A brief guide to pipe flanges

A Brief Guide to Pipe Flanges

The Flange is an external or internal rim for strength, as the flange is made up of iron beam such as I­beams or a T­beam, or it is widely used for attachment to another object as the flange on the end of the pipe, steam cylinder, etc. The flange is also used for a sort of tool, which is used to form flanges. The pipes can be assembled & dissembled very easily.

In order to form a rim at the end of the pipe, a flange can also be a plate or ring when fastened off the pipe, for instance, a closet flange. The blind flange is the plate for covering or closing the end of the pipe. The flange is a connection of pipes in that the connecting pipes have flanges by which the parts are latched jointly. The word­ flange is generally referred to the actually raised rim or lip of a fitting, and so many flanges plumbing fittings, which are known as “flanges”. The most commonly flanges that are used in plumbing are the Surrey flange, York flange that is used to fit at the top of the hot water tank that is allowing all the water to be taken without disturbance to the tank. These are also used to ensure an even flow of water to the showers.

Pipe Flanges The Flange suppliers India, there are numerous types of pipe flange standards to be found across the world. In order to allow easy functionality as well as interchangeability, which are designed to have standard dimensions. The common world standards include ANSI/ASME, BS10, etc. There are so many forms of pipe flanges that are used in the piping systems depending upon the PT rating, fluid, the material of construction, connecting type, etc. Here are the types of flanges used in piping based on facing­ • • • • •

Flat­Face (FF) Flanges Raised­Face (RF) Flanges Male­Female (MF) Face Flanges Tongue­Groove Face Flanges Ring­Type Joint (RTJ) Flanges

Flat­Face (FF) Flanges­ This kind of flanges is used when the counter flanges are of “flat­ face”. They are chiefly used at the connection to cast­iron equipment, valves & specialties.

This sort of flange has a gasket surface in the same plane as the bolting circle face.

Raised­Face (RF) Flanges­ The pipe flanges are most commonly using one. The thickness of RF flanges for 150# and 300# are enclosed in the specified range thickness as well as for higher rating that they are not included in the flange thickness.

Male­Female (MF) Face Flanges­ This kind of flanges are a better version of RF (Raised­ Face) flanges.

Tongue­Groove Face Flanges­ These flanges are one the most reliable kind of flange joint, nevertheless, that are expensive as compared to other flanges.

Ring­Type Joint (RTJ) Flanges­ This category is one of the most reliable kinds of flange joint, however, they are costlier than others. It is commonly used in high­pressure and/or high­temperature services above 800 degrees F (427 degrees C).

Pipe Joint Methods & Classification The Flange joint is one of the methods of pipe joints. The Pipe Flanges are used at places where instruments, piping, equipment, valves, etc., which are required to be dismantled for maintenance. This is an assembly of three different components such as gaskets, flanges & boltings brought together in a proper manner with the help of some external sources. The specialized measures will be considered in selection & application of each component of the joints in order to achieve acceptable leak tightness.

Normally, the flanges are made up of forging only in some cases that it can be fabricated from plates by flanges manufacturers India. Only Blind flanges & reducing flange can be fabricated from a weldable quality plates in ASME B16.5. Here are the most commonly used flange materials that are as below: ASTM A105­ Forged Carbon Steel ASTM A350­ Forged Alloy Steel for Low­Temperature Services ASTM A181­ Forged Carbon Steel for General Purpose ASTM A182­ Forged Alloy Steel and Stainless Steel

Diverse Methods of Classification of Pipe Flanges are: Pipe Flanges based on Pipe Attachment­ There is one way to classify flanges is that their kind of attachments to the pipe­ • • • • • • •

Socket­Weld Flanges Slip­on Flanges Lap­Joint Flanges Blind Flanges Reducing Flanges Welding neck Flanges Threaded Flanges

Pipe Flanges based on PT (Pressure­Temperature) Rating­ That is based on PT rating the flanges are classified as 150#, 300#, 400#, 600#, 900# 1500#, 2500# The PT rating charts are specified in ASME B16.5 that specify the working pressure that a flange can withstand at a particular temperature by flange suppliers India. Well, the indicated pressure class of 150# & 300# and so on, that is the basic ratings. The flanges can withstand higher pressure at lower temperatures.

ASME B16.5­ it indicates the allowable pressure for diverse materials of construction at diverse temperature.

Pipe Flanges based on Facing­ Diverse range of flanges facing used in the pipe system, depending on the fluid, material of construction, PT rating, connection equipment, etc., by flanges manufacturers India.

• • • • •

RTJ (Ring­Type Joint) Flanges RF (Raised­Face) Flanges Male­Female (M/F) Faces Flanges Flat Face Flanges Tongue­groove (T/G) Flanges

Pipe Flanges based on Face Finish­ Stock Finish­ This kind of flanges is used with non­metal gaskets. The allowable roughness for this kind of flanges is 250­500 or 500­1000 micro inch AARH. Extra Smooth Finish­ This kind of flanges is used with metal RTJ & T/G flanges. However, the maximum allowable roughness for this kind of flange is 63 micro inch AARH. Smooth/Serrated Finish­ It is used with metal or spiral wound gaskets. The allowable roughness are 125­250 micro inch AARH. Pipe Flanges based on Serrations­ Spiral Serrations­ It is generally used type serrations.

Concentric Serrations­ It is used where the conveying fluid is highly flammable or toxic or lower molecular weight gas.

Components Used in Piping Systems An assembly of various components that put together with a proper ways of joints is called as piping systems. The different components put together are defined as the components of the piping. Designed for withstanding the operating & design conditions specified in the process parameters. The components in piping systems are used as: Pipe, Pipe Fittings, Gaskets, Flanges, Valves, Boltings and Specialties.

Types of Pipe are: Welded, Seamless, Forged & Bored, Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, Low­ Alloy Steel and Low­Temperature Carbon Steel.

Diverse Methods of Pipe Joints: Socket­Weld, Flanged, Screwed, Butt­weld and Spigot Socket.