A ring flange functions as a joint component when creating a reliable piping system. The ring flange is a metal ring that sits on a groove to seal a pipe’s joints when extending to another pipe in the system.
Application
According to piping-designer’s website, a ring flange is used for high-pressure seals. Its design is dependable for PSI that is higher than other flanges installed in pipe systems. They can withstand and seal under tremendous pressure: up to 15,000 psi. These are also known as “ring type joint flanges” or the abbreviated RTJF for help in locating these or referring to them when speaking to a professional or searching for this piece of hardware in the marketplace.
Cons
According to piping-designer, these flanges more-easily can accumulate dirt and water when the flange is open. Additionally, there is less margin for error in avoiding leaks–as a small bit of damage can cause leaking, as can the alignment just being a little bit off.
Pros
Piping-designer makes mention of this ring flange’s strength and the double-seal it has as a joint of a piping system. Additionally, the flange virtually secures/seals itself each time it’s being used–as pressure pushes through the piping system. There are different kinds of RTJF as well: blind, slip, threaded, or weld-neck. These different types of flange have different applications and strengths, so the correct one can be selected for each unique job.
Strengths In Flanges
Why not just weld piping together to form a strong bond within a system? This works in some instances, but there are certainly benefits to utilizing a piece of hardware like a ring flange instead of welding. As already mentioned, this type of flange can withstand very powerful amounts of pressure and, as mentioned HW Flange Metal Co.’s website, make a system much easier to clean and do maintenance on. If there are only welds in a piping system, the entire system needs to be taking apart which is costly and time-consuming. Meanwhile, if the system utilizes flanges (like ring flanges) throughout, a problem can be isolated in the system and the problem can be addressed with much greater ease.
Flanges At Home
One of the most popular types of flanges is the connection between the common household toilet and the piping it is connected to. Homeowners want the fit to be tight between a toilet and the subsequent piping. This connection is made with a flange instead of welding. Working at home to move water from point A to point B can require a ring flange–especially if the pressure is higher than normal. Places like Home Depot or Lowe’s sell flanges for a wide variety of prices depending on the flange quality, material, and application. These can be as inexpensive as a few dollars but can range up into the hundreds of dollars for more expensive models or industrial/commercial use. According to PETOL’s website, where one could buy specialty tools for flange maintenance and installation–there is a variety of tools necessary to work on this hardware.