PC-JUL23-PG20-21.1_Layout 1 17/07/2023 14:17 Page 20
PUMPS, VALVES & ACTUATORS THE RISKS OF INTERMIXING AND
INTERCHANGING COMPONENTS Intermixing and interchanging parts from different manufacturers to save money can lead to expensive repairs down the road, says Jon Kestner, Senior Product Line Manager, Swagelok Company. He says sourcing your tube fittings from a single supplier helps optimise component performance
ach fluid or analytical instrumentation system is only as good as the components that comprise it. Multiple components must work together for operations to continue running at peak performance. If one part in a tube fitting, for example, is not functioning properly, leaks can occur, leading to possible safety concerns. You must fix such leaks promptly, which can result in unplanned system downtime, as well as lost production and profits.
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metallurgic properties, geometry, and tolerances may be different
To help prevent such performance lapses, it’s best to source your system components from a single manufacturer. If anyone suggests that you should intermix and interchange components with those from another manufacturer, be wary: using components from different manufacturers in the same system could put workers at unnecessary risk due to potential material incompatibilities and different product manufacturing tolerances (Figure 1). Here’s why the practice of intermixing and interchanging tube fittings from different manufacturers can result in poor fluid system performance, as well as increased safety risks and downtime.
Intermixing and interchanging tube fitting components are not the same (Figure 2), so defining each action is important for a full understanding of what practices to avoid: • Intermixing occurs when tube fitting components, including the nuts, ferrules, and bodies from two or more manufacturers are mixed together and then assembled to make a completed fitting. • Interchanging occurs when a tube fitting from one manufacturer that has been installed on a piece of tubing is then disassembled, and the original tubing, nut, and ferrules are then reassembled into a tube fitting body from another manufacturer. Since there is not an industry-wide commercial design standard for tube fittings, each supplier adheres to its own
• Improper functionality or leaks due to overtightening the nut • Permanent deformation of fitting components because of cyclic loading, which could lead to fatigue failure • Incomplete or ineffective seals due to the use of different swaging mechanisms, combined with variable material hardness and tolerances
Figure 2
design standards and processes. The result is that each component from one manufacturer is potentially different from the identical component from every other manufacturer. Those differences can be incremental or significant.
Even so, some manufacturers suggest their components can work with any brand and promote the potential cost savings you could realise by intermixing fitting components. However, tube fitting components from different manufacturers are not designed to work together. An intermixed or interchanged fitting is essentially a new, unknown design. As a result, intermixing components can lead to system failures, eliminating any savings that may be accrued up front.
Some sort of failure is likely, as intermixing or interchanging tube fittings can cause the following issues:
• Seals that are inconsistent because torque values, design, and construction do not align
• Seals that are incompatible because 20 JULY/AUGUST 2023 | PROCESS & CONTROL
All these potential performance problems can lead to unforeseen costs and put workers at risk from exposure to industrial fluids. It’s also important to note that using components from two different manufacturers could leave you without a warranty, which can be costly if and when issues arise (Figure 3). Many worldwide fluid systems standards warn strongly against intermixing or interchanging tube fittings. One such standard, the IOGP JIP-33, aims to improve the specification, procurement, and delivery of oil and gas equipment. In the text of the standard, it specifically states that tube fitting intermix and interchange are “bad engineering practices.” ASTM F1387 also prohibits intermixing or interchanging tube fittings.
To avoid problems, you should source your
tube fittings from a single reputable supplier with the necessary experience. If all the parts come from the same supplier, there will be no chance for the accidental combination of parts from different manufacturers by installation technicians.
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