Seal gaskets are very common spare parts for equipment. Are you installing the right gaskets in your plant? If they are not installed correctly, the gaskets can be damaged during the operation of the equipment and may even be dangerous.
What tools are needed for installation
The following equipment needs to be prepared before installation.
- A calibrated torque wrench, hydraulic torque wrench, or other tightening tool.
- Steel wire brushes, brass brushes are better.
- Helmet.
- Eye protection glasses.
- Lubricant.
- Other factory-specified tools, etc.
- Various specific tools are required to clean and tighten fasteners, and in addition, standard installation equipment must be used and safety practices must be observed.
1. Inspection and Cleaning
Removal of all foreign impurities and debris from gasket pressing surfaces, various fasteners (bolts, double-headed bolts), nuts and gaskets.
Inspection of fasteners, nuts and gaskets for burrs, cracks and other defects.
Checking the flange surface for warpage deformation, radial scratches, traces of deep tool bumps or other defects affecting the correct seating of the gasket.
If defective original parts are found, they should be replaced in time, and if there is any doubt about whether to replace them, contact the seal manufacturer in time.
2. Align the flange
Align the flange face and bolt holes.
Any failure to obtain a positive face should be reported promptly.
3. Install gaskets
Verify that the gasket conforms to the specified dimensions and the specified material.
Inspect the gasket to ensure that there are no defects.
Carefully insert the gasket between the two flanges.
Verify that the gasket is centered between the flanges.
Do not use a bonding agent or anti-adhesive agent privately unless the gasket installation instructions call for it; align the flange faces to ensure the gasket is not punctured or scratched.
4. Lubricate the stressed surface
Lubricate stressed areas only with specified or approved lubricants.
Apply sufficient lubricant to all threads, nuts and gaskets on the stressed surface.
Ensure that the lubricant does not contaminate the flange surface or the gasket surface.
5. Install and tighten bolts
- Always use the correct tool.
- Use a calibrated torque wrench, or other tightening tool that controls function.
- Consult the seal manufacturer’s technical department for torque requirements and regulations.
- tighten the nut according to the “cross symmetry principle”.
Tighten the nuts in 5 steps as follows.
Step 1: Initially tighten all nuts manually, larger nuts can be tightened with the aid of a small hand wrench.
Step 2: tighten each nut to roughly 30% of the full torque required.
Step 3: tighten each nut to roughly 60% of the full torque required.
Step 4: tighten each nut again using the “cross symmetry principle” to achieve 100% of the required full torque.
Note: Large diameter flange can be used more times to carry out the above steps
Step 5: Tighten all the nuts one by one in clockwise direction at least once to reach the full torque required.
6. Tighten the bolts again
Note: Consult the seal manufacturer’s technical department for guidelines and recommendations on re-torquing bolts.
Non-asbestos gaskets and gaskets containing rubber components that have been used at high temperatures must not be tightened again (unless otherwise specified).
fasteners that have received a corrosive thermal cycle and need to be tightened again.
Re-tightening should be carried out at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure.