What is Flange Facing? Why is it an essential activity for a successful maintenance plan?

 Your project's success depends on the security of your pipeline and the flanges that connect them together as it optimizes your production. You'll be a hero if you get the project completed within the stipulated time-frame correctly. If you get it wrong, your project will be delayed, your costs will go up, and your client will be unhappy. 

What Is Flange Facing? 

Machining on flange surfaces is known as flange facing. Regular repair and replacement of flanges is essential to preventing leaks and corrosion. In order to keep flanges attached to each other, these onsite services are needed. 



Flange facing is a critical process in the natural gas, petrochemicals, refinery, pharmaceuticals, pipelines, food manufacturing, chemical, & power generation industries. The flange facing procedure is also used in the following industries for plant maintenance and shut-down: 



  • Manufacturing of nuclear weapons 

  • In the high-purity market 

  • Defense of the Diesel Engine 

  • Processing tubes 

  • Heat Exchanger Maintenance

Flange Facing is necessary because of what reasons -

Flanges are continually damaged by turbulent flow and contact with other components during construction, fitting, or gasket breaches. 

Faced flanges are finished with a spiral-grooved surface. Due to the fact that gas and liquid must go through the flange in a spiral instead of on the surface, this finish reduces the risk of leaks. 

Flange facing is regarded to be an important repair activity during plant shutdowns or maintenance schedule. 

Flanges and thread protectors are crucial parts in the oil & gas, and utility sectors. There is more to consider than only contamination both during storage; you must also be concerned with damage during transportation and manufacturing. If the right answers aren't obtained, repairs will be costly. Replacement of oil-well piping & drills is a possibility. 

The surface of the flange connection is sealed by a gasket called the flange face. The connection can be made via a vessel, valve, or a number of other mechanical devices. Gasket seals and locks in pipe system connections that are machined on most occasions.  Flange Facers are used to give the flange a specific type of finish.

There are two types to mount flange facing machines, i.e., ID and OD. What is the Difference between Outside Diameter (OD) Mounting and Internal Diameter (ID)?


As indicated, ID is inside, OD is outside. 

The outside diameter (OD) and a wall thickness specification are used to measure tubing. 

When dealing with pipes, however, the trade size is approximately determined by the ID, which varies depending on the "schedule" (wall thickness). 

There are charts that provide a listing of the standard nominal measures that may be found online. If you do not have the necessary knowledge and the ability to judge anything based on its appearance alone, it is in your best interest to consult the chart.

Onsite machining experts deliver perfect execution of flange facing and flange serration after proper application study and feasibility.


Instruments Necessary for Flange Facing & Upkeep 


Pipelines, power, petrochemical products, oil & gas and many more industries rely heavily on the use of flanges. Flange Facers & Controlled bolting are two of the flange maintenance processes that help to prevent leaks and minimize losses. A plant's flange maintenance tools should be well-stocked to ensure minimal downtime and output losses. To guarantee that flange maintenance activities are done as quickly as possible, we'll be discussing the most important tools in this post.


  • A set of flange-facing instruments 


Flange facing is the most important flange maintenance task. Flange resurfacing, heat exchanger maintenance, refacing valve flanges, resurfacing big pump base covers, boiler feed pump flanges, etc. can all benefit from the flange resurfacing tool purchased. Because flanges are subjected to frequent vibration and damage, having a flange facing tool on hand is a need for routine repair. Flanges can be damaged during installation, construction, or gasket leaks due to turbulence and flow. When this occurs, having a flange facing tool on hand or renting one protects the integrity of the junction. 

Gases and liquids are required to travel in a long spiral path instead of across a flat flange face when facing. This reduces the risk of leaks. It is also possible to attach these devices using either an outer diameter (OD) or an inner diameter (ID). We strongly advise plants to conduct a ROI analysis before purchasing these technologies because they are pricey. For flange facers up to 120 inches in diameter, ABS rents out automated flange facing tools. 

  • Tightening Devices 

Torque wrench is another essential item that receives scant attention. Aside from flange facing tools, this set of tools is just as significant. In order to prevent bolts from loosening as a result of the flange's continual vibrations, the bolts must be tightened precisely. By providing a uniform bolt load, these instruments prevent flange leaks and assure proper flange bolting. 

They recommend hydraulic, pneumatic, or battery torque wrenches over manual or clicker wrenches for precise bolting. Precision bolting can be simplified by using power torque wrenches, which provide greater accuracy while requiring less work, time, and people. Leaks can occur when manual torque wrenches do not offer precise Torquing. 

Conclusion 

Flange facing protection is essential to the project's success. The client's needs need the use of proper methods and procedures.




Content Sources :- ABSGroup


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