Definition and Details of Flanges - Types of Flanges

Flange types
As already described before, the most used flange types acc. to ASME B16.5 are: Welding Neck, Slip On, Socket Weld,
Lap Joint, Threaded and Blind flange. Below you will find a short description and definition of each type, completed with
an detailed image.

Welding Neck flange

Welding Neck Flanges are easy to recognize at the long tapered hub, that goes gradually over to the wall thickness from
a pipe or fitting.
The long tapered hub provides an important reinforcement for use in several applications involving high pressure, subzero and / or elevated temperatures. The smooth transition from flange thickness to pipe or fitting wall thickness
effected by the taper is extremely beneficial, under conditions of repeated bending, caused by line expansion or other
variable forces.
These flanges are bored to match the inside diameter of the mating pipe or fitting so there will be no restriction of
product flow. This prevents turbulence at the joint and reduces erosion. They also provide excellent stress distribution
through the tapered hub and are easily radiographed for flaw detection.
This flange type will be welded to a pipe or fitting with a single full penetration, V weld (Buttweld).

Details of Welding Neck flange

1. Weld Neck flange 2. Butt Weld

3. Pipe or Fitting

Slip On flange
The calculated strength from a Slip On flange under internal pressure is of the order of two-thirds that of Welding Neck
flanges, and their life under fatigue is about one-third that of the latter.
The connection with the pipe is done with 2 fillet welds, as well at the outside as also at the inside of the flange.
The X measure on the image, are approximately:
Wall thickness of pipe + 3 mm.
This space is necessary, to do not damage the flange face, during the welding process.
A disadvantage of the flange is, that principle always firstly a pipe must be welded and then just a fitting. A combination
of flange and elbow or flange and tee is not possible, because named fittings have not a straight end, that complete slid
in the Slip On flange.

Details of Slip On flange

1. Slip On flange 2. Filled weld outside

3. Filled weld inside 4. Pipe

Socket Weld flange

Socket Weld flanges were initially developed for use on small-size high pressure piping. Their static strength is equal to
Slip On flanges, but their fatigue strength 50% greater than double-welded Slip On flanges.
The connection with the pipe is done with 1 fillet weld, at the outside of the flange. But before welding, a space must be
created between flange or fitting and pipe.
ASME B31.1 1998 127.3 Preparation for Welding (E) Socket Weld Assembly says:
In assembly of the joint before welding, the pipe or tube shall be inserted into the socket to the maximum depth and
then withdrawn approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm) away from contact between the end of the pipe and the shoulder of the
socket.

The purpose for the bottoming clearance in a Socket Weld is usually to reduce the residual stress at the root of the weld
that could occur during solidification of the weld metal. The image shows you the X measure for the expansion gap.
The disadvantage of this flange is right the gap, that must be made. By corrosive products, and mainly in stainless steel
pipe systems, the crack between pipe and flange can give corrosion problems. In some processes this flange is also not
allowed. I am not an expert in this matter, but on the internet, you will find a lot of information about forms of corrosion.
Also for this flange counts, that principle always firstly a pipe must be welded and then just a fitting.

Details of Socket Weld Flange

1. Socket Weld flange 2. Filled weld 3. Pipe

X = Expansion gap

Lap Joint flange

Lap Joint Flanges have all the same common dimensions as any other flange named on this page however it does not
have a raised face, they used in conjunction with a "Lap Joint Stub End".
These flanges are nearly identical to a Slip On flange with the exception of a radius at the intersection of the flange face
and the bore to accommodate the flanged portion of the Stub End.
Their pressure-holding ability is little, if any, better than that of Slip On flanges and the fatigue life for the assembly is
only one tenth that of Welding Neck flanges.
They may be used at all pressures and are available in a full size range. These flanges slip over the pipe, and are not
welded or otherwise fastened to it. Bolting pressure is transmitted to the gasket by the pressure of the flange against
the back of the pipe lap (Stub End).
Lap Joint flanges have certain special advantages:

Freedom to swivel around the pipe facilitates the lining up of opposing flange bolt holes.

Lack of contact with the fluid in the pipe often permits the use of inexpensive carbon steel flanges with
corrosion resistant pipe.

In systems which erode or corrode quickly, the flanges may be salvaged for re-use.

Details of Lap Joint Flange

1. Lap Joint flange 2. Stub End

3. Butt weld 4. Pipe or Fitting

Stub End
A Stub End always will be used with a Lap Joint flange, as a backing flange.
This flange connections are applied, in low-pressure and non critical applications, and is a cheap method of flanging.
In a stainless steel pipe system, for example, a carbon steel flange can be applied, because they are not come in contact
with the product in the pipe.
Stub Ends are available in almost all pipe diameters. Dimensions and dimensional tolerances are defined in the ASME
B.16.9 standard. Light-weight corrosion resistant Stub Ends (fittings) are defined in MSS SP43.

