What is a composite hose?

29 Apr.,2024

 

What Is A Composite Hose? Three Reasons To Use ...

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January 29th, 2021

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JRE Staff

What Is A Composite Hose? Three Reasons To Use Composite Hose

A composite hose is a variation of the hosepipe and is made from multiple layers of spirally-wrapped materials. It can be customized to serve different functions in various applications because of its versatile and adaptable nature.

In the composite hose, the materials are wrapped together in a single tube. The thermoplastic film or other fabrics are bound together by a metal inner and a second wire spiral, helix. This gives it a firm structure and makes it pressure resistant.

Composite hoses are light in structure and have great flexibility, which makes them ideal for industrial use. The multipurpose benefit it serves makes it cost-efficient. Composite hoses have a sturdy build; they are robust and also very safe to use. It also has a very durable shelf life, which gives it an extra edge over other hoses. Moreover, it can be produced quickly, which makes it a preferable choice in the industries.

Three Reasons To Use A Composite Hose

1. Flexibility

In the composite hose, the spirally-wound metal inner and outer wires give it great strength and flexibility. This helps to endure and maintain the hose integrity under great pressure during shipping and barging. The composite hose slide layers easily over the other layers, which gives it a great bend radius.

2. Chemical Resistance

The composite hoses find varied and extensive usage in the chemical industries to transfer different chemicals. As the hose is made of different chemicals, made of polypropylene, Teflon, and nylon, the composite hoses the best choice for such purposes.

Composite hoses are customizable and can be changed accordingly to accommodate the toxic chemicals. Hence, because of its capacity to handle a great variety of chemicals, it offers a high safety factor as well as a safe falling design.

Hence, composite hoses are the most adaptable choice in the chemical industries. It finds extensive use in the transfer operations.

3. Complete Safety

A composite hose is designed to be “fail-safe.” The multiple plastic layers used in this hose makes it very safe. It is fail-safe in two areas:

a) The Hose

A composite hose is made of multiple tube layers and films, because of which there is no direct leak path for liquid to follow. For the occurrence of a leak, this liquid should serpentine its path via the multiple layers of the hose through which it reaches the outer cover. Once the liquid comes to the outer cover, small droplets will form on the seam line, indicating a leak. In case a leak happens, other types of hose are vulnerable because it can collapse easily. The walls of the hose are susceptible to ruptures, and this creates extensive failure in such hoses.

b) The End Fitting

In a composite hose, the end fittings are designed in a particular manner to remain fail-safe. This minimizes the probability of the end fittings blowing off. The fittings have a special spiral shank or a tailpiece that is screwed into the composite hose. Hence, in a composite hose, these portions need to be unscrewed for the end fittings to blow out. The screw at the end of the hose, fitted into the combination, gives it a safety valve. Hence, a composite hose is the safest option for usage in industries.

To Conclude:

A composite hose is one of the most adaptable choices for industrial operations. Owing to its flexible structure, composite hose can be customized for various use. It also offers complete safety and operational efficiency.

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What is a Composite Hose: Benefits, Types & Applications

Composite hose is manufactured from multiple layers of thermoplastic fabrics & films that are spirally wrapped and supported by internal & external wire helices. The multiple material layers make the structure of the hose firm, thus making it pressure-resistant. The high-grade material used to make composite hoses also provides greater safety. The composite hose is excellent for transferring fluids and provides exceptional flexibility. This makes it an ideal choice for a range of applications and uses.

Below let’s check out the different types of composite hoses and the general benefits of composite hoses.

Find the Perfect Composite Hose for Your Needs

A] Types of Composite Hoses

At Aeroflex, we use fabric, films, and wires of varying materials to manufacture composite hoses, depending upon the application or special customer requirement. The three types of composite hose offered by us are:

1. Hydrocarbons (oil & petroleum): GGE composite hoses are designed specially to fulfil the purpose of transferring hydrocarbon products. In this type of composite hose, the internal & external wire spiral is made with galvanised steel, while the inner lining is made of polypropylene. The overall cover is made of PVC, and the maximum length of the coil stretches to 30 meters. Aeroflex’s GGE composite hose works best between temperatures ranging from -30˚C to +100˚C and is ideal for delivery and/or suction of oils or lubricants in cistern trucks, fuels, rail-cars, or fixed deposits.

2. Chemicals: Composite hoses are highly chemical-resistant, making them well-suited for handling chemicals. Aeroflex offers three different types of composite hoses to transfer chemicals. These flexible hoses are suitable for in-plants & marine applications and loading & unloading of wagons and tank trucks.

    • Aeroflex EGE is used for the delivery and/or aspiration of chemical products with good PP behaviour. This includes alkalis, acids, and solvents found in the non-corrosive environment.
    • Aeroflex SST is used for the delivery and/or aspiration of highly corrosive chemicals, compatible with PTFE and stainless steel. This includes nitric acid, phosphoric acid and naphtha.
  • Aeroflex SGT is used for the delivery and/or aspiration of chemical products that don’t have good behaviour with PP. This includes some types of solvents and acids, for instance, Toluene (found in non-corrosive environments).

3. Cryogenics (LPG & LNG): “Cryogenic” means ‘producing or related to low temperatures.’ All cryogenic liquids are extremely cold, and a range of low-temperature fluids such as liquefied gases can be transferred using this hose.

Both LPG hose and LNG hose offered by Aeroflex is made from multilayer polymers and spirals in 316L stainless steel.

    • The LPG hose supports cryogenic products at temperatures up to -50˚C with working pressure up to 25 bar. This hose is used for charge-discharge of liquefied petroleum or ammonia gas in wagons, trucks and marine applications.
  • The LNG hose supports cryogenic products at temperatures up to -196˚C with working pressure up to 10.5 bar. This hose is used for liquefied natural gas discharge-loading in wagons, trucks and marine applications.

B] Composite Hose Features and Benefits

The primary benefit of the composite hose is its made from multiple materials, unlike single-material stainless steel hoses. Apart from this, the other key features and benefits of composite hose are:

1. Highly Flexible: Since the composite hose is made from a blend of materials, when it is bent or moved, the layers slide over each other, thereby providing a small bend radius, indicating its flexibility.

2. Lightweight: Composite hose is 40% lighter than a rubber hose and 30% lighter than a metal hose. This makes it easy to operate, requiring less labour work, which improves work efficiency.

3. Easy and Safe Handling: The composite hose is resistant to high temperature, pressure, and chemicals. This makes it an ideal hose for handling all kinds of transfers while maintaining safety.

4. Long Shelf-Life: Composite hoses have great tensile strength and offer good sealing performance. They are durable and resistant to corrosion and ageing. All these factors, in turn, lead to a long shelf-life.

5. Cost-effective: The multi-purpose benefit provided by the composite hose makes it cost-effective and efficient to use.

6. High Safety Factors: Composite hoses provide “fail-safe” characteristics via their construction. They help prevent leaks, offers good resistance to pressure and excellent electrical conductivity.

    • Leaks: The multi-layer construction in composite hose prevents leakage as any liquid has to pass through these layers to reach the outer cover. Also, the end fittings are designed to decrease the chances of a fitting blowing off due to leakage.
    • Pressure: They offer good positive and negative resistance to pressure. Also, in cases where the fluid is over-pressured, it won’t immediately burst.
  • Electrical Continuity: This hose maintains a good electrical continuity, ensuring the static is fully discharged. Checking of electrical continuity at regular intervals is recommended for safety purposes.

C] Composite Hose Application Areas

1. Suction and Delivery: A composite hose is highly flexible and can compensate for movement, vibration or misalignment when transferring fluids. This makes it suitable for the suction & delivery of fuels, oils, chemicals, gas, and lubricants.

2. Ship-To-Shore transfer (Jetties, Dockside): Since the Ship-to-Shore operations consist of maritime environmental conditions and rough handling, it requires a robust hose like the composite hose for Ship-to-Shore transfer. The composite hose used for Ship-to-Shore transfer is crafted as per International terminal guidelines.

3. Ship-To-Ship Transfer: Ship-to-Ship operations require reliable hoses designed for offshore maritime environmental conditions. Here, the composite hose is well-suited for the safe transfer of fluids without any hassle.

4. Road and Rail Tanker Transfer: A composite hose is robust yet lightweight, making it easy for road and rail tanker transfer. These hoses are also chemical resistant, so they can seamlessly transfer various chemicals & petroleum products, acids & alkaline in road and rail tankers.

5. In-Plant: Composite hoses are ideal for in-plant transfers, such as transfer from storage tanks, process piping, or tank-to-process handling. Other typical uses of the hose are jumper connection, manifold connection, general transfer and drum filling.

Find the Perfect Composite Hose for Your Needs

Conclusion

The unique construction of composite hoses provides several key benefits such as durability, flexibility, safety, pressure control, ease of operations and handling, among others. This makes it one of the most customisable hoses widely used for varied industrial operations.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website composite hose manufacturer.