Flange leakage calculation is a mandatory code requirement for all critical systems in a plant. In spite of tight bolted connection between flanges, these flange joints will experience bending moment as a result of thermal growth of the piping and / or excessive deflection, which will try to open up the flange joint. Whether the given flange is capable of absorbing the external forces and moments along with the internal pressure due to the fluid, is calculated by stress engineers to ensure safety of the plant. The flange leakage calculation can be performed in many ways, the most common are Equivalent pressure method, ASME Sec VIII Div 1 or 2 and ASME Sec III NB or NC method. This Article deals about Flange leakage calculation done using ASME Sec VIII method in CeaserII.
Normally Flange Leakage checking in Caesar II using ASME Section VIII method is performed when the analysis in pressure equivalent method shows failure in Caesar II. Pressure equivalent method being too conservative does not provide us the actual realistic results. Hence this method is widely accepted where pressure equivalent method shows a failure. The steps involved are mentioned below:
After performing static analysis click the “Analysis” and then click “Flanges” in CAESAR II as shown below
Provide a file name and select the proper Flange Type in the section as mentioned in the PMS. Input the flange parameters as shown below:
Press the key “Ctrl+F” to select the concerning Size and Rating. Few data will automatically filled from Caesar II database. However it is good practise to confirm the data from governing code.
Flange Class is the flange pressure rating and is required for checking P-T Rating of Equivalent Pressure.
Flange Grade: Select Material Group No. as per ASME B 16.5 Table 1A list of material specification. Following table can be used as reference:
Refer to the applicable flange code ASME 16.5 or ASME B 16.47 and update automatically filled flange data. Take special care while inputting for ‘Small End Hub Thickness’& ‘Large End Hub Thickness’. ‘Small End Hub Thickness’ must be equal to the Pipe Thickness. Large End Hub Thickness must be equal to (X-B) where X is Hub Diameter and B Flange ID.
Enter hub Length h=(Y-tf) where Y is length through Hub and tf is flange thickness.
Now it is the turn to enter the Bolts and gasket parameters. Take parameters from ASME B 16.20 or ASME B 16.21 as shown below:
Check Bolt Circle Diameter, Number of Bolts and Bolt Diameter, suggested by CAESAR II in reference with ASME B 16.47, 16.5.
Correctly input for Gasket information in conjunction with ASME B 16.20 or 16.21 as applicable.
For Effective Gasket Modulus, press Shift+? Key and then follow “High End” in Help statement. Leak Pressure Ratio m, Gasket Seating Stress y shall be in accordance with ASME SECTION VIII Div.1. Values for Caesar II help can be taken by pressing Shift+?.
For Nubbin Width in the right side, Leave blank for Welding Neck Type and input Ring joint width as per the ring no. as described on ASME B 16.20 Table 3 TYPE R RING GASKET DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES for ring type joint.
Facing Sketch/ Facing Column can be inputted as follows mentioned below:
Now input the material data as shown below:
Select the material of Flange and bolt, and Input design temperature.
Flange Allowable & Bolt Allowable at design and ambient temp can be taken from CAESAR II database for particular flange and bolt material.
Flange Modulus of Elasticity shall be taken from table C-6 of ASME B-31.3.which is given in millions of psi convert it to consistent unit
Use 1.0 for Flange Allowable Stress Multiplier and 2.0 for Bolt Allowable Stress Multiplier. Use project specific data if available.
Now Input Design Pressure, Axial Force, Bending Moment from Static analysis of the Caesar file as shown below:
Now run the analysis to study the output results. Normally If safety Factor is less than one then joint failure is predicted and in output this is shown by a * mark.
If result shows failure then try to reduce the bending moment or axial force and reanalyse. If that is not possible check if the flange rating can be increased.
The content of this article is taken from web open source. The blogs are intended only to give technical knowledge to young engineers. Any engineering calculators, technical equations and write ups are only for reference and educational purpose.