LSAW steel pipe vs SMLS steel pipe

Steel pipes are classified into two main types based on their manufacturing process: Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welding (LSAW) pipes and Seamless (SMLS) pipes. Understanding the differences between these two types is essential for selecting the appropriate pipe for specific applications. Below is a detailed comparison of LSAW and SMLS steel pipes, focusing on their concepts, classifications, manufacturing processes, and applications.

Difference in Concepts

- LSAW Steel Pipe:

LSAW (Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welding) steel pipe is a type of welded steel pipe where the weld seam runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the steel pipe.

- SMLS Steel Pipe:

SMLS (Seamless) steel pipe is made from a single piece of metal with no seams on the surface, also known as seamless steel pipe.

Difference in Classifications

- LSAW Steel Pipe:

Metric electric welded steel pipe

Electric welded thin wall pipe

Transformer cooling oil pipe

- SMLS Steel Pipe:

Hot-rolled pipe

Cold-rolled pipe

Cold-drawn pipe

Extruded pipe

Jacked pipe

According to the cross-sectional shape, seamless steel pipes are divided into two types: round and special-shaped. Special-shaped pipes include square, oval, triangle, hexagonal, melon-shaped, star-shaped, and finned pipes in various complex shapes.

Difference in Manufacturing Process

- LSAW Steel Pipe:

LSAW (Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welding): Method for making straight seam pipes is LSAW, where the edges are welded together using an arc welding process.

- SMLS Steel Pipe:

Seamless steel pipes are manufactured by piercing a solid billet of steel to create a hollow tube. This can be done using methods such as extrusion or rotary piercing.

Difference in Applications

- LSAW Steel Pipe:

Liquid Transportation: Water supply and drainage.

Gas Transportation: Coal gas, steam, liquefied petroleum gas.

Structural Purposes: Piling pipes, bridges, docks, roads, and building structures.

Commonly used in water supply projects, petrochemical industry, chemical industry, electric power industry, agricultural irrigation, and urban construction.

- SMLS Steel Pipe:

Widely used as pipelines for transporting fluids such as oil, natural gas, coal gas, water, and certain solid materials.

Compared to solid steel materials like round steel, seamless steel pipes are lighter in weight when the bending and torsion strength is the same, making them an economical cross-section steel material.

Extensively used in the manufacture of structural parts and mechanical parts, such as oil drill pipes, automobile transmission shafts, bicycle frames, and steel scaffolding used in construction.

Also used to make ring parts.