Dummy Leg

In piping, a dummy leg for an elbow refers to a short section of pipe attached to an elbow fitting but not serving any direct purpose in terms of fluid flow. Instead, it's typically added for structural support or to accommodate instrumentation, such as temperature or pressure gauges. The dummy leg extends from the elbow at a right angle and is usually capped off at the end. Its length depends on various factors like piping design, space constraints, and instrumentation requirements. Engineers often include dummy legs to provide a stable mounting point for equipment or to facilitate maintenance tasks without interfering with the main flow path. Properly sizing and positioning dummy legs are crucial to ensure the integrity and functionality of the piping system while meeting safety and operational standards.