simpler to connect as well as disconnect the metal hose in any industrial unit. For instance, in a chemical plant, there are certain risks to the overall safety of workers and the surrounding environment.

However, it is possible to minimize the risks with relevant equipment for a chemical plant, including metal hoses. These are responsible for connecting process equipment to lines and storage tanks. Chemical plants make use of metal hoses for connecting and monitoring equipment situated throughout chemical processing industries and plants. These hoses are available in different sizes. However, these tend to be typically in varying lengths like 4, 6, 8, or 10 feet. Metal chemical hoses are also used for connecting compressors and pumps to storage tanks.

1. Capability of Withstanding Extreme Temperatures

If the atmospheric temperature or media temperature going through the metal hose is extremely cold or hot, then the metal hose is the only material that is capable of withstanding higher temperatures.

2. Compatibility to Chemicals

Metal hoses are capable of handling a comprehensive range of chemicals in comparison to other types of hoses. You should consider selecting a metal hose if the application will expose the hose to harmful or aggressive chemicals, both externally or internally. For instance, stainless steel is known to deliver improved resistance to most chemicals. At the same time, alloys can be utilized with metal hoses to ensure that the hose becomes corrosion resistant.

3. Issues with Penetration

In case of non-metal hoses, there is a high possibility that liquids or gases will penetrate through the material of the hose, eventually into the atmosphere or surrounding environment. On the other hand, permeation or penetration is highly unlikely to take place with metal hoses when these are fabricated properly.

4. Capacity to Handle Catastrophic Failures

During instances of failures or emergencies, metal hoses might end up developing smaller cracks or holes. On the other hand, other conventional hoses are known to develop larger cracks. In some cases, other hoses might even come apart completely.

Another important factor to consider is that the fittings of equipment are effectively welded to metal hoses. Therefore, there is no presence of common fitting retention problems. In case a sudden failure takes place with the hose that is catastrophic, the metal hose will help in minimizing the overall effects of the failure. It is achieved by ensuring that the products leak at a slower rate.

5. Capacity to Withstand Abrasion or Rust

You can think of using metal hose in the form of a protective cover over different wires. It can also be used over other hoses to prevent issues like overbending or abrasion. For instance, strip wound hoses tend to be highly resistant to abrasion. Therefore, these are ideal options for protection capabilities.

Strip wound hoses can also be utilized on the outer sections of a corrugated hose to prevent the same from overbending. One effective way of testing the metal hose of a given assembly is by bending the respective corrugated hose. It is because it is not possible to over-bend strip wound hoses without pulling the entire hose apart.

6. Fire Proofing Feature

Most other types of hoses are known to melt under the impact of fire. On the other hand, metal hoses will maintain the trait of fire resistance for up to Degree F. As far as the overall fire safety is concerned, corrugated hoses are regarded as the ideal options.

These are also great for situations involving low permeation. You can make use of metal or corrugated hoses in situations wherein the hoses are exposed to open flames. These are also great for applications involving barge unloading and loading.

7. Flexibility to Fit

In a typical corrugated hose assembly, it is possible to ensure all types of weldable fittings. It is possible to configure a corrugated hose assembly with any possible fitting. On the other hand, other variants of hoses will require special shanks or collars for the same.

It is a major advantage over other categories of hoses. It is because other variants will require multiple threaded connections for connecting different hoses. Every threaded connection serves to be a prospective point of leakage. Therefore, the concept of welded fitting in metal hoses helps in eliminating all risks of leakages while also facilitating smoother installation.

Additional Factors to Consider While Choosing Metal Hoses

There are several more factors that you can consider while choosing metal hoses for your application. Some are:

• Vacuum: The corrugation of a typical metal hose helps the material in retaining its full shape, even under the impact of a full vacuum. On the other hand, in this scenario, a non-metal hose will completely collapse under the impact of vacuum even when the same has been reinforced. However, it is important to note that metal hoses are not suggested for applications involving higher pressure. Still, it serves to be a great choice for vacuum-based applications.
• External Environment: An important aspect to consider while choosing a metal hose for your application is that the external environment is not capable of degrading the same. Specific metal hoses do not feature the trait of being electrically conductive. Therefore, it will not spark.

At the same time, metal hoses are capable of maintaining the integrity for up to Degree F. This is even in the case of a fire. The metal hose features a higher rate for vibration absorption in comparison to non-metal hoses. This tends to minimize the overall strain on connecting equipment.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Flexible Metal Hose. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Conclusion

The overall responsibility of ensuring job safety at industrial units is a critical task to accomplish. Therefore, in any industrial unit, it is imperative for business owners to select metal hoses that renders the assurance of improved efficiency. In addition to this, the use of metal hoses will also deliver the assurance of improved worker safety. While your application might not demand the utilization of a metal hose, still the overall versatility that is made available with this hose material is handy at several instances.

