Flanges play a vital role in many industries, and they are mostly used in the installation of pipes, pumps, and piping equipment.
Flanges are generally made by forging and are available in different sizes and shapes. The selection of the appropriate flange may initially prove to be difficult due to the wide variety of options and specifications that are being offered.
If you want to join two flanges, you can fasten them together by using bolts and gaskets and provide a seal that allows for ease of access to the piping system. Flanges are typically threaded or welded.
There are two main parts of the flanges, flange connection holes and the flange face. The pipe or equipment that requires joining is connected to the flange face. When you want to connect two flanges or one surface to another, you can use flange connection holes and other flanges or joining elements. Most of the time, these holes are set up in a circle, and bolts or nuts are used to tighten them.
In this article, some common types of flanges are described in details.
1.Welding Neck Flange
Tapered flanges and high-hub flanges are two more names that are frequently used to refer to weld neck flanges. The tension inside a pipe can be changed using a weld neck flange. By doing this, pressure at the flange’s bottom is kept from building up. It is possible to utilize weld neck flanges with pipes that are either high-pressure or low-pressure.
Weld neck flanges differ from flat flanges because the type of connection found. A weld neck flange is a circular fitting that extends beyond the pipe’s perimeter. Up to five thousand pounds per square inch, a weld neck flange can resist pressure.
2.Slip On Flange
A slip-on flange is simply classified by the presence of a ring that is connected to the pipe’s ending. A welded bead is applied to the inner diameter (ID) of the pipe by prolonging the flange face. These flanges are specifically made to slide over pipes.
Therefore, the size of the flange is greater than the outer diameter (OD) of the pipe. This guarantees the accurate placement of the flange ring around the pipe. Such flanges, referred to as slip-on flanges, are incapable of withstanding high-pressure flow. Because of this, slip-on flanges are the best choice for applications that involve minimal pressure.
3.Socket Weld Flange
The socket weld flange is a unique sort of flange that is utilized in piping systems. It has a number of advantages that are not available with other types of flanges. For a solid connection, socket weld flanges only need one fillet weld on the outside of the flange, while slip-on flanges need two. Flanges like this are utilized in the components that are responsible for connecting pipes to machines.
In accordance with the criteria provided by ASME B31.1, the process of connecting a socket weld flange includes placing the pipe into the socket of the flange up till at the bottom. After that, the pipe needs to be lifted by 1.6 millimeters before the welding process begins. After the weld has hardened, this designed gap will ensure that the pipe is positioned correctly within the flange socket.
4.Lap Joint Flange
If the pipe is composed of an expensive material, lap joint flanges are a helpful tool to have with stub ends.
One example would be the addition of a carbon steel flange to a stainless steel pipe system. This is possible because the flanges do not come into connection with the substance that is within the pipe.
5.Threaded Flange
This type of flange is very similar to seen as slip-on joint. Threaded flanges have a bore that is equal to the inner diameter of the pipe, but slip-on flanges do not have this bore.
As the name implies, threaded flanges are characterized by the presence of tapered pipe threads on the interior of the flange. These flanges are suited for small-diameter pipelines with high-pressure gas and liquid flows. One of the most significant benefits of threaded flanges is that they do not require any welding to be done.
6.Blind Flange
The absence of a central opening differentiates blind flanges from the other types of flanges that were mentioned earlier in this article. The major function of these devices is to perform the function of “blinding” a pipeline, valve, or pressure vessel, as well as to obstruct the passage of fluids. Blind flanges are essential for bearing significant mechanical stress, which is mainly caused by the system’s pressure and the necessary bolting forces.
Blind flanges’ capability to facilitate smooth pipeline access is a significant feature that should not be overlooked. Operators can carry out operations within the terminal end of the pipe, and they are easily detachable from the bolts. Occasionally, they serve as pressure vessel manholes.
Conclusion
Flanges are essential for the installation of plumbing and piping equipment.
There are different types of flanges which are used in different situation depending on the nature of work.
We have expertise in making a variety of flanges with excellent product quality and service reliability. Get in touch with us if you are interested to discover more about flanges; our expert engineer team is always available to provide help and guidance.
