ASME/ANSI Pipe Flanges

Pipe flanges are used to joint pipes.

Pipe flanges that are made to standards called out by ASME/ANSI B16.5 or
ASME/ANSI B16.47 are typically made from forged materials and have machined
surfaces.
They are typically in "Pressure Classes" such as 150#, 300#, 600#, 900#
1500#,2500#; however, ASME B16.47 still recognizes the 75# or "Class 75"
flange for certain low pressure and low temperature applications. These
"Pressure Classes" have both pressure and temperature ratings for specific
materials.
The flange faces are made to standardized dimensions and are typically "flat
face" "raised face" "tongue and grove" or "ring joint" styles, although other
obscure styles may be permitted.
Flange designs are available as "welding neck" "slip-on" "lap joint" "socket weld"
"threaded" and also "blind flange".
The gasket type and bolt type are generally specified by the standard(s);
however, sometimes the standards refer to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code (B&PVC) for details ( see ASME Code Section VIII Division 1 - Appendix
2 ). These flanges are recognized by ASME Pipe Codes such as ASME B31.1
Power Piping, and ASME B31.3 Process Piping.
Materials for flanges are usually under ASME designation: SA-105 (Specification
for Carbon Steel Forgings for Piping Applications), SA-266 (Specification for
Carbon Steel Forgings for Pressure Vessel Components) or SA-182
(Specification for Forged or Rolled Alloy-Steel Pipe Flanges, Forged Fittings, and
Valves and Parts for High-Temperature Service).
Weld neck flange
Available weld neck flanges are designed for most high pressure industrial
applications. The weld neck pipe flanges are ideal for use in heavy duty
applications involving high pressure, sub-zero and/or elevated temperatures.
Slip-on flange
The slip-on pipe flanges are designed to easily slide over the outside diameter
of the pipe and be attached by fillet welding. These flanges are ideal for lower
pressure applications.

Blind pipe flange

The superior design of the blind flanges enables deployment in high pressure
applications. The blind flanges can also be used to provide access covers for
pressure vessels.

Flange Rating Class

Based on ASME B16.5.

Acceptable pressure/temperature combinations.
Seven classes (150, 300, 400, 600, 900,1,500, 2,500)
Flange strength increases with class number.
Material and design temperature combinations without pressure indicated not
acceptable

Sample Problem: Flange Rating

New piping system to be installed at existing plant. Determine required flange
class for:
Pipe Material: 1 Cr - Mo
Design Temperature: 700F
Design Pressure: 500 psig
Solution:
Determine Material Group Number:
Group Number = 1.9
Find allowable design pressure at intersection of design temperature and group
For class 150.
Allowable pressure = 110 psig < design pressure.
Move to next higher class and repeat steps.
For class 300:
Allowable pressure = 570 psig.
Required flange Class: 300

GASKET
A gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two objects, generally
to prevent leakage between the two objects while under compression. Gasket is
inserted between flanges and compressed by bolts to create seal.
Commonly used type of gaskets are:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

Sheet
Spiral wound.
Solid metal ring.
Double jacketed .

Sheet Gaskets
Sheet Gaskets are by the far the cheapest option for gaskets. The gasket shape
is "punched out" of a sheet of fibrous materials. This leads to a very crude, fast
and cheap gasket. These gaskets can fill many chemical requirements based on
the inertness of the material used and fit many budgetary restraints.

Spiral Wound Gaskets

Spiral wound gaskets and Double Jacketed gaskets are two of the most used
gaskets in industry. Spiral wound gasket utilizes a mix of metallic material and
"filler material" generally the gasket has a chosen metal, normally a carbon rich
or stainless steel, wound (hence the name) outwards in a circle (although other
shapes are possible this is the primary) with the filler material, generally a flexible
graphite, starting at the opposite side of the circle and winding in the same
direction.
Spiral Wound Gaskets can be used to seal fluid pressure up to 250 bar,
cryogenic temperature as low as -2000C and up to elevated temperature of

1000oC Products are widely used in the oil, gas, petrochemical process and
engineering industries.

Solid Metal Ring

Is used for high temperatures and pressure applications with RTJ type flanges.
The key downside is that a solid metal must be greatly compressed in order to
become flush with the flange head and prevent leakage.

Double Jacketed Gasket

Metal Jacketed gaskets is made from graphite, ceramic, non-asbestos etc. filler
covered with thin metal jacketed, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, copper
etc., special used in sealing spots of heat exchanger, pressure vessel etc. this
gaskets highly resistance against blow-out ,suitable for high assembly stress
Filler material
Graphite,
Asbestos
Non-asbestos
Ceramic/PTFE

Jacket material
Carbon steel
Copper

Temperature C
300
400

304/316

530

Other Information
General gasket material pressure/temperature ratings.

Types Of Gasket

Type "E" Gaskets have the same outside diameter as the flanges, and are
made with precision-located bolt holes. They are easy to center and will prevent
foreign material from becoming lodged between the flange faces and "shorting
out" the flange insulation.
Type "F" Gaskets are made to fit within the bolt hole circle of the flange faces.
The outside diameter of the gasket is slightly larger than the inside diameter of
the bolt hole circle. They are available in any of the materials described this web
site.
Insulating Sleeves and Washers are available in complete kits, with or without
a gasket. Sleeves and washers are available as separate parts or as a one-piece
molded unit.

Type "D" Gaskets are made specifically to fit into the ring groove of RTJ flanges.
They are available in reinforced phenolic and other materials.