Flex hoses are common components of industrial cleaning and testing systems. They conduct fluid, gas, or vapor safely from one system to another.

Choosing the right flex hose is a science in itself, as there are different types of flex hoses. It’s also important to know what areas of concern to look for before and during installation. If the cover, body, or fittings of the flex hose are damaged, it could lead to disaster once the system is turned on and the process media begins to flow through it.

In this article, we’ll help you understand flex hoses, their differences, and what to look for to determine if a flex hose is safe to use.

What Are The Types Of Flex Hoses And Their Differences?

Flex hoses come in two basic varieties: nonmetallic and metallic.

Nonmetallic Hose

A nonmetallic hose consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene (or some other flexible elastomeric material) pressure carrier tube. The tube is reinforced by fabric or wire braiding, with metal end fittings that are attached by mechanical means such as swaging or crimping.

An elastomeric material is simply a material that has rubber-like properties and is somewhat elastic. This allows it to flex without losing its shape. It also comes with a high tear resistance, which is ideal for flex hoses since it ensures that the hose won’t come apart easily.

Finally, elastomeric materials are highly resistant to water and corrosion - two qualities that you want to see in a hose, particularly if fluid passes through it.

Metallic Hose

A metal hose consists of a flexible metal pressure carrier tube surrounded by an outer layer of wire braid (some low pressure metal hoses don’t utilize an outer layer of wire braid). The flexible metal pressure carrier tube and the wire braid are attached to the hose end fittings by welding, silver soldering, or brazing.

Some metal hoses used for cryogenic applications are constructed with an inner and outer flexible metal tube, with a vacuum in the space between.

Which One Should You Use?

The nature of the application will determine whether you need a nonmetallic or metallic flex hose. For example, if the application involves extreme temperatures or aggressive chemicals, a metal hose will generally hold up better than any other kind. An expert in this field, like Precision Fabricating & Cleaning (PFC), will be able to recommend the appropriate type.

Areas Of Concern When Using Flex Hoses

Whenever you’re planning to use flex hoses, there are three main areas of concern that you should be aware of and that a cleaning and testing company will look for before the installation process. These three areas are pressure rating, inspection, and restraint.

Pressure Rating

PFC looks at the pressure ratings of flex hoses to ensure that they will stand up to the rigorous pressures demanded by the application.

There are three types of pressure ratings that must be checked.

• Maximum Working Pressure: Also referred to as “maximum allowable working pressure” or “MAWP,” this rating indicates the maximum operating pressure to which the hose should be subjected.
• Maximum Proof (Hydrostat) Pressure: This rating is the maximum test pressure to which the hose should be subjected. It is established at 150% of the Maximum Working Pressure with the hose installed straight.
• Nominal Design Burst Pressure: This is the pressure at which the hose can be expected to rupture, based on the minimum annealed ultimate tensile strength of the braid wire and corrugated hose alloys at 70˚ F with the hose installed straight.

Inspection

Next, the flex hoses must undergo an inspection. In general, the inspection involves the following steps:

1. Visually inspect sealing surfaces for damage.
2. Manually check mechanical connections for freedom of movement.
3. Visually inspect the entire outer surface for damaged fittings, kinks, broken braid, flattened areas, soft spots, cover cracks, or other areas of degradation.

Inspecting the flex hose is extremely important. Performing this step allows the inspector to discover defects or damage that could impair the hose’s ability to function properly. Finding these problem areas also helps protect the humans who work near the flex hose from getting hurt, as it preempts a potential tear or rupture from occurring.

During our inspection, PFC will look for defects such as kinks or flat areas in the hose, damage to the hose cover, and cover blisters. Cover blisters can rupture over time as they are exposed to environmental factors, such as heat and pressure, thus creating a leak.

Below are some of the other conditions we inspect for.

• Damaged Fittings: This includes any damage to the fittings that could prevent it from operating as intended (threads damaged, swivel does not work, excessive corrosion, etc.)
• Stiffness or Hardness of the Hose: As a hose ages and is exposed to sunlight, ozone, extreme temperatures, or chemicals, it can lose some of its resiliency and become stiff and hard. When flexed, a stiffened hose can crack, leading to a catastrophic failure. To check for stiffness, we flex the hose throughout its entire length.
• Changes in Color: Changes in the color of the hose may indicate chemical attack. They could also be the result of ozone exposure or simply age. We examine the entire hose length for any evidence of changes in color.

Restraint

Finally, flex hoses that are over 2 ft in length and pressurized at 150 psi or higher must be restrained at either end with an approved restraining device. They shouldn’t just be wrapped around a pipe or tied into a knot.

This is an area where hiring an expert comes in particularly handy, as they will know the proper method for securing the flex hose.

For more information, please visit PTFE Hose.

PFC Inspects All Flex Hoses During Cleaning and Testing Services