gasket installation
- January 05, 2022
INDUSTRY
ChemicalCUSTOMER
Large Petrochemical PlantCUSTOMER BACKGROUND
The customer is a maker of petrochemical feed-stocks used in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, fibers, solvents, detergents, fertilizers and paints. - December 03, 2021
In our continued effort to provide our customers convenient seal sizing guides, GFS is happy to present the newest technical bulletins:
- Nonmetallic Flat Gaskets for Pipe Flanges - Ring Gasket Sizing Guide
- ASME B16.21 - 2016
- Nonmetallic Flat Gaskets for Pipe Flanges - Full Face Gasket Sizing Guide
- ASME B16.21 - 2016
- November 10, 2021
Versatile and easy-to-install, this 100% ePTFE sealing cord is a cost-effective solution for large steel flanges in general-use applications.
Joint Sealant, the first form-in-place gasket, was invented by Gore more than 40 years ago. It is a time-tested sealing solution for steel flanges with large diameters, rectangular or irregular shapes, and rough or pitted surfaces. When compressed, this soft, conformable cord forms a thin yet strong seal. It can also seal applications where available bolt loads are low.
Versatile GORE Joint Sealant is standard sealing material for many MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) teams because it seals reliably – and because it’s easy and cost-effective to install. For most applications, just peel off the adhesive backing, apply to the surface, and overlap the ends.
- September 02, 2021
Compressed non-asbestos gasket materials are subject to a natural aging process, like all elastomer-containing materials. This process depends on the kind of elastomer, its vulcanization system, and the storage conditions. Unfavorable storage conditions such as extreme temperatures, exposure to sunlight, low humidity, etc. can lead to a premature reduction of the material’s quality.
This blog will outline the conditions for proper storage of compressed non-asbestos gasket materials. These should be followed in order to achieve an optimum shelf life of 5 years...
- November 11, 2020
Understanding the Difference Between Gasket Types
As our friends at Dichtomatik like to say, "where there are pumps and valves, there are also gaskets." Gaskets are critical components in fluid conveyance systems. There is a wide variety of types and materials that they can be made from. Many of the most commonly-asked questions revolve around which gaskets are right for which situations for a variety of industries including but not exclusive to: food & beverage, oil & gas, construction, agriculture, energy & power generation, and chemical processing.
While far from an inclusive list, GFS wanted to quickly touch on some of the most common gasket types and materials often asked about.
- August 05, 2020
So you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year on sealing solutions, like gaskets. But did you know that the way you store your gaskets could affect the effectiveness or life span of your gaskets? In this blog, we offer some tips for gasket storage and shelf life which, if followed, can help ensure that your gaskets are always ready for service.
Gasket Storage and Shelf Life: General Storage Principles
Rubber gaskets should always be stored in a cool location which is free from excessive humidity, direct sunlight, and the presence of chemical vapours or fumes. The storage location should ideally be indoors and free from exposure to the elements or inclement weather. If the storage guidelines given below are followed, rubber gaskets or gasketed components have the following expected shelf life:
Tips for Gasket Storage and Shelf Life
Tip #1: Limit exposure to light
Sunlight and strong artificial light can degrade some gasket materials. For this reason, rubber gaskets should be stored in cartons or opaque bags which prevent direct exposure to light.
Tip #2: Maintain relative humidity levels
Very moist or excessively dry conditions in a storage location should be avoided. Relative humidity levels below 75% are recommended for most rubber gaskets. Similarly, very low humidity levels which can cause some materials to dry out and become brittle should also be avoided.
- May 19, 2020
Attention: When installing GORE Gasket Tape Series 1000 in joints with multiple (2 or more) gaskets compressed with a single set of bolts or clamps, see the installation supplement “Installation on Joints with Multiple Gaskets,” for additional mandatory instructions.
1. Select the size
GASKET WIDTH
Select the gasket width that provides enough material to align the gasket tape flush with the inner and outer diameter. Ensure full coverage of the glass surface. Excess material may exceed the outer diameter.
