Getting To Know: Spiral Wound Gaskets

The Outer Ring

The outer ring, sometimes called the centering or guide ring, is used to center the gasket when you insert it into a bolted flange joint. Typically, bolts are on the joint to ensure positioning when placing the gasket on. This outer ring is usually constructed out of carbon steel.

Sealing Element

The sealing element also referred to as the spiral winding, is the area that creates the seal and prevents any leaks. This area also has the filler material and the spiral wounds that create the proper seal. The filler material for the oil and gas industry is usually made from PTFE or a flexible graphite material that is rated for high temperatures.

Inner Ring

The inner ring is an important part of the spiral wound gasket. This section of the gasket prevents and buckling or any sort of damage to the gasket itself. This is important as damage caused to the gasket could go through the pipeline and cause damage internally to the pipe or the pump. This part of the ring is not necessary but will prevent damage to the filler material if thrown around or in high-pressure sealing situations.

Installing spiral wound gaskets can be a difficult task. To ensure you install these gaskets properly, here are some tips that will make it easy to get the job done! Before you continue to read these tips, contact the manufacturer of your gasket to ensure the proper steps are taken so you can install spiral wound gaskets!

The first thing you want to do is clean and examine the flange. Dust off any material or debris left on the sealing surface to ensure a proper fitting. Next, you want to align the flanges parallel to each other. Excessing spacing, the space between the 2 flanges is more than twice the gasket thickness, you should stop and consult an engineer. Do not over-tighten think the flanges will come together.

After aligning the flanges, inspect the spiral wound gasket for any defects, debris, or damages. Insert 2-3 bolts through the flanges first, then guide the gasket on the flange. The bolts are there to help align and center the flange perfectly. After loading the gasket on the flange, ensure proper lubrication is applied to the load-bearing surfaces. Do not apply the lubricant to either the gasket or the sealing surface.

Once the gasket is properly placed, it is time to finish the installation and tighten the bolts. Before tightening the bolts, it is important to check if the bolt can handle the level of stress and torque needed for the bolting material. While tightening the nut, ensure the flanges are as parallel as possible to avoid under or over-tightening the bolt. The absolute best way to easily tighten all the bolts is to do a crisscross pattern much like you are with a wheel of a car. This should take about 5 different rounds. 1 round by hand tightens by 20%. For rounds 2-4, tighten with a torque driver of 30%,60%, and 100%. Finally, at the 5th and final round, ensure all nuts are uniform and tight.

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