January 10, 2025
Flange connections are widely used in pipeline connections, and they have significant advantages and drawbacks. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for selecting appropriate connection methods.
The advantages of flange connection are obvious.
Firstly, installation and disassembly are convenient. During installation, only two flange plates need to be aligned, bolts need to be inserted and tightened, without the need for professional welding skills or complex equipment, greatly reducing the construction period. When repairing, loosen the bolts to disassemble the relevant components for easy operation. Buildings such as water supply and drainage pipeline installation and chemical equipment maintenance benefit from this feature.
Secondly, the sealing performance is excellent. Place a sealing gasket between two flanges, and after tightening the bolts, the gasket deforms to fill the small gap, effectively preventing medium leakage. At the same time, suitable gasket and sealing surface combinations can be selected according to different working conditions to ensure the sealing effect.
Thirdly, the connection strength is high. Bolt fastening endows flange connections with strong pressure bearing capacity, capable of withstanding high pressure inside pipelines. Facing external forces such as vibration and impact, flange connections can effectively disperse external forces and maintain the integrity of pipeline systems, as evidenced by natural gas long-distance pipelines.
Fourthly, it has strong adjustability. In actual installation, it can compensate for pipeline coaxiality, parallelism, or spacing deviation caused by measurement errors, construction processes, etc. During operation, it can also adapt to pipeline expansion and deformation caused by temperature and pressure changes, preventing stress concentration from damaging the pipeline.
Fifthly, it is universal. Flanges have a unified standard system, and products from different manufacturers that meet the standards are interchangeable, making procurement and maintenance easier. It can also adapt to various pipelines and equipment.
However, flange connections also have disadvantages.
Firstly, the significant issue is the high cost of flanges. Manufacturing these components requires high-quality metal materials, and the price of these materials can rise sharply under special working conditions. Additionally, the cost is further increased by the many supporting bolts, nuts, gaskets, and other accessories needed for assembly. Although the installation process is simple, tightening bolts and conducting sealing inspections increase labor and testing costs.
Secondly, it occupies a large amount of space. Flanged connections increase the axial and radial dimensions of pipeline connections. Layout is difficult in narrow spaces such as equipment rooms and underground pipe galleries, and pipeline spacing is required, which limits system design and installation.
Thirdly, there is a risk of leakage. Factors such as gasket aging, loose bolts, and damaged sealing surfaces may lead to seal failure, especially in harsh working conditions where the risk is higher. To detect leaks promptly, it is essential to conduct regular testing and maintenance. This, however, leads to increased operating costs and a heavier management workload.
Fourthly, this method may not be suitable for certain special conditions. In environments with high temperatures, high pressure, and intense vibrations, bolts are more likely to loosen, which reduces the reliability of the connection. In industries with high hygiene requirements such as food and pharmaceuticals, flange connections are difficult to meet hygiene standards due to the contact between sealing gaskets and media, surface gaps that are prone to bacterial growth and residual impurities.
In practical engineering applications, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the advantages and disadvantages of flange connections, and carefully select connection methods based on specific working conditions and requirements to ensure the safe, stable, and efficient operation of pipeline systems.