Lap Joint Flange with a Stub End

Threaded flange
Threaded Flanges are used for special circumstances with their main advantage being that they can be attached to the
pipe without welding. Sometimes a seal weld is also used in conjunction with the threaded connection.

Although still available in most sizes and pressure ratings, screwed fittings today are used almost exclusively in smaller
pipe sizes.
A threaded flange or fitting is not suitable for a pipe system with thin wall thickness, because cutting thread on a pipe is
not possible. Thus, thicker wall thickness must be chosen...what is thicker ?
ASME B31.3 Piping Guide says:
Where steel pipe is threaded and used for steam service above 250 psi or for water service above 100 psi with water
temperatures above 220 F, the pipe shall be seamless and have a thickness at least equal to schedule 80 of ASME
B36.10.

Details of Threaded flange

1. Threaded flange 2. Thread 3. Pipe or Fitting

Blind flange
Blind Flanges are manufactured without a bore and used to blank off the ends of piping, Valves and pressure vessel
openings.
From the standpoint of internal pressure and bolt loading, blind flanges, particularly in the larger sizes, are the most
highly stressed flange types.
However, most of these stresses are bending types near the center, and since there is no standard inside diameter, these
flanges are suitable for higher pressure temperature applications.

Details of Blind flange

1. Blind flange

2. Stud Bolt 3. Gasket 4. Other flange

Types of gaskets
Materials for gaskets can be divided into three main categories:

Non-Metallic types Semi-Metallic types Metallic types

Non-Metallic gaskets are usually composite sheet materials are used with flat-face and raised-face flanges in low
Pressure Class applications. Non-metallic gaskets are manufactured from arimid fiber, glass fiber, elastomer, Teflon
(PTFE), graphite etc.. Full-face gasket types are suitable for use with flat-face flanges. Flat-ring gasket types are suitable
for use with raised face flanges.
ASME B16.21 covers types, sizes, materials, dimensions, dimensional tolerances, and markings for non-metallic flat
gaskets.

Non-Metallic gaskets types

Semi-Metallic gaskets are composites of metal and non-metallic materials. The metal is intended to offer strength
and resiliency, while the non-metallic portion provides conformability and sealability. Often used semi-metallic gaskets
are spiral wound and camprofile, and a variety of metal-reinforced graphite gaskets.
Semi-metallic are designed for almost all operating conditions and high-temperature and pressure applications, and are
used on raised face, male-and-female, and tongue-and-groove flanges.
ASME B16.20 covers materials, dimensions, dimensional tolerances, and markings for metallic and semi-metallic
gaskets.
Typical Spiral Wound gasket

Metallic gaskets are fabricated from one or a combination of metals to the desired shape and size. Often used
metallic gaskets are ring-type-joint gaskets (RTJ). They are always applied to special, accompanying flanges which
ensure good, reliable sealing with the correct choice of profiles and material.
Ring Type Joint gaskets are designed to seal by "initial line contact" or wedging action between the mating flange and
the gasket. By applying pressure on the seal interface through bolt force, the "softer" metal of the gasket flows into the
microfine structure of the harder flange material, and creating a very tight and efficient seal.
ASME B16.20 covers materials, dimensions, dimensional tolerances, and markings for metallic and semi-metallic
gaskets.

Types of RTJ gaskets

Often used Semi-Metallic gaskets

Here below you will find a short description of a number of semi-metallic gaskets, which are largely used.

Spiral Wound gaskets

The concept of spiral wound gasket construction was originated by Flexitallic in 1912, inaugurating the beginning of a
new era in safe, effective sealing. The primary purpose for this development was the increasingly severe temperatures
and pressures used by U.S. refinery operators in the first half of the century.
The necessity for a gasket to have the ability to recover cannot be over emphasized. The effects of pressure and
temperature fluctuations, the temperature differential across the flange face, together with bolt stress relaxation and
creep, demand a gasket with adequate flexibility and recovery to maintain a seal even under these varying service
conditions. The Spiral Wound Gasket is the precision engineered solution to such problems, meeting the most exacting
conditions of both temperature and pressure in flanged joints and similar assemblies and against virtually every known
corrosive and toxic media.The spiral wound gasket meets the most exacting conditions of both temperature and
pressure in flanged joints and similar assemblies and against every known corrosive and toxic media.

The spiral wound gasket depends upon the mechanical characteristics of a formed metal spiral strip, rather than the
compressive virtues of more traditional gasket materials. This makes it particularly suitable for low or fluctuating bolt
loads. The sealing strips, or fillers, are usually graphite, although other materials such as Teflon (PTFE) may be used,
the windings are always stainless steel. For this type of gasket to work the spiral must not be over compressed, hence
one of two types of compression control is usually used.
The completed gasket is fitted into a steel ring of specific thickness. When the gasket is fitted into a flange and the bolt
load is applied, flange closure is governed by the outer steel ring of the gasket. To further improve the pressure rating of
the spiral wound gasket, a steel ring may be added to the inside. This gives an additional compression limiting stop and
provides a heat and corrosion barrier protecting gasket windings and preventing flange erosion. It is customary to select
inner ring material to be the same as the metal winding.
ASME B16.20 which covers spiral wound gaskets requires the use of solid metal inner rings in: Pressure Class 900,
nominal pipe sizes 24 and larger, Pressure Class 1500 from nominal pipe sizes 12 and larger, Pressure Class 2500 from
nominal pipe sizes 4 and larger and all PTFE filled gaskets. In the same standard is also described how a spiral wound
gasket should be characterized, below you will find a image on it.
Marking Spiral Wound Gaskets

Camprofile gaskets
Camprofile or "Grooved" gaskets have proven themselves in all industrial applications. Camprofile gaskets are found in
industrial power plants and in the primary circuits in nuclear installations. Used either between flanges or in Heat

Exchanger units in nuclear applications. The Petro and chemical industry benefit too, as the gaskets are used in
applications where high pressures and temperatures are maintained and consequently high bolt loads need to be
controlled.
Camprofile gaskets consist of a metal core (generally Stainless Steel) with concentric grooves on either side with sealing
materials. The sealing layers (depending on the service duty) can be Graphite, PTFE (Teflon), CAF or Metal (e.g.
Aluminium or Silver). Camprofile's can be used without sealing layers to provide an excellent seal but there is a risk of
flange surface damage - especially at high seating loads. The sealing layers protect the flange surfaces from damage in
addition to providing an effective seal.

Metal Jacketed gaskets

Metal Jacketed gaskets, as the name suggests, are comprised of a metallic outer shell with either a metallic or nonmetallic filler. The filler material gives the gasket resilience, while the metal jacket protects the filler and resists
pressures, temperatures and corrosion.
They are traditionally used for Heat Exchanger applications, pumps and Valves, however the resilience and recovery
properties of these gaskets are limited. Metal Jacketed gaskets require smooth flange surface finishes, high bolt loads
and flange flatness in order to seal effectively.
There are many different styles of jacketed gaskets available. In the main Menu "Gaskets" you will find a link to the
dimensions of double jacketed flange gaskets. In that type the filler material is completely enclosed by a two piece metal
jacket, which covers both the inside and outside diameters and both contact surfaces.

Metallic gaskets for RTJ Flanges

The ring type joint was initially developed for use in the petroleum industry, where high pressure/temperature
applicationsnecessitated the need for a high integrity seal. They are mainly used in the oil field on drilling and
completion equipment. Ring type joints are also commonly used on Valves and pipework assemblies, along with some
high integrity pressure vessel joints.
Most applied type is style

R ring that is machined to tight manufacturing tolerances in accordance with the relevant

standards, to ensure correct installation in standard API 6B and ASME B16.5 Ring Type Flanges.
Oval and Octagonal RTJ's with the same ring size designation can be interchangeable in standard flanges with flat
bottomed ring grooves. For the old style round bottomed grooves Oval RTJ's only can be used. Materials of construction
are selected to match the flange material and to be resistant to the corrosive and erosive media. In addition, the
material hardness of the RTJ's is less than the hardness of the flanges to ensure the RTJ is deformed and not the flanges
when assembled. Non-standard size RTJ's are specifically designed to be installed in flanges designed around a specific
application rather than a standard flange.

Typical Application

Oval and Octagonal RTJ's are designed to seal pressures of up to 6,250 psi in accordance with ASME B16.20 and up to
5,000 psi in accordance with API 6A pressure ratings.
Typical high pressure and temperature applications where these gaskets are used include Valve and pipe-work
assemblies in oil field drilling and refining applications. In addition, these gaskets are installed in high pressure vessels
and pumps.

How They Work

Under axial compressive load, ring type joints plastically deform and flow into the irregularities of the flange groove.
Since the load bearing area of the ring type joint is relatively small, very high surface stresses result between the
sealing faces of the ring type joint and the groove. These stresses are further increased on the Style RX and BX rings
which allows very high internal pressures to be sealed. Since ring type joints are solid metal, their recovery
characteristics are poor. The seal is maintained by the action of axial load upon the gasket.

Reuse
Ring type joints are designed to have a limited amount of positive interference, which ensures that the ring type joint
seats correctly into the groove on compression. Their reuse is not recommended for two reasons:
1. The initial seating of the gasket will be impaired
2. When the gasket is plastically deformed, work hardening of the external metal surface occurs. This may result in
permanent damage to the groove.

Hardness of Materials
On compression of the flange assembly, it is imperative that the ring type joint be significantly softer than the flange
groove so that the gasket plastically deforms and not the groove. The use of harder ring type joints can result in flange
groove damage.