Reducers used in Piping Industry

Pipelines are not of uniform size and there is requirement of reducing or expanding the lines depending
on process requirement or availability of material. Here comes the importance of a special pipe fitting
called Reducers.
Reducers are most extensively used in piping industry to reduce or expand the straight part of run pipe.
Basically, reducers are available in two styles:
Concentric reducers and
Eccentric reducers.
Concentric Reducers:
As shown in Fig. 1. In this type of reducers area reduction is concentric and center line of the pipe on
bigger end and smaller end remains same. These styles are normally used for vertical lines.

Fig.1: Concentric Reducers

Eccentric Reducers:
As shown in Fig. 2 , in this style of reducer there is an offset in between the center lines of bigger end and
center line of smaller end. This offset or eccentricity will maintain a flat side either on top or on bottom
side.

Fig.2: Eccentric Reducer

This offset or eccentricity can easily be found out by the following equation:
Eccentricity=(Bigger end ID-Smaller end ID)/2
While using this type of reducer the user has the option of orienting the flat side. Usually for horizontal
lines, eccentric reducers are oriented with either the flat side up or down and the same with deviation is
mentioned in isometric.
Normally eccentric reducers with flat side down are preferred for following cases on horizontal lines:
On Sleepers and Piperacks
On lines requiring gravity flow
On pump suction line which handle slurry.
Eccentric reducers with flat side up are used for all pump suction lines (excluding pumps handling
slurry) on horizontal lines. This way one can avoid air getting trapped inside the pipeline during initial
venting through pump casing and will help in avoiding Cavitation.
Depending on end connections of this fitting with straight pipe, reducers are grouped as follows:
Butt Welding reducers: The applicable pressure rating, dimensional and material standards for butt
welding reducers are same as those applicable to butt welding elbows.
Socket welding reducers: As shown in Fig.3. such reducers are available in concentric type only & in
the form of a coupling with one end socket to fit larger diameter pipe and other end socket to fit smaller
diameter pipe. Standards are same as those applicable to socket welding elbows.

Fig.3: Socket Welded Reducers
Screwed reducers: Available only in concentric type and are in the form of coupling having one end to
fit bigger pipe and other end to fit smaller pipe. ASME B16.11 is applicable dimensional standard.
Material standards including pressure ratings are same as of screwed elbows.
Flanged reducers: Their pressure rating, use, material and dimensional standards are same as those
applicable
to flanged elbows. Regardless of reduction their face to face dimensions are governed by the larger pipe
size.