Flanges
Pipe flanges that are made to standards called out by ASME B16.5 or
ASME B16.47 are typically made from forged materials (such as forged
carbon steel) and have machined surfaces.
B16.5 refers to nominal pipe sizes (NPS) from ½" to 24".
B16.47 covers NPSs from 26" to 60".
Each specification further delineates flanges into pressure classes: 150,
300, 400, 600, 900, 1500 and 2500 for B16.5;
B16.47 delineates its flanges into pressure classes 75, 150, 300, 400,
600, 900.
The pressure rating of particular class flange is function of the
temperature and material of flange. (See sdoc-01)
The dimensions of flanges are also given for each class in the
standard. The thickness however depends on the material being
employed. (See sdoc-02)
TYPES OF FLANGES
Weld Neck
This flange is circumferentially welded into the system at its neck which
means that the integrity of the butt welded area can be easily examined
by radiography. The bores of both pipe and flange match, which
reduces turbulence and erosion inside the pipeline. The weld neck is
therefore favored in critical applications
Slip on Flange
This flange is slipped over the pipe and then fillet welded. The slip-on
flange is positioned so the inserted end of the pipe or fitting is set back
or short of the flange face by the thickness of the pipe wall plus 1/8 of
an inch. This allows for a fillet weld inside the SO flange equal to the
thickness of the pipe wall without doing any damage to the flange face.
The back or outside of the flange is also welded with a fillet weld.
Blind
This flange is used to blank off pipelines, valves and pumps.
Socket Welded Flange
This flange is counter bored to accept the pipe before being fillet
welded. The bore of the pipe and flange are both the same therefore
giving good flow characteristics.
Threaded Flange
This flange is referred to as either threaded or screwed. It is used to
connect other threaded components in low pressure, non-critical
applications. No welding is required.
Lap Joint
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 ¼" to 3/8". The back face of the hub has a rounded transition (or
inside fillet) that joins the hub to the sleeve.
The other piece of a Lap Joint Flange is the backing flange. This flange
has all the same common dimensions (O.D., bolt circle, bolt hole size,
etc.) as any other flange however it does not have a raised face. One
side, the backside, has a slight shoulder that is square cut at the center
or pipe hole. The front side has flat face and at the center hole an
outside fillet to match the fillet of the "Stub-end" piece. The flange part
of the Lap-joint flange assembly is slipped on to the stub-end prior to
the sleeve being welded to the adjoining pipe or fitting. The flange itself
is not welded or fixed in any way. It is free to spin for proper alignment
with what ever it is joining to.
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.
The work simplification comes into the picture where there are cases
that require frequent and rapid disassembly and assembly during the
operation of a plant. The ability to spin that backing flange
compensates for misalignment of the bolt holes during reassembly.
FLANGE FACE FORMS ARE:
Flat Face (FF) - The Flat Face is primarily used on Cast Iron flanges. With
this face the whole contact face of the flange is machined flat.
Raised Face (RF) - The Raised Face is most common of all flange faces.
The flange has a raised area machined on the flange face equal to the
contact area of a gasket.
Ring-type Joint (RTJ) - This is a form of flange face that is becoming
obsolete. This type has a higher raised portion on the face into which a
ring groove is then machined.
*Phonography (serration) is usually also done on the faces to provide
grip to gasket and stop leakage using wedge action.
