What is a Pipe Spool?

Introduction to Pipe Spool

Imagine a building being constructed in a populated area. It can be in the middle of the city and along the road. Setting up the piping system, welding components, and fabrication will require space. But you don’t have any space for piping fabrication.

In such cases, the pipe spool comes in handy. It comprises pre-built pipes with elbows, tees, flanges, or valves. These components are welded together and are ready to install. The engineer uses such pre-built systems and installs them on the project site.

In this way, engineers won’t have to set up all the pipes and components in the construction site. It saves time and requires no space in the working area. The engineers make the pipe spool in a controlled environment. Once created, they transport the pipe spool to the working site and install it.

I used the example of construction work. The pipe spool is very effective in many situations. These include chemical plants, refineries, pipelines, and offshore platforms. It is also used in the transportation of crude oil and water.

Components of a Pipe Spool

A pipe spool is a collection of smaller pieces that are joined together. But I would consider it a complete system for piping. The reason is that it involves almost all the components that a piping system requires. Here is the list of pipe spool components:

• Pipes: Every pipe spool consists of multiple pipes. They act as significant pillars and transport liquid glasses, etc. 
• Elbow & Tees: Both of these are vital components. They are used when changing the direction of pipes is required. If the pipe is straight, and you need a 90-degree angle to the right, these elbows and tees are handy.
• Reducers: They are used when the merging of two pipes is required. They change the diameters of pipes and ensure that the necessary flow of liquid is maintained.
• Couplers and Crosses: Couplers connect two ends of the pipes. If you need a more extended pipe spool, a coupler connects the pipes. The crosses offer multiple branching points in the system to spread the pipes in different directions.
• Flanges: Flat, circular plates that join pipe spools to other spools. They provide a reliable method for connecting and disconnecting sections of the piping system. 
• Valve & Hangers: They are used in almost every house. Their purpose is to start, stop, or reduce the fluid flow speed. Apart from these, the hangers are also used in the pipe spool. They are structural elements that stabilize and support the piping system.

All these components are joined together according to needs and requirements. The advantage of the pipe spool is that the attachment of the components is done in a controlled environment. Once ready, they are transported to the actual workplace, where they are installed.

What Is Pipe Spool Fabrication?

Spool fabrication is making and assembling the components to make the pipe spool. It is the process done in controlled or favorable conditions in specialized places. There are different steps involved in the processing of the pipe spool fabrication.

Mainly, it includes joining the pipe spool’s different components. The pipe spool fabrication is considered very cost-effective. Once the fabrication finishes, the pipe spool goes on-site to be installed.

Process of Pipe Spool Fabrication

Fabrication is a complex process. It requires multiple steps to complete. The pipe components are welded and assembled. Follow are the steps that fabricators go through:

• Design and Engineering
• Cutting and Bending
• Assembly and Welding
• Inspection and Testing
• Surface Treatment for corrosion-resistant

All the above steps are vital for successful fabrication. The engineers use two primary methods for making the pipe spools. Those are as follows:

• Spool Roll Fitting and Welding: The rolling machine is used for this method. It rotates the pipe. It becomes more accessible for the workers to weld the pipes from different positions. It ensures safe and reliable pipe spooling.
• Spool Position Fitting and Welding: Machine involvement is minimal in this method of pipe spool fabrication. The workers must move around the pipe and do the fitting and welding process. It is important to note that this process takes longer to complete and is also tiring for the workers. 

Almost all the pipe spools get rusty over time. They are not prone to it. Therefore, the manufacturer applies a coat of paint or epoxy. This coating ensures the pipes resist rust, corrosion, and moisture attack.

Pipe Spooling Applications

As I said earlier, the pipe spool fabrication requires time and space. So, all those industries that lack space use pipe spooling. In the section below, I’ll mention some applications of pipe spools.

• The water plants that supply water to different areas also use this method.
• Power plants also use this piping method to transport other fluids.
• The oil, gasses, and petrochemical plants usually use pipe spooling. Almost all the offshore companies use this method. It helps them install the piping system quickly and get the job done.
• The pipe spool is used in the air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Usually, large buildings need more space for on-site line and pipe setup. So, using pipe spooling is suitable.
• All construction work happening in the cities utilizes pipe spooling. It helps the constructors arrange large spaces for piping. The ready-made pipes make their lives easier.
• In marine and mining work, the pipe spool proved to be effective. However, this work requires a resistant and robust piping system. It does not degrade over time due to moisture. Thanks to excellent rust-resistant coating.

Conclusion

Pipe spools have undoubtedly made lives easier for manufacturers and engineers. They are an easy, cost-effective, and quick method for setting up a piping system. Many modern small to large industries prefer using pipe spooling.

In this guide, I have explained the pipe spool in detail. From its fabrication to application, everything is discussed.