GASKET THICKNESS
Most applications require a base layer of 6 mm (1/4") tape, which can accommodate deviation up to 1.5 mm (1/16") without shimming. Applications with deviation up to 2.3 mm (0.090") can utilize 9 mm (3/8") tape without shimming.
SHIMMING
To effectively seal flanges with deviations beyond the maximum for the base layer, a shimming process is recommended. Use of 3 mm (1/8") GORE® Series 1000 shim tape as a shim layer will accommodate an additional 1.5 mm ( 1/16") of flange deviation. Ensure the shim layer has the same width as the base layer.
2. Determine a Torque Value
To achieve a reliable seal, adequate gasket stress must be applied during installation.
Typical minimum stress to seal values for GORE Gasket Tape Series 1000 are:
- 6 mm (1/4"): 14 MPa (2,030 psi)
- 9 mm (3/8"): 18 MPa (2,610 psi)
Perform an engineering calculation to determine the torque value for your specific application.
Industry guidance is available, for example in ASME PCC-1 Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly, and EN 1591-1 Flanges and their Joints - Design Rules for Gasketed Circular Flange Connections - Part 1: Calculation.
However, ASME PCC-1 does not include glass-lined steel specialties. Therefore, it is advised to contact the equipment manufacturer for an adequate torque recommendation.
- May 06, 2020
In addition to KLINGER's complete Sheet Gasketing Product Line which now includes the new major change in construction of their PTFE Products TC 1003, TC 1005, and TC1006, they have added a great new product to cover additional applications during day-to-day operation.
The KLINGER SAVER
A new product we are featuring on our blog is THE KLINGER-SAVER - a tool to eliminate hand injuries.Bolt tightening or loosening activities, or using slug wrenches and hammers can often the cause of serious finger or hand injuries.
The KLINGER-SAVER is a safety device that allows an assembly technician to remove his hand from the potential danger of being struck by the hammer.
How The KLINGER-SAVER Works
The wrench - July 17, 2019
Recent gasket failures in flanged joints of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) piping.
Problem
HDPE piping joints are typically thermal fusion welded joints, but flanges may also be used. When flanges are used, an HDPE flange adapter with a metal backing ring is fused to HDPE piping, as shown in Figure 1. The HDPE flange adapters are used to connect to other flanged fittings, such as valves, elbows, tees, etc., with gaskets inserted between the flanged fittings.
Incident Description
In 2018, two HDPE flange adapter gaskets on two different valves that were part of an underground fire suppression system at a Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear facility in Amarillo, TX failed, causing several weeks of unplanned interruptions to nuclear
- April 16, 2019
The Dreaded Gasket Blowout Call
Have you ever received the dreaded 2 a.m. call from plant staff saying that things are at a standstill – production is down?
You arrive at the plant, walk through the parking lot, coffee in hand, and head to the locker room. When you come out on to the plant floor, there are several people staring at you with a look of panic on their faces as steam or process chemical sprays from a pipe flange.
Prognosis……gasket blowout.
You think to yourself “didn’t we just replace that gasket?”, or perhaps “we should have replaced it during the last shutdown but chose not to because of time constraints or cost cutting.”
If this scenario is new to you, you are lucky and you can go back to sleep… the 2 a.m. call was a wrong number. If it’s not new to you, this means you are most likely a Plant Supervisor, Maintenance Manager or Plant Personnel in some capacity.
Roll up your sleeves, grab your torque wrench and let’s get to work!
Gasket Lifespan
If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, “How long will my gasket last?” I would be a rich man. As you can probably guess, “How long will my gasket last?” is a loaded question to which the practical, factual, and political answer is… an Application Engineer’s nightmare!
A gasket may last 5 years, or it could last 20 years. I cannot give you an exact date or lifespan of a gasket; however I can give you some insight into factors that will give your gasket the best chance at a long and prosperous life between the flanges.