54" Mystery Flange
54" Mystery Flange
(OP)
Greetings all,
This is my first post here; I've just found this websight while looking for info WRT my problem.
I am working at a Plant in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. It was commissioned c. 1968.
I am attempting to locate a replacement gasket for a 54" flanged connection which is presently leaking. Unfortunately in a plant of this age, there are many gaps in the records, and I can find no indication of what this flange may be.
It is installed on a 54" NPS header.
It has an OD of 65½ inches.
It has 36 bolt holes.
It appears to be a full faced flange.
It matches neither ASME B16.47 Series A nor B.
Lately I've come to wonder if it may be a European or other Flange (DIN etc,) but I don't have any reference material for these.
Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
Marlon
This is my first post here; I've just found this websight while looking for info WRT my problem.
I am working at a Plant in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. It was commissioned c. 1968.
I am attempting to locate a replacement gasket for a 54" flanged connection which is presently leaking. Unfortunately in a plant of this age, there are many gaps in the records, and I can find no indication of what this flange may be.
It is installed on a 54" NPS header.
It has an OD of 65½ inches.
It has 36 bolt holes.
It appears to be a full faced flange.
It matches neither ASME B16.47 Series A nor B.
Lately I've come to wonder if it may be a European or other Flange (DIN etc,) but I don't have any reference material for these.
Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
Marlon





RE: 54" Mystery Flange
Service
Flange Thickness
Diameter and length of bolts
If in water service... have you looked into the AWWA standards (American Water Works Association)?
HTH
Saludos.
a.
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
You may find that the only way to match the gasket will be to take the old one out of service, measure it, and get a gasket vendor to make a replacement.
In fact, I recently went through a very similar situation for a client here in Houston. A 54" flange on top of a furnace of a completely non-standard design. We've spoken in advance to Flexitallic here in Houston about the replacement. We've basically picked the construction based on the service and they are going to be able to get a two day turnaround once the dimensions are taken on the existing gasket.
So, if your line is going to be out of service for a scheduled shutdown, something like this may be your best bet.
I'd also recommend going ahead and having a least one spare made up for this joint, so you will have it the next time the line comes out of service.
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
I've just been out in the plant trying to gather some additional info.
Recap:
It is installed on a 54" NPS header.
It has an OD of 65½ inches.
It has 36 bolts.
It is a full faced flange.
The connection is between a 54" header and a 54"x48"x54" (Venturi) Motor Operated Valve.
The bolts (well studs actually) are 1 3/8", approx 10 5/8" in length.
The flange has a thickness of 3¾" on the pipe side of the union.
The flange on the valve body itself is 2 3/8" thick.
The gasket material is approx 1/8" thick.
I think the pipe side flange is forged and the valve side body cast.
The service of this line is 50# steam.
Design Pressure = 75 psig
Design Temp = 650°F
I haven't looked into the AWWA standard yet, but I'm about to see if I can find anything there.
Does anybody else have any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks Again,
Marlon
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
HTH
Saludos.
a.
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
I would agree that the valve manufacturer is going to be your best bet. Depending on how old this assembly is, you may find that the valve, flanges, and gaskets were all designed and supplied by the valve maker.
Good luck.
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
I take it you couldn't get your hands on the original isometric drawing for this piping. I would suggest that you contact the engineering department at Flexitallic. (These guys are at www.flexitallic.com ) They are extremely helpful in this kind of a situation. If you are working where I think you are, you will probably be asked to "upgrade" to a spiral wound gasket. Flexitallic can custom build these to the existing flange dimensions.
It will cost $$$$ to do that.
Much cheaper than that would be an aramid-fiber sheet, cut to existing dimensions. I think you even have a guy in town who can do sizes as large as you are looking for, but I can't remember if he is the distributor for Flexitallic or Garlock.
Hope that helps a bit.
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
By the way, where are you writing from reichertc?
Regards,
Marlon
RE: 54" Mystery Flange
Hope you found a gasket!