How to solve the leakage problem of flange connection?

Causes of pipe flange leakage:

Flange connection is a common pipeline connection method. Its advantages are simple and easy to use and tight connection, but it is also prone to leakage during use. There may be many reasons for the leakage of pipe flange connection, usually due to loose flange connection, aging or damage of seals, etc. In addition, improper use, irregular assembly, and non-compliant materials can also cause flange leakage. This article will introduce how to solve the leakage problem of pipe flange connection from the following three aspects.

Detection method of pipe flange leakage:

The detection method of pipe flange leakage mainly includes visual inspection, pressure test, smear inspection, etc. Among them, pressure test is one of the most commonly used methods, which can detect whether the flange is leaking by applying a certain pressure.

1) Check whether the flange connection is installed correctly

During use, whether the flange connection is installed correctly is one of the main causes of leakage. Therefore, first check whether the flange connection is installed correctly. The specific method is:

1. Check whether the sealing ring of the flange connection is installed correctly and is not damaged or aged. Whether the flange connection surface is worn and deformed, it needs to be repaired or replaced.
2. Check whether the flange connection bolts are loose or missing. If so, re-tighten them.
3. Confirm whether the flange connection is correctly aligned to avoid leakage caused by poor connection.

2) Strengthen the sealing performance of the flange connection

If the flange connection has been correctly installed, but there is still a leakage problem, it can be solved by strengthening the sealing performance of the flange connection.

1. Apply sealant on the flange connection to form a tighter sealing layer at the flange connection.
2. Use adjustable flange connections. When leaks are detected, adjust the flange connection to achieve a better sealing effect.
3. Choose a higher quality flange connection seal ring to improve its corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance to ensure that it will not age after long-term use.
4. Replace the flange connection. If the above methods cannot solve the problem of flange leakage, you may need to consider replacing the flange connection. When replacing, you need to choose the appropriate material and specifications to ensure the quality and sealing performance of the flange connection.

3) Prevent leakage caused by pipeline deformation

During use, pipeline deformation can also easily cause leakage of flange connections. There are the following ways to solve this problem:

1. Use flexible joints at the pipe joints to avoid leakage of flange connections caused by pipe deformation.
2. Add support devices at the pipe joints to stabilize the position of the pipe and prevent the pipe from deforming due to force.
3. Choose more suitable pipe materials and pipe diameters to avoid pipe deformation due to insufficient pipe material strength or too small pipe diameter. 

How to prevent flange leakage?

1. Correct material selection
When selecting flange connections, it is necessary to select appropriate flange materials according to actual conditions. For example, in high temperature and high pressure environments, high temperature and high pressure corrosion-resistant materials need to be selected.

2. Correct installation
During installation, it is necessary to follow the specifications to ensure that the flange connection is well sealed.

3. Regular inspection and maintenance
Regular inspection and maintenance of flange connections, timely detection and treatment of problems can effectively prevent flange leakage.

In summary, the leakage problem of flange connections can be solved by checking whether the flange connection is correctly installed, strengthening the sealing performance of the flange connection, and preventing leakage caused by pipe deformation. For some industrial pipelines that need to be used for a long time, higher quality flange connection materials and sealing rings should be selected according to the specific situation to ensure that there will be no problems in their long-term use.

Read more: ANSI pipe flange standard or Pipe flange size type and selection