SAE Thread - What Is It?
The SAE thread is a standard developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the United States. It is used in the automotive, hydraulic, and refrigeration industries. SAE threads are measured in inches. In our offer, they are available in sizes 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 5/8".
SAE threads are particularly popular in refrigeration applications using freon or other refrigerants, as well as in air conditioning systems and heat pumps. They are also commonly used in hydraulic systems of machines, vehicles, and fuel systems.
SAE Threaded Nipples for Soldering to Gas Heat Exchangers - What Are They For?
Soldering nipples for heat exchangers are used to create tight connections between the heat exchanger and an installation requiring an SAE thread, making them a natural choice for gas heat exchangers functioning as condensers, such as in heat pumps. They allow for easy and durable pipe connections to the heat exchanger ports through soldering. These nipples typically have two ends:
- One end is smooth and designed to be soldered to a copper or steel pipe, ensuring a permanent and tight connection to the gas-to-water heat exchanger, which provides the best connection for refrigerant use.
- The other end features an external SAE thread, enabling secure connections.
Using nipples in heat exchangers facilitates installation, removal, and maintenance of the system while ensuring proper sealing and resistance to pressure and temperature.
Compatibility of Nipples with BSP Threads in Nordic Tec Liquid-to-Liquid Heat Exchangers
The nipples and adapters offered in this product category are dimensionally compatible with our classic liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers. The nipple tubes are well-matched to the internal diameters of our BSP threads. The soldering gap is small enough to allow for efficient soldering.
However, it is important to note that liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers should not be used with gaseous media, such as freon, or as condensers in heat pumps. The possibility of using nipples with an SAE thread should not be interpreted as approval for use with gaseous media—only the Nordic Tec Ba-26-F and Ba-68-F product series are pressure-certified for such applications.
How to Select Soldering Nipples for Gas-to-Water Heat Exchangers?
Choosing the right nipples for Nordic Tec gas-to-water heat exchangers is very simple:
This choice depends on the size of the exchanger’s gas-side tube, which is factory-installed. The size of the other side, i.e., the SAE thread, is independent of the heat exchanger and should be chosen according to the specifics of the system in which the exchanger will be used.
