Introduction, Types and Function

of Different Flanges

FLANGES
A flange is a method of connecting pipes, valves, pumps and
other equipment to form a piping system. It also provides
easy access for cleaning, inspection or modification. Flanges
are usually welded or screwed. Flanged joints are made by
bolting together two flanges with a gasket between them to
provide a seal.
Pipe flanges are manufactured in all the different materials
like stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, brass, bronze, plastic
etc. but the most used material is forged carbon steel and
have machined surfaces.
The material of a flange, is basically set during the choice of
the pipe, in most cases, a flange is of the same material as the
pipe.
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DIMENSIONS OF FLANGES
Each flange according to ASME B16.5 has a number of standard dimensions. If a
draftsman in Japan or a work preparer in Canada or a pipefitter in Australia is
speaking about a Welding Neck flange NPS 6, Class 150, Schedule 40 ASME
B16.5, then it goes over the flange which in the image here below is shown.

The flange above has 8 bolt holes, and a welding bevel of 37.5 degrees (red
circle). All given dimensions are in millimeters. The raised face (RF) does not
need to be specified, because according to ASME B16.5, each flange is standard
delivered with a raised face. Only a different design (Ring Type Joint (RTJ), Flat
Face (FF) etc.), should be specified.
If the flange is ordered, the supplier want to know the material quality. For
example ASTM A105 is a forged carbon steel flange, while A182 is a forged
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stainless steel flange.

TYPES OF FLANGES
The most used flange types in Petro and chemical
industry are:
Welding Neck Flange
Slip On Flange
Socket Weld Flange
Lap Joint Flange
Threaded Flange
Blind Flange

SPECIAL FLANGES
Except the most used standard flanges, there are still a
number of special flanges such as:
Orifice Flanges
Long Welding Neck Flanges
Weldo Flange / Nipo Flange
Expander Flange
Reducing Flange

PRESSURE CLASSES OF FLANGES

Forged steel flanges, according to ASME B16.5, are made in seven
primary ratings:

Class 150 - 300 - 400 - 600 - 900 - 1500 2500

The concept of flange ratings likes clearly. A Class 300 flange can
handle more pressure than a Class 150 flange, because a Class 300
flange are constructed with more metal and can withstand more
pressure. However, there are a number of factors that can impact
the pressure capability of a flange.
The Pressure Class or Rating for flanges will be given in pounds.
Different names are used to indicate a Pressure Class.
For example: 150 Lb or 150 Lbs or 150# or Class 150, all are means
the same.
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EXAMPLE OF PRESSURE RATING

Flanges can withstand different pressures at different
temperatures. As temperature increases, the pressure rating of the
flange decreases. For example, a Class 150 flange is rated to
approximately 270 PSIG at ambient conditions, 180 PSIG at
approximately 400 F, 150 PSIG at approximately 600 F, and 75
PSIG at approximately 800F.
In other words, when the pressure goes down, the temperature
goes up and vice versa. Additional factors are that flanges can be
constructed from different materials, such as stainless steel, cast
and ductile iron, carbon steel etc.. Each material have different
pressure ratings.
Below an example of a flange NPS 12 with the several pressure
classes. As you can see, inner diameter and diameter of the raised
face at all the same; but outside diameter, bolt circle and diameter
of bolt holes become larger in each higher pressure class.
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The number and diameters (mm) of the bolt holes are:

PRESSURE CLASSES OF FLANGES

CL 150 - 12 x 25.4 CL 300 - 16 x 28.6 CL 400 - 16 x 34.9 CL 600 - 20 x 34.9
CL 900 - 20 x 38.1 CL 1500 - 16 x 54 CL 2500 - 12 x 73

PRESSURE -TEMPERATURE RATINGS

EXAMPLE
Pressure-temperature ratings are maximum allowable working gage pressures
in bar units at the temperatures in degrees Celsius. For intermediate
temperatures, linear interpolation is permitted. Interpolation between class
designations is not permitted.

MATERIAL GROUPS ACC. TO ASTM

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FREQUENTLY USED ASTM GRADES

ASTM standards define the specific manufacturing process of the
material and determine the exact chemical composition of pipes,
fittings and flanges, through percentages of the permitted
quantities of carbon, magnesium, nickel, etc., and are indicated by
"Grade".

