Why choose metal hose: A proven reliable choice for demanding environments

Metal hoses are the obvious choice for high temperatures, high pressures and challenging working conditions. With a fully sealed construction and pleated inner tube, metal hose offers a durable and flexible solution in everything from the chemical industry to energy and process plants. Thanks to its durable construction, the metal hose is able to absorb oscillations, noise, vibrations and movements between systems - which not only reduces wear and tear but also contributes to a more stable and reliable process.

In this post, we show why metal hose is a flexible and reliable choice - with examples from the food industry where the right solution ensured temperature control in chocolate transportation.

When is metal hose suitable?

Metal hoses are used in applications where high demands are placed on temperature resistance, compressive strength, chemical resistance and motion absorption. They are found in a wide range of industries - from the chemical industry to energy and process plants - and are used for both liquids and gases.

Mainstream media include:

• Hot water and water vapor
• Het oil
• Compressed air and oxygen
• Aggressive chemicals
• High pressure gases

Thanks to its dense and flexible construction, the metal hose also acts as a vibration damper and motion compensator, contributing to a more stable operating environment and reduced wear on surrounding system components.

Technical characteristics and structure

The performance of a metal hose is influenced by several design elements. Among the most crucial is the geometry of the waveform, i.e. wave height, wave thickness and wave spacing - which together determine the flexibility of the hose.

If high flexibility is required, for example, a denser and thinner wave profile is used. At the same time, the wall thickness and any braiding need to be dimensioned to withstand the current working pressure.

Summarizing factors:

• Material selection: ensures chemical and thermal resistance
• Wave height & distance: affects bending radius and flexibility
• Wall thickness: determines compressive strength
• Re-braiding: reinforces the hose for high pressure applications

The importance of installation for longevity

The technical advantages of metal hoses are only fully realized with proper installation. Parameters such as frequency of movement, bending angles and installation conditions have a major impact on the life of the hose.

To consider when installing:

• Correct sizing based on pressure, temperature and movement patterns
• Avoid torque - use swivels if necessary
• Consider direction of expansion in case of thermal impact
• Support longer hoses to avoid stress on connections

When installed correctly, the metal hose can offer a long and maintenance-free service life - resulting in increased reliability and reduced total costs.

Real life example: Double coated chocolate snake

A producer in the food industry turned to us with a problem in the production line: the chocolate was solidifying during transportation to the filling station. To ensure a liquid state, a solution was needed that could maintain a consistent and controlled temperature throughout the process.

Solution:
Based on the customer's drawing, we developed a double-coated metal hose, where an inner tube transports the chocolate and an outer jacket circulates hot water. By adjusting the temperature of the water, the customer could ensure that the chocolate maintained the right consistency all the way to filling.

Results:

• Elimination of downtime linked to temperature loss
• Constant product temperature
• Improving product quality