PIPING ENGINEERING

Fittings, Flanges
Welded Joints

THREADED
SOCKET WELD

BUTT
WELD
Pipe Fittings
 Elbow

Short Radius R= 1 D Long Radius R= 1.5 D 45 Deg Miter Bend

90 Deg Elbow 45 Deg Elbow

90 & 45 Elbow comparison
Symbol Representation Symbol Representation
Tee, Stub In, Stub On
Branch Connection – Reinforcing Pad
 O – let & Coupling
Branch Connection fittings known as O'lets Used primarily for connecting small-bore screwed or socket-weld
are fittings which provide an outlet from a pipe to large-bore pipe header, the coupling is also used
larger pipe to a smaller one (or one of the extensively where instrument connections are required. There are
same size). The main pipe onto which the two common methods used to make branch connections with
branch connection is welded is usually couplings
called the Run or Header size.

Weld-O-let

Sock-O-let

Thread-O-let

Latr-O-let
 Reducer

Concentric reducers Eccentric reducers

connect pipes of 1. flat side down in piperack where same Bottom of Pipe (BOP) has to be
unequal size but have maintained.
a common 2. A eccentric reducer with flat side down will give a more constant flow through
centerline. The same the control valve rather than a concentric reducer or eccentric reducer with
fitting can be used in flat side up, which will give more flow disruption and will cause problems with
reverse as an control valve.
concentric expander. 3. Can be used flat side up in Pump suction piping (shown in fig.)
Flanges
Flanges are used when the piping joint needs shipping, inspection, maintenance, replacement & dismantling.
These are used mainly at equipment’s, valves and specialties. In certain pipelines where maintenance is a regular
feature, breakout flanges are provided at definite intervals. A flanged joint is composed of three separate and
independent although interrelated components; the flanges, the gaskets and the bolting. Special controls are
required in the selection and application of all these elements to attain a leak-proof joint.

Slip On Threaded Weld neck

Socket Weld Lap Joint Blind Flange

Weld neck Flange
A weld neck flange consists of a circular fitting with a protruding rim
around the circumference. Generally machined from a forging,
these flanges are typically butt welded to a pipe. The rim has a series
of drilled holes that permit the flange to be affixed to
another flange with bolts. The long tapered hub provides an
important reinforcement for use in several applications involving
high pressure, sub-zero 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.
Slip On Flange
Slip on Flange is essentially a ring that isplaced over the pipe
end, with the flange face extending from the end of the
pipe by enough distance to apply a weld bead on the inside
diameter. The OD of slip on flange is also welded on the
back side of the 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 flange has poor resistance to shock & vibrations. It is
easier to allign then weld neck flange. Slip on flanges are
commonly lower in price than weld neck flanges, however
this is popular choice for the customer. However customer
should bear in mind that initial cost saving may be
diminished by the two fillet weld costing for the proper
installation.
Lap Joint Flange
A Lap Joint Flange is a two piece device that is much like a weld-neck
flange but also like a loose slip-on flange. One piece is a sleeve called
a 'Stub-end" and is shaped like a short piece of pipe with a weld bevel
on one end and a narrow shoulder on the other end called the hub.
The hub is the same outside diameter as the raised face (gasket
contact surface) of a weld neck flange. The thickness of the hub is
normally about 5 mm to 8 mm. The back face of the hub has a
rounded transition (or inside fillet) that joins the hub to the sleeve.
The "Stub-end" can normally be purchased in two lengths. There is a
short version, about 3" long and a long version of about 6" long. It is
prudent for the piping designer to know which version is in the piping
specification. Because of it's two piece configuration, the Lap Joint
Flange offers a way to cut cost or simplify work. The cost saving comes
when the piping system requires a high cost alloy for all "wetted" parts
to reduce corrosion. The sleeve or Stub-end can be the required
higher cost alloy but the flange can be the lower cost forged carbon
steel.
Threaded Flange
Threaded pipe fianges are similar to slip-on pipe flanges except
the bore of threaded pipe flange has tapered threads.
Threaded pipe flanges are used with pipes that have external
threads. 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. Threaded pipe
flanges are often used for small diameter, high pressure
requirements. 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.
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.
Socket Weld
Socket-weld pipe flanges are typically used on smaller sizes of
high pressure pipes. These pipe flanges are attached by
inserting the pipe into the socket end and applying
fillet weld around the top. This allows for a smooth bore and
better flow of the fluid or gas inside of the pipe.
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.
This gap shall be left to allow proper positioning of the pipe
inside the flange socket after the solidification of the weld.
Socket Weld Flanges are used for small-size and high-pressure
piping that do not transfer highly corrosive fluids.
This due to the fact that these flange types are subject to
corrosion in the gap area between the end of the pipe and the
shoulder of the socket.
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.
Blind flanges allow easy access to the pipeline, as they
can be easily unbolted to let the operator execute
activities inside the terminal end of the pipe (this is also
the reason why the blind flange type is used as manhole
for pressure vessels, at times).
Flange Rating
Pressure rating is defined as the maximum allowed pressure that a flange can withstand at increasing
temperatures. According to the ASME, there are seven flange pressure ratings: 150, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1500, and
2500.
The terms “pressure rating”, “class”, “#”, “Lb” or “Lbs” are interchangeable, i.e. they all refer to the same exact
concept of pressure/temperature performance of a flange (and other equipment like valves, fittings, etc).

Let’s make this clear with an example:

If two flanges have the same bore size (example 6 inches), the same material (example A105), but two different
pressure ratings (one flange is class 150, the other 300), the lower rated flange (class 150) will be smaller, lighter,
and less robust than the higher rated flange (class 300). This is represented in the picture:
Flange Faces Types

Raised Face Ring joint

Flat Face
Orifice Flange –
The orifice flange is the only one that actually performs a
function. The function of the orifice flange is to measure the rate
of the flow of the commodity through the piping system. Orifice
flanges are easy to recognize because they have a hole drilled
through the face of the flange perpendicular to the pipe. They
also have an additional set of bolts called jack screws. These
screws are used to help separate the flanges so inspection
and/or replacement of the orifice plate can be performed. The
orifice flange is a single component of the orifice flange
union assembly. The orifice flange union is composed of two
orifice flanges, an orifice plate, bolts, nuts, jack screws, and
two gasket.
The orifice flange union is used to measure, the amount of
pressure drop through the orifice plate. The length of pipe within
the piping system where orifice flanges are installed and where
these measurements are recorded is known as a meter run.
Gasket –
Flange gaskets are used to create a static seal between two flanges faces, at various operating conditions, with
varied pressure and temperature ratings. A gaskets fills the microscopic spaces and irregularities of the flange
faces, and then it forms a seal that is designed to keep liquids and gases. Correct installation of damage-free
gaskets and demage-free flange faces is a requirement for a leak-free flange connection.
Gaskets are normally made from a flat material, a sheet such as paper, rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, neoprene,
nitrile rubber, fiberglass, PTFE or a plastic polymer Gaskets for specific applications, such as high pressure steam
systems.
Optimum material characteristics - Chemical resistance of PTFE. Temperature or heat resistance of graphite.
Strength or mechanical properties of steel. Zero seating stress of soft rubber. Inexpensive.

Types of Gasket
1. Flat Face 2. Flat Ring 3. Metal Ring
Bolts and Nuts for flanged connections
In Petrochemical & Oil & gas Industries for flange connections
Stud Bolts and Hex Bolts are used. The Stud Bolt is a threaded rod
with 2 heavy hexagon nuts, while the Hex Bolt has a head with
one nut. Nuts and head are both six sided.
Materials for Stud Bolts
Dimensions from Stud Bolts are defined in the ASME B16.5
standard. The material qualities for studs are defined in the
different ASTM standards, and are indicated by Grade.
Frequently used grades are A193 for thread rods and A194 for the
nuts.
ASTM A193 covers alloy and stainless steel bolting material for
pressure vessels, Valves, flanges, and fittings for high temperature
or high pressure service, or other special purpose applications.
ASTM A194 covers a variety of carbon, alloy, and martensitic and
austenitic stainless steel nuts. These nuts are intended for high-
pressure or high-temperature service, or both.