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WELDING NECK FLANGE

Welding Neck Flanges are easy to recognize at the long tapered hub, that goes gradually
over to the wall thickness from a pipe or fitting.
The long tapered hub provides an important reinforcement for use in several
applications involving high pressure, sub-zero and / or elevated temperatures. The
smooth transition from flange thickness to pipe or fitting wall thickness effected by
the taper is extremely beneficial, under conditions of repeated bending, caused by
line expansion or other variable forces.
These flanges are bored to match the inside diameter of the mating pipe or fitting so
there will be no restriction of product flow. This prevents turbulence at the joint and
reduces erosion. They also provide excellent stress distribution through the tapered
hub and are easily radiographed for flaw detection.
This flange type will be welded to a pipe or fitting with a single full penetration, V weld
(Butt weld).
1. Weld Neck flange
2. Butt Weld
3. Pipe or Fitting
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SLIP ON FLANGE
The calculated strength from a Slip On flange under internal pressure is of the order of
two-thirds that of Welding Neck flanges, and their life under fatigue is about onethird that of the latter.
The connection with the pipe is done with 2 fillet welds, as well at the outside as also at
the inside of the flange.
The X measure on the image, are approximately:
Wall thickness of pipe + 3 mm.
This space is necessary, to do not damage the flange face, during the welding process.
A disadvantage of the flange is, that principle always firstly a pipe must be welded and
then just a fitting. A combination of flange and elbow or flange and tee is not
possible, because named fittings have not a straight end, that complete slid in the
Slip On flange.
1. Slip On flange
2. Filled weld outside
3. Filled weld inside
Pipe

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SOCKET WELD FLANGE

Socket Weld flanges were initially developed for use on small-size high pressure piping.
Their static strength is equal to Slip On flanges, but their fatigue strength 50% greater
than double-welded Slip On flanges.
The connection with the pipe is done with 1 fillet weld, at the outside of the flange. But
before welding, a space must be created between flange or fitting and pipe.
ASME B31.1 1998 127.3 Preparation for Welding (E) Socket Weld Assembly says:
In assembly of the joint before welding, the pipe or tube shall be inserted into the
socket to the maximum depth and then withdrawn approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm)
away from contact between the end of the pipe and the shoulder of the socket.
The purpose for the bottoming clearance in a Socket Weld is usually to reduce the
residual stress at the root of the weld that could occur during solidification of the
weld metal. The image shows you the X measure for the expansion gap.
1. Socket Weld flange
2. Filled weld
3. Pipe
X Expansion gap

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LAP JOINT FLANGE

Lap Joint Flanges have all the same common dimensions as any of the above flanges
however it does not have a raised face, they used in conjunction with a "Lap Joint
Stub End".
These flanges are nearly identical to a Slip On flange with the exception of a radius at the
intersection of the flange face and the bore to accommodate the flanged portion of
the Stub End.
Freedom to swivel around the pipe facilitates the lining up of opposing flange bolt holes.
Lack of contact with the fluid in the pipe often permits the use of inexpensive carbon
steel flanges with corrosion resistant pipe.
In systems which erode or corrode quickly, the flanges may be salvaged for re-use.
1. Lap Joint flange
2. Stub End
3. Butt weld
4. Pipe or Fitting

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THREADED FLANGE
Threaded Flanges are used for special circumstances with their main advantage being
that they can be attached to the pipe without welding. Sometimes a seal weld is also
used in conjunction with the threaded connection.
Although still available in most sizes and pressure ratings, screwed fittings today are used
almost exclusively in smaller pipe sizes.
A threaded flange or fitting is not suitable for a pipe system with thin wall thickness,
because cutting thread on a pipe is not possible. Thus, thicker wall thickness must be
chosen...what is thicker ?
ASME B31.3 Piping Guide says:
Where steel pipe is threaded and used for steam service above 250 psi or for water
service above 100 psi with water temperatures above 220 F, the pipe shall be
seamless and have a thickness at least equal to schedule 80 of ASME B36.10.
1. Threaded flange
2. Thread
3. Pipe or Fitting

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BLIND FLANGE
Blind Flanges are manufactured without a bore and used to blank off the ends of piping,
Valves and pressure vessel openings.
From the standpoint of internal pressure and bolt loading, blind flanges, particularly in
the larger sizes, are the most highly stressed flange types.
However, most of these stresses are bending types near the center, and since there is no
standard inside diameter, these flanges are suitable for higher pressure temperature
applications.
1. Blind flange
2. Stud Bolt
3. Gasket
4. Other flange

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RAISED FACE (RF)

The Raised Face flange is the most common type used in process plant applications, and
is easily to identify. It is referred to as a raised face because the gasket surfaces are
raised above the bolting circle face. This face type allows the use of a wide combination
of gasket designs, including flat ring sheet types and metallic composites such as spiral
wound and double jacketed types.
The purpose of a RF flange is to concentrate more pressure on a smaller gasket area and
thereby increase the pressure containment capability of the joint. Diameter and height
are in ASME B16.5 defined, by pressure class and diameter. Pressure rating of the flange
determines the height of the raised face.
In pressure classes 150 and 300, the height of raised face is approximately
1.6 mm (1/16 inch).
In pressure classes 400, 600, 900, 1500 & 2500, the height of raised face is approximately
6.4 mm (1/4 inch).

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FLAT FACE (FF)

The Flat Face flange has a gasket surface in the same plane as the bolting circle face.
Applications using flat face flanges are frequently those in which the mating flange or
flanged fitting is made from a casting.
Flat face flanges are never to be bolted to a raised face flange. ASME B31.1 says that
when connecting flat face cast iron flanges to carbon steel flanges, the raised face on the
carbon steel flange must be removed, and that a full face gasket is required. This is to
keep the thin, bittle cast iron flange from being sprung into the gap caused by the raised
face of the carbon steel flange

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RING-TYPE JOINT (RTJ)

The Ring Type Joint flanges are typically used in high pressure (Class 600 and higher
rating) and/or high temperature services above 800F (427C). They have grooves cut
into their faces which steel ring gaskets. The flanges seal when tightened bolts compress
the gasket between the flanges into the grooves, deforming (or Coining) the gasket to
make intimate contact inside the grooves, creating a metal to metal seal.
An RTJ flange may have a raised face with a ring groove machined into it. This raised face
does not serve as any part of the sealing means. For RTJ flanges that seal with ring
gaskets, the raised faces of the connected and tightened flanges may contact each other.
In this case the compressed gasket will not bear additional load beyond the bolt tension,
vibration and movement cannot further crush the gasket and lessen the connecting
tension.

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TONGUE-AND-GROOVE (T&G)
The Tongue and Groove faces of this flanges must be matched. One flange face has a
raised ring (Tongue) machined onto the flange face while the mating flange has a
matching depression (Groove) machined into it's face.
Tongue-and-groove facings are standardized in both large and small types. They differ
from male-and-female in that the inside diameters of the tongue-and-groove do not
extend into the flange base, thus retaining the gasket on its inner and outer diameter.
These are commonly found on pump covers and Valve Bonnets.
Tongue-and-groove joints also have an advantage in that they are self-aligning and act as
a reservoir for the adhesive. The scarf joint keeps the axis of loading in line with the joint
and does not require a major machining operation.
General flange faces such as the RTJ, T&G and the F&M shall never be bolted together.
The reason for this is that the contact surfaces do not match and there is no gasket that
has one type on one side and another type on the other side.

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MALE-AND-FEMALE (M&F)
With this type the flanges also must be matched. One flange face has an area that
extends beyond the normal flange face (Male). The other flange or mating flange has a
matching depression (Female) machined into it's face.
The female face is 3/16-inch deep, the male face is1/4-inch high, and both are smooth
finished. The outer diameter of the female face acts to locate and retain the gasket.
Custom male and female facings are commonly found on the Heat Exchanger shell to
channel and cover flanges.

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FLANGE FACE FINISH

The ASME B16.5 code requires that the flange face (raised face and flat face) has a
specific roughness to ensure that this surface be compatible with the gasket and
provide a high quality seal.
A serrated finish, either concentric or spiral, is required with 30 to 55 grooves per inch
and a resultant roughness between 125 and 500 micro inches. This allows for various
grades of surface finish to be made available by flange manufactures for the gasket
contact surface of metal flanges.
The picture on the right shows a serrated finish on a Raised Face.
The most used Surfaces are
1. Stock Finish
2. Spiral Serrated
3. Concentric Serrated
4. Smooth Finish

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TYPES OF MARKING TECHNIQUES

There are several techniques in order to mark a flange such as:
Die Stamping
Process in which an engraved die is used to cut and stamp (leave an impression)
Paint Stenciling
Produces an image or pattern by applying pigment to a surface over an intermediate
object with gaps in it which create the pattern or image by only allowing the pigment to
reach some parts of the surface.
Other techniques are Roll stamping, Ink Printing, Laser Printing etc.

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THANKS

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