Stainless steel flanges are used to connect pipes, valves, pumps, and other equipment in a piping system. Moreover, they provide strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, which makes them ideal for oil & gas, chemical, marine, and industrial applications.
What Are Stainless Steel Flanges?
A stainless steel flange is a metal disc or ring used to connect pipes, valves, pumps, and other equipment in a piping system. It allows for easy assembly, disassembly, