Ring flanges use a compressible ring to ensure a secure seal between two flange plates. They come in sets with various sealing materials and are ideal for high-pressure environments in industries like oil refining and chemical processing.
A ring flange is a specialized pipe joint flange that uses a compressible ring to ensure a secure seal. The ring can be made from a variety of materials, including various grades of rubber, fiber gaskets, and metals. When under tension, the ring sits in a shallow groove machined into the face of the flange plates. Prior to tensioning, the ring rests lightly on the plate faces and is compressed during joint tensioning to allow the flange faces to meet. Ring flange sets are available in a number of different designs, including various types of welded metal and loose and screwed plastic flanges.
Flanges are a popular method of joining pipes of various types and sizes in a wide range of industrial, agricultural and domestic applications. Consisting of flat plates attached to the ends of two lengths of pipe, the flange joint is completed by pulling the two flange plates tightly together using bolts passing through holes in both plates. The plates are attached to the pipe ends in a variety of ways including welding, epoxy or threaded collars.
The ring flange is a special type of flange that includes an additional sealing element inserted between the two faces of the plate. A shallow groove is machined into the flange plate faces, typically towards the center of the plate below the row of tensioning holes. These flanges usually come in sets that include a separate sealing ring that is the same size as the groove. These rings can be made of rubber, fiber or mild steel compounds and have a round or square section. They are also slightly larger in diameter than the combined depths of the two grooves.
When the flange joint is set and ready for tensioning, the ring is placed in the groove on one of the faces and the joint is closed. Because the ring is slightly larger than the combined groove depth, it sits slightly proud of the flange plate faces. As the joint is tensioned, the ring compresses until the flange plates meet. This forms an extremely effective seal, greatly improving the effectiveness of the joint as a whole.
Most flange types, including metal and plastic weld, epoxy, or threaded types, are available as sets of ring flanges in various sizes. The integrity of the ring flange makes it ideal for aggressive high pressure environments. These features see a large number of ring flanges used in installations such as oil refining, natural gas and chemical processing plants.
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