Gaskets for Steam Pipe Joints

What is the maximum temperature and pressure of the steam?

25 bar absolute. He's provided the pressure. Since the steam is saturated, he's also implied the temperature.

In that case whatever is used, it must be able to withstand a temperature in excess of 221degC.

As per post #2, temperature-compatibility seems to be only one of many factors

....which is why the mode of failure needs a more adequate description.

It might be that they are not following the proper "Bolt Tightening Procedure.

They should check this web site and read all the data.

http://www.piping-designer.com/Bolt_Tightening_Procedure

Hello PP,

Wow: Great new graphics! Unfortunately, this resource like so many others, falls well short in an attempt to provide a complete procedure: One can use calibrated torque wrenches to apply the proper torque in the correct pattern but, the bolts may be left too loose or, even too tight!

"Torque" isn't a metric of bolt tightness.

In order to ensure that the correct clamp load has been achieved, one must verify this. Basing it on the torque value is a blatant guess! Might as well consult the Oracles or throw some chicken bones

Proper clamp force can be verified by the measurement of a bolt's elongation after it's been tightened. Elongation is directly proportional to a fastener's load as long as it hasn't gone beyond yield. The torque to load relationship is, on the other hand, quite dubious.

If a bolt hasn't stretched sufficiently, more "torque" is applied. The fastener is loosened if the measured elongation is greater than expected. From this, it should be clear that whenever encountering a flange in which all the bolts have been "torqued to the same value, the alarm bells should go off

Hi Sathilkar,

My frined in Mumbai is mfg. gaskets suitable for high temp. He is supplying regularly to Mukund Steel. If you are interested then please send me message in inbox I will ask him to contact you.

Sures Sharma.

we used to use flexitalic gaskets in flanges subject to frequent shock and heating and cooling (steam deck winches used only during times of refueling). Where we used flat gasket material, we would often coat them with a compound called "leak stop'--it was asbestos fiber mixed with grease, probably no longer available. But look around for gasket compound. Make sure you're drawing the bolts finger tight all around, then very gently go about a quarter turn on each bolt in a cross pattern until you can tighten no more with a six inch wrench (or to spec with a torque wrench, which for some reason I rarely saw in an engineering department on any ship). (Maybe they were quickly stolen and sold--they aren't cheap.) slowly bring up the pressure and temperature. Always open valves very gingerly when working with saturated steam--you'll always encounter a water hammer which will detroy many gaskets as it slams into pipe angles. If the problem is a single flange, you have probably accidentally bent the pipes so the flange isn't meeting squarely or, as someone mentioned, the flanges themselves might be worn down . Replace the pipes and the flanges. It's the only way. If you're encountering it with many pipes and flanges, then you should suspect that the gasket material or your installation are not up to spec. Another possibility, if this is a new problem: your gauge is no longer accurate and you're putting too much pressure on the line. replace the gauge and test it.

http://dir.indiamart.com/impcat/high-temperature-gaskets.html

http://www.thomex.com/oneclick/gaskets-33.html

Try Flexitallic Spiral Wound Gaskets, 304ss/Grafoil filler. CM @ Seal Science

as pressure is 25 bar , u should go for 600 class metallic spiral wound gaskets, nd make sure flanges are clean, and try to improve the pipe circuit by giving steam traps in it, coz condensate in lines tends to fail the weakest joint which is gasket

Summary: BIRKOSIT - sealing compound ® has been used for 50 years on Siemens turbines. [product development 1952 with Siemens] Without the additional sealing of individual pressure areas using BIRKOSIT - sealing compound ® the production imprecision or the distortion under loads are no longer evened out, which means that the turbine areas in the individual pressure areas become permeable under pressure. This means the turbine loses power, and can even lead to unplanned reconditioning. Application/Costs/Summary at Siemens AG Power Generation Mülheim location in steam and gas turbines Turbine output from 1 - 150 MW Individual areas of application: -> Sealing surfaces (butt joints) in the pressure area turbine halves. [consumption: on average 3 to 5 tins] [Time required: usually approx. 40-60 minutes] -> Sealing surfaces (butt joints) inside the pressure area turbine halves. casing guide blade carriers] [consumption: on average 1 to 2 tins] [Time required: usually approx. 20-30 minutes] -> High-pressure stage of the turbines. -> Medium-pressure stage of the turbines. -> Low-pressure stage of the turbines. [not used] know more at http://india.birkosit.com

For steam it is probably best to use a graphite gasket material. You can download a useful gasket material selector chart here http://www.ramgaskets.co.uk/uploads/Gasket_Materials_Selector.pdf.

Wake up and smell the roses: It's likely not just the gasket that's at fault. In fact, the existing gasket choice may be perfectly suitable!

Everybody has their favourite gasket to recommend. Unfortunately, unless the OP understands and addresses the root cause, he'll be continuously looking for a "better" gasket.

Dear Mr.shathilkar,

A similar topic appeared, sometime back in cr4 forum and you can search in this forum and you will get a good amount of suggestions.

Since the pressure is 25 bar (you have mentioned 25 bara - bar itsrlf is in absolute pressure) you can use 3 MM or 5 MM copper sheet after annealing and it will serve the purpose.

Since melting temp. of copper is very high - and your super heated temp. of steam will be below 545 Deg.C ( I presume) you can use this joint any number of times, but when you remove it due to some reason, annaealing is very compulsory and you have to anneal it before use around 200 Deg.C

This practise is followed by many factories and works well.

Dhayanandhan.S