The Sealing Behavior of Large Diameter Flanged Connections and a Method to Determine Bolt Loads to Satisfy Tightness Criteria

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Kobayashi ◽  
Masahiro Kogasaka ◽  
Kengou Nishiura ◽  
Kazuaki Uchiyama
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Thrust Force ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Recent Increase ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
The Difference

With the recent increase of a safety and environmental concern, the tightness of gasketed flanged connections becomes an important issue. However, the estimation of bolt loads to satisfy the tightness of gasketed flanged connections has not yet been fully established, especially in the case of large diameter flanges. In this paper, the sealing behavior of a large diameter gasketed flanged connection, in which 16 inch blind flanges were used, was examined experimentally. The variations of bolt loads were also measured when the flanged connection was subjected to an internal pressure. In the experiments, two kinds of sheet gaskets were used. It was shown that the bolt loads of large diameter flanges were reduced significantly and a gross leak occurred due to a large thrust force caused by an internal pressure and that the gasket characteristics affect the sealing behavior significantly. The test results were compared with those of small diameter gasketed flanged connection to highlight the difference of the sealing performance.

Bolt Load Changes Due to Internal Pressure in Gasketed Flange Connections

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Nagata ◽  
Mitsuhiro Matsumoto ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Thrust Force ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Constant Load ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Load Factor ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Performance Point ◽  
Load Factors ◽  
Sealing Performance

Bolt load changes due to internal pressure are very important in order to evaluate the integrity of gasketed flange connections in the sealing performance point of view, because its gasket stress which dominates leak rate changes according to the bolt load changes. For establishing a connection possesses high reliability and sufficient integrity, it is necessary to clarify the mechanics ofgasketed flange connections. For this purpose, authors carried out experimental pressurizing tests for 3B and 20B gasketed flange connections clamped by various bolt preloads and measured the bolt load changes with increasing internal pressure up to 5MPa. Also a load factor, which is defined as the ratio of axial bolt force increment to pressure thrust force, was calculated using the test results. The test results indicate that 3B and 20B flange connections with the spiral wound gaskets have a constant load factors under sufficient initial clamping forces in assemble.

The Sealing Performance of a Large Diameter Bolted Joint Under Elevated Temperature

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Naoki Kawasaki ◽  
Yoshio Takagi ◽  
Hiroyasu Torii
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Gas Leakage ◽  
Nominal Diameter ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Diameter Pipe

Flange rotation with internal pressure affects the sealing performance of pipe flange connections more with increasing the pipe nominal diameter. Therefore, it is hard to estimate the sealing performance of pipe flange connections with larger nominal diameter by using the test results of the sealing performance for pipe flange connections with small nominal diameter. In this study, the 20" diameter pipe flange connection was experimentally used as a large nominal diameter pipe flange connection and analyzed the stress in the connection. In the experiments, the sealing performance of the pipe flange connection was evaluated by measuring the amount of gas leakage at 50 °C and 100 °C under internal pressure. Non-asbestos graphite gaskets were used in the experiments. The bolts and nuts were tightened according to the Japanese method (HPIS Z103 TR). The gasket contact stress distributions of larger nominal diameter pipe flange connection were calculated by FEM under elevated temperature conditions as well as internal pressure application. The estimated results were compared with the experimental results. The results were also compared with the small nominal diameter test result and discussed.

Application of Plastic Region Bolt Tightening to Flange Joint Assembly: Behavior of Large Diameter Flange

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinobu Kaneda ◽  
Hirokazu Tsuji
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Plastic Region ◽  
Load Factor ◽  
Past Study ◽  
Flange Joint ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Assembly Behavior ◽  
Bolted Flange

In the past study the plastic region tightening has been applied to the bolted flange joint with smaller nominal diameter and its advantages have been demonstrated, however, behavior of the bolted flange joint with larger diameter is not investigated. Flange rotation of the bolted flange joint with large diameter increases when the internal pressure is applied. Gasket stress is not uniform and it may cause leak accident. So, it is necessary to investigate the behavior of the larger diameter flange. The present paper describes the behavior of bolted flange joint with large diameter under plastic region tightening. Firstly, API 20-inch flange joint tightened to the plastic region by bolt with a smaller diameter and superiority in the uniformity of the axial bolt force is demonstrated. And then the internal pressure is applied to the bolted flange joint and the behavior of the additional axial bolt force is demonstrated. The axial bolt force decreases with increasing the internal pressure, and the load factor is negative due to increasing of the flange rotation. However, the load factor of the bolted flange joint tightened to the plastic region by using the bolt with the smaller diameter approached zero. Using the bolts with smaller diameter is advantageous to the flange joint with the larger diamter, whose load factor is negative, to prevent the leakage. Additionally, the leak rate from the bolted flange joint is measured and the sufficient sealing performance is obtained.

