A flange is a device that is useful for connecting two pipes. It can also help connect the pipe to a choke, valve, tee, or other equipment to form a piping system.
The flanges are pipeline elements that allow the assembly of the parts. It is an element supplied as a separate part or a part attached from the factory to an element such as a pump, valve, or another.
The flange is a type of coupling that can join two lines together with the help of gaskets and bolts in between them. The flange is not something that will individually make the joint. Instead, it can be described as the combination of two flanges or the bolting of two flanges. There would be a gasket in between these flanges.
The gasket between the flanges would give the bolts and seal a force required to seat the gasket and hold the joint together. The flange provides the surface for the gasket to seal and carry the applied force around the gasket. The joint may allow easy reassembly and removal or piping of components.
Flange characteristics
There are a few characteristics of flanges. These include:
# Holes are drilled accurately in the flange for easy assembly.
# The spot facing would ensure the seating of the fasteners
# To obtain maximum strength, the grain flow is controlled
# Unrestricted flow is obtained by accurate and smooth bore
# Good welding is facilitated by machined land and bevel
# To ensure true alignments, all faces are machined within tolerances
Uses of flanges
The need for flanges is increasing every day. Flanges are used for many industrial applications and are one of the best coupling methods to join two pipes. A flange would work properly if the components of the flange function in the right manner.
Flanged joints are useful for the ease of maintenance. Flanges are used when the joints need to dismantle. Specific pipeline maintenance needs it frequently, so the breakout flanges are useful at definite intervals on pipelines.
Need for a gasket in the valve and pipeline
A malleable gasket that could be hard or soft is inserted between the flanges to prevent leaks. Pressure is applied to the gasket by bolting or using a clamp to compress the gasket firmly at a place. The gaskets are made with different materials and can be selected per the process’s temperature and characteristics.
Gaskets are used in a valve to help prevent leakage in the closure mechanism. It also helps to prevent the leakage of fluid into the atmosphere. It is useful in the valves that allow the function of internal mechanisms. It depends on the separate fluid chambers like the pressure balance trim.
Types of flanges
There are different types of flanges for piping. These include:
Weld neck flanges
The flange type is attached to the pipe by butt welding. These flanges are used for critical services. It is suitable to handle extreme temperatures and pressure because of these features. The flanges are useful mostly for refinery and petrochemical plants. The bores of both the flange and pipe match and it would reduce the erosion and turbulence inside the pipeline.
Slip-on flange
The flange is slipped over the pipe and gets a fillet welded. There will be two kinds of fillet welds, and these welds are at the outside and inside of the flange. The flange connection type is quite fragile compared to the weld neck flange.
Socket weld flange
It is the type of flange bored only at one side. These flanges are helpful for only small-bore lines. The bore of the pipe and bore are the same. Thus it possesses a good flow characteristic. The flange type will be welded to the ID of the pipe and counter board slightly larger than the OD of the pipe. It allows the pipe to be welded and inserted in place.
Threaded flanges
These flanges are made of steel and are useful for special applications. The main advantage of this flange is that you can connect it to the pipe without welding. However, in specific cases, a seal weld is useful in conjunction with the threaded connection.
Blind flanges
These flanges are useful to close the ends that need reopening later. In addition, the flanges are used to blank off the ends of pressure vessel openings, valves, and piping.
The construction of these flanges is done without a bore, from the standpoint of bolt loading and internal pressure. The blind flanges, which come in a larger size, are the most highly stressed flange types.
Lap joint flanges
The type of flange useful in the stub ends when piping costs much. The flanges are cost-effective; the stub must match the flange and pipe in an expensive pipe like stainless steel. The flange can be made of cheap carbon steel material.
Long weld neck flange
The type of flange is similar to the weld neck flanges, and one difference is that their neck is extended and acts as a boring extension. The flange is mostly used on barrels, columns, and vessels.
Orifice flanges
The flanges are useful when an orifice plate or flow nozzle needs an installation. Pairs of pressure tapings are machined into the orifice flanges. Thus it makes separate tappings or carriers in the pipe walls.
Whether you need weld neck flanges, blind flanges, or any other more specialized option, finding something that works well for you must not be tough. At Texas Flange, you get to take a look at different options here.