Which fitting is commonly used to change the direction of pipe flow?

The elbow fitting is specifically designed to change the direction of pipe flow, allowing pipes to navigate around obstacles or to transition from one plane to another. This fitting typically comes in various angles, such as 90 degrees or 45 degrees, which correspond to the angle of direction change desired in the piping system. Using an elbow fitting is vital in practical applications, as it enables efficient routing of fluid flow without causing undue pressure loss or turbulence, which could occur if pipes were simply extended straight.

In contrast, other fitting types serve different functions: a screwed tee fitting is primarily used to create a branch connection in a piping system, a reducing fitting decreases the diameter of the pipe to accommodate different pipe sizes, and a cap fitting is designed to seal the end of a pipe. Each of these fittings plays a crucial role in plumbing and piping systems but does not fulfill the specific function of altering flow direction as effectively as the elbow fitting does.