Characterization of Sealing Behavior of Gaskets for the Leak Rate Based Design of Gasketed Bolted Flanged Connections

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Japanese Industrial Standard ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Spiral Wound

This paper discusses the sealing behavior of gaskets according to the gasket testing procedure HPIS Z104 established in Japan. The testing procedure consists of eleven gasket stress levels while the internal pressure is constant. It takes about 3 hours to complete one test, which is acceptable for gasket manufacturers. The test method is going to be effective as the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) soon. Several sheet gaskets and spiral wound gaskets were tested based on the test method HPIS Z104 and test results are compared and discussed in this paper. Based on the test results, experimental formulas are proposed to approximate the sealing behavior of gaskets. It is shown that the sealing behavior of gaskets can be well characterized using the proposed testing procedure and the experimental formulas. The formulas have the possibility of application to the design of gasketed bolted flanged connections. It is also shown that the sealing performance of spiral wound gaskets with graphite and PTFE fillers is as good as that of sheet gaskets under an equal gasket load.

FEM Stress Analysis and Mechanical Characteristics of Bolted Pipe Flange Connections With PTFE Blended Gaskets Subjected to External Bending Moments and Internal Pressure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Sato ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Riichi Morimoto ◽  
Takashi Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Stress Distribution ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Mechanical Characteristics ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Bending Moments ◽  
Four Point Bending ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Good Agreement

In designing of pipe flange connections with gaskets, it is important to examine the mechanical characteristics of the connections subjected to external bending moments due to earthquake such as the changes in hub stress, axial bolt forces and the contact gasket stress distribution which governs the sealing performance. One of the authors developed the PTFE blended gaskets and the authors examined the mechanical characteristics of the connections with the PTFE blended gaskets under internal pressure. However, no research was done to examine the mechanical characteristics of the connections with the newly developed PTFE blended gasket subjected to external bending moment due to earthquake. The objectives of the present study are to examine the mechanical characteristics of the connection with PTFE blended gasket subjected to external bending moment and internal pressure and to discuss the difference in the load order to the connections between the internal pressure and the external bending moments. The changes in the hub stress, the axial bolt force and the contact gasket stress distribution of the connection are analyzed using FEM. Using the obtained the gasket stress distribution and the fundamental data between the gasket stress and the leak rate for a smaller test gasket, the leak rate of the connection with the gasket is predicted under external bending moment and internal pressure. In the FEM calculations, the effects of the nominal diameter of pipe flanges on the mechanical characteristics are shown. In the experiments, ASME class 300 4 inch flange connection with 2m pipes at both sides is used and the test gasket is chosen as No.GF300 made by Nippon Valqua Industries, ltd. Four point bending moment is applied to the connection. The FEM results of the hub stress and the axial bolt forces are in a fairly good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, the FEM results of the leak rate are fairly coincided with the measured results.

Effect of External Bending Moment on the Sealing Performance of Pipe Flange Connection

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshio Takagi ◽  
Hiroyasu Torii ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Yuya Omiya
Keyword(s):  
Stress Distribution ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Deformation Characteristic ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Displacement Curve ◽  
Linear Deformation ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
The Difference

Since an external bending moment affects the sealing performance of pipe flange connection, it is important to investigate this effect. This paper analyzed the contact gasket stress distribution of pipe flange connections and evaluates the effect of external bending moment on the sealing performance from the viewpoint of changes in contact gasket stress. The study includes the FE analyses and the experimental leakage tests. The FE analyses suggested the large decrease of contact gasket stress at tension side and small increase at compression side. The difference in change in contact gasket stress was caused by the non-linear hysteresis characteristics of stress-displacement curve of gasket. The FE analyses also suggested that the loading order, internal pressure and external bending moment, also affected the sealing performance due to the non-linear deformation characteristic of the gasket. The sealing performance when the external bending moment applied prior to the internal pressure was degraded more than when the internal pressure was applied prior to the external bending moment. The experimental leakage tests using helium (He) gas were analyzed by the finite element method and discussed. This paper also evaluated the stress distribution in the pipe flange under external bending moment. The results suggested that the hub stress dominated the flange structure and the most important factor in designing the flange.

