Flanges and types of flanges
A flange is a projecting flat rim, or a raised circle formed around the junction areas where two pipe sections, a pipe and a valve or pump, or a pipe and equipment join. Flanges are usually made from metal material like steel or stainless steel and are normally screwed or somehow bonded to the mating surfaces. Flanges can be categorized into several classes in that every class has distinctive characteristics and functions. Some common types of flanges include: Slide-on flanges: These are flanges in which the bore is slightly larger than the pipe bore to make the pipe fit into the flange and then use fillet welds. Weld neck flanges: These flanges have a formation of a neck that emanates from the base of the flange and soldered to the joining pipe. This affords additional reinforcement to the joint. Blind flanges: These flanges have no bore and are employed to block up the end of a pipe work or piece of equipment. Lap joint flanges: These flanges are in fact similar to the slip-on flanges but comes with a radius in the both ends of the flange face for the lap stub end. Threaded flanges: These flanges have internal screw threads by means of which a flange can be screwed on to a pipe. Socket weld flanges: These flanges are the same as slip-on flanges, however their inside diameter of the flange is slightly less than the diameter of the pipe. The pipe passes through the flange and fillet welded to make the connection. Spectacle flanges: These flanges are constructed from two disks of a metals where one of the disk is solid and the other one has a central aperture to create a “spectacle” when two disks are fastened together using bolts. Few of these structures are mainly used to have a distance between isolated structures or to maintain a structure for a certain period. These types of flanges are used in different situations as per the requirements of the application. the suitable type of flange has to be selected for the actual application and the flanges must be effectively installed and maintained for the sake of the piping system safety together with stability.