Storage as per Torque Tightening

To obtain a leak-free flange connection, a proper gasket installation is

needed, the bolts must be assign on the correct bolt tension, and the total
bolt strength must be evenly divided over the whole flange face.

With Torque Tightening (the application of preload to a fastener by the turning

of the fastener's nut) the correct bolt tension can be realized.

Correct tightening of a bolt means making the best use of the bolt's elastic
properties. To work well, a bolt must behave just like a spring. In operation,
the tightening process exerts an axial pre-load tension on the bolt. This
tension load is of course equal and opposite to the compression force applied
on the assembled components. It can be referred to as the "tightening load"
or "tension load"

Torque wrench
Torque Wrench is the general name for a hand-guided screwing tool, and
used to precisely set the force of a fastening such as a nut or bolt. It allows
the operator to measure the rotational force (torque) applied to the bolt so it
can be matched to the specifications.

Manual and hydraulic wrench

The selection of the proper flange bolt tigtening technique requires

experience. The successful application of any technique also requires
qualification of both the tools that will be used and the crew who will do the
work. The following summarizes the most commonly used flange bolt
tightening techniques.

 Manual Wrench
 Impact Wrench
 Hammer Wrench
 Hydraulic Torque Wrench
 Manual Beam and Gear-Assisted Torque Wrench
 Hydraulic Bolt Tensioner
Torque loss
Torque loss is inherent in any bolted joint. The combined effects of bolt
relaxation, (approximately 10% during the first 24 hours after installation),
gasket creep, vibration in the system, thermal expansion and elastic
interaction during bolt tightening contribute to torque loss. When torque loss
reaches an extreme, the internal pressure exceeds the compressive force
holding the gasket in place and a leak or blow-out occurs.

A key to reducing these effects is proper gasket installation. By bringing the

flanges together slowly and parallel when installing a gasket and taking a
minimum of four bolt tightening passes, following the correct bolt tightening
sequence, there is a payoff in reduced maintenance costs and increased
safety.

ARTICLE LINKS

 Bolt Circle
 Bolt Torque
 Pipe Flange
 Valve

BOLT STANDARDS
ASME STANDARDS
 ASME PCC-1 - Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint
Assembly

ISO STANDARDS

 ISO 4162 - Hexagon bolts with flange -- Small series -- Product grade A
with driving feature of product grade B
 ISO 15071 - Hexagon bolts with flange -- Small series -- Product grade
A
 ISO 15072 - Hexagon bolts with flange with metric fine pitch thread --
Small series -- Product grade A
 ISO 21670 - Fasteners -- Hexagon weld nuts with flange

ANSI CLASS TORQUE FACTOR

  Pipe Size   150# 300# 400# 600# 900# 1500# 2500#

(NPS)   (ft-lbs)     (ft-lbs)     (ft-lbs)     (ft-lbs)     (ft-lbs)     (ft-lbs)     (ft-lbs)  

1/2 45 45 45 45 150 150 -

3/4 45 90 90 90 150 150 -
1 45 90 90 90 240 240 -
1 1/4 - - - - - - -
1 1/2 45 150 150 150 368 368 -
2 90 90 90 90 240 240 -
2 1/2 90 150 150 150 368 368 -
3 90 150 150 150 240 533 -
3 1/2 - - - - - - -
4 90 150 240 240 533 750 -
5 150 150 240 368 750 1200 -
6 150 150 240 368 533 1020 -
8 150 240 368 533 1020 1650 -
10 240 368 533 750 1020 3000 -
 12 240 533 750 750 1020 3300 -
14 368 533 750 1020 1020 4770 -
16 368 750 1020 1020 1650 6600 -
18 533 750 1020 1650 3000 8800 -
20 533 750 1200 1650 3300 11580 -
22 - - - - - - -
24 750 1200 2250 3000 6600 - -