Effect of Scatter in Axial Bolt Force on the Sealing Performance of 20” Inch Pipe Flange Connections With CSG Under Internal Pressure

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuya Omiya ◽  
Koji Itano
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Large Diameter Pipe ◽  
Bolt Preload ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Diameter Pipe ◽  
Experimental Analyses

Since a scatter in axial bolt force exists in assembling the pipe flange connections, it is important to evaluate the effect of scatter in axial bolt force on the sealing performance of pipe flange connection. The FE and experimental analyses were done to evaluate the effect of scatter in axial bolt force on the sealing performance of pipe flange connection with 20 “nominal diameter. The results revealed that the large diameter pipe flange connection was sensitive to the scatter in axial bolt force. Besides, the large diameter pipe flange affected more by flange rotation when internally pressurized. As a result, a larger diameter pipe flange connection with scattered bolt preload showed poor sealing performance. The experimentally obtained scatter in axial bolt force as assembled was taken into account in FE analyses and the effect of the scatters on the contact gasket stress distributions was shown numerically. FE results show that the sealing performance is reduced due to the distributed gasket stress and bolt force scatter in the axial direction.

FEM Stress Analysis and the Sealing Performance Evaluation of Pipe Flange Connections Subjected to External Bending Moments and Internal Pressure

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhide Horiuchi ◽  
Yoshio Takagi ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Bending Moments ◽  
Loading History ◽  
Pipe Length ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
The Difference

In previous study, the characteristics of the pipe flange connections such as the contact gasket stress distribution and the sealing performance of the connection subjected to bending moments are examined. The result suggests that the leakage increases as the bending moment increases. However, a design method for the connection subjected to bending moment is not taken into consideration. The sealing performance of the connection for the different loading history is changed due to non-linearity and hysteresis of non-asbestos gasket. After the pipe flange connections are tightened, bending moment prior to internal pressure is applied due to misalignment of the connections with bolts and nuts. So, it is necessary to examine the difference in the sealing performance due to different loading history and to establish a design method for the connections subjected to bending moment and internal pressure. In this study, the difference in the sealing performance due to different loading history is examined and pipe length in each usage condition is determined for the two loading histories using tensile strength of hub side and allowable leak rate of soppy bubble method to establish a design method of flange subjected to bending moment. The result suggests the average contact gasket stress for the different loading history is changed due to non-linearity and hysteresis of non-asbestos gasket and pipe length in each initial contact gasket stress is determined for the two loading histories.

FEM Analysis and an Evaluation of the Sealing Performance in Flexible Box-Shape Flanged Bolted Joints With Gaskets Subjected to Internal Pressure

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Ryo Kurosawa ◽  
Yasuaki Tatsumi
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Method ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Fem Analysis ◽  
Bolted Joints ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Bolt Preload ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Element Method

The contact gasket stress distributions of rectangular box-shape flange connections with compressed joint sheet gaskets subjected to internal pressure were analyzed taking account hysteresis of the gaskets using finite element method (FEM). Leakage tests were also conducted using actual rectangular box-shape flange connections with compressed joint sheet gaskets under internal pressure. By using the contact gasket stress distributions and the results of the leakage tests, the new gasket constants were calculated. The difference in the new gasket constants between the values obtained from the present study and those by the PVRC procedure was substantial. In addition, a method to determine the initial clamping bolt force (bolt preload) for a given tightness parameter was demonstrated.

A Determination Method of Bolt Preload for Bolted Pipe Flange Connections With Metal Gaskets Under Internal Pressure

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Kondo ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Bolted Joints ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Bolt Preload ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Bolted Flange ◽  
The Given ◽  
Outside Diameter ◽  
Better Than

FEM calculations and leakage experiments are carried out for bolted flanged connections with metal flat gaskets. It is found that the sealing performance of bolted flanged connections with raised face metal gaskets under internal pressure is improved significantly when the contact gasket stress reaches the gasket yield stress. In our FEM calculations it is demonstrated that the contact gasket stress at the outside diameter is bigger than that at the inside diameter due to the flange rotation. It is also found from the leakage test results and the FEM calculations that the sealing performance of the bolted flange connections with metal flat gasket is better than that of the metal gasket in platen device tests,. In addition, the contact stress in the joints with RTJ (ring type joint) gasket is examined and 4 stress peaks on the oval type and 8 peaks on the octagonal type are found. From the obtained results, a method for determining the bolt preloads in the bolted joints using flat metal gaskets and RTJ gaskets under internal pressure is proposed taking account the given allowable leak rate. Finally, the leak rates for bolted flanged connections tightened under internal pressure are compared with the experimental results. The new method can be proposed for determining the bolt preload for bolted flange connections with metal gaskets under internal pressure at room temperature.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document