In the world of industrial fittings, piping, and hardware, there’s a lot of jargon, and a whole lot of terms you might not understand as an outsider.

Camlock fittings. SS ball valves. Tri clamp fittings. You get the picture - and this article will take an in-depth look at the latter of these.

What Are Tri Clamp Fittings Used for?

Tri clamp fittings are central in many ways to the manufacturing processes that go on behind the scenes, particularly in the food, beverage, brewing, and pharmaceutical industries in which sanitary fittings are critical to preventing contamination, and also to the production of clean quality products.

Obviously, at certain stages during the production process (regardless of the minute details) raw materials need to get from one place to another. This entails the use of piping, valves, filters, and tri clamp fittings are used to connect them all together.

To put it simply, a tri clamp fitting is a special fitting that makes it possible to connect two lines together or to connect to a valve, tank or other piece of equipment. They allow for the sturdy connection of these components and also enable them to be disassembled for cleaning or for service.

 Tri Clover cap reducers and conical reducers allow for the connection of varying diameters in a sanitary application. For instance, if you have a 6 inch pipe that needs to be connected to the inlet of a 4 inch end point - you will require a tri clamp reducer.

Basically, these fittings consist of three main parts: two ferrule flange ends, with a clamp (hence the name), along with a seal (also called a gasket) that ensures the fitting does not allow any leaks, or an ingress from the outside.

Tri clamp fittings are extremely versatile and come apart for easy cleaning, which can help improve maintenance and sterilization protocols that are necessary in the industries in which they are used. They also allow for parts to be removed if for service or replacements.

It is also important to recognize that these fittings include valves, caps, ferrules,extension tubes, elbows, tees, and a variety of other fittings and components. Tri clover valves are used to control the flow of materials through a system and are considered a tri clamp fitting.

How Do They Work?

As described in the previous section, tri clamp fittings consist of two ferrules, a clamp, and a gasket, which must be properly installed between them.

Proper installation of these fittings, in order to ensure a good seal and a sanitary, secure connection, is vital.

To do so, the two ferrules (ends) of the fitting must be mated together. The gasket that seals them must be seated between the two ferrules properly. Then, the connection can be secured in place with the clamp, which must be tightened according to whatever standing protocols are necessary to ensure a proper connection.

Before the clamp is tightened, it is imperative to make sure that the gasket is properly installed and seated correctly. It is likely that the majority of leaks in these types of fittings are caused by a preventable oversight with respect to seating the gasket.

Generally, the clamps that secure these fittings should be tightened by hand and not mechanical means. The reason for this is that overtightening can damage the ferrules or even force the gasket into the pipeline, compromising the seal and creating a place where bacteria can accumulate and proliferate.

At the same time, under-tightening can be an equally large concern. If there is any sort of gap between the ferrule and the gasket, the fitting will likely produce a leak, or allow bacteria to enter the system, which could lead to contamination of the production process.

If contamination takes place then a clean-in-place protocol will have to be initiated to thoroughly disinfect and clean the process. Under normal conditions and using these fittings correctly, the system will be kept clean and sanitary.

Tri Clamp Fittings vs. Tri Clover Fittings: What’s the Difference?

One thing to clear up here is a distinction between tri clamp fittings and tri clover fittings. These two are exactly the same thing and there is no difference between them. In fact, the term tri clover fitting was actually originally a trademark of a company that produced these fittings. Over time, the trademark stuck as a generic term (that’s good branding!) and now some people call this entire class of fittings tri clover fittings.

Fitting, Sizing and Pressure Rating

When selecting a tri clamp fitting to be used in a specific setting, the sizing, pressure and temperature ratings are important considerations that must be made to ensure suitability.

The gasket and pipe must be identical in size, and to measure this, you need two specific and equally important metrics: inner diameter, or ID, and outer diameter, or OD.

The inner diameter must be exactly the same as the pipe, and the configuration without respect to outer diameter should also correspond in order to make sure there is even compression, with no voids or room for ingress or egress.

It is equally important to consider the temperature and pressure rating of one of these fittings. Regardless of the size or material of any tri clamp fitting, the gasket will almost always be the weakest component, which brings up another consideration.

Gasket Material Considerations

There are many materials from which gaskets are made, but among the most common are silicone, EDPM, Viton, and PTFE. Each of these has its own unique attributes, advantages, and disadvantages.

Silicone is one of the most popular materials for the manufacturing of gaskets, and not only in this capacity. It is highly flexible even at extremely low temperatures, but it also offers excellent resistance to high temperatures. Silicone is also inert, meaning that it will not react with chemicals in the system.

EDPM, or ethylene propylene diene monomer, gaskets, like silicone, are highly flexible and have a wide operating temperature range. EPDM is also resistant to UV, ozone, and aging.

Viton is a trade name for a class of fluoroelastomers produced by DuPont; it is a synthetic rubber that also offers a wide operating range with respect to temperature. It is also one of the most chemical-resistant of all elastomers.

PTFE, also commonly referred to as Teflon, is a synthetic polymer that exhibits excellent resistance to high temperatures. It also is chemically-resistant and corrosion-resistant, and for what it’s worth offers good electrical and thermal insulation.

When selecting a tri clamp fitting for a given application, it is critical that a suitable gasket with the appropriate mechanical and chemical properties is used in order to ensure that it can withstand the operating conditions.

Proflow Dynamics Is Your Source for High-Quality Tri Clamp Fittings

Whether you’re looking for high-quality tri clamp fittings, ball valves, or camlock fittings, we have what you need. Take a look through our full collection and contact us at Sales@ProflowDynamics.com if you have any questions about parts, materials, or specifications before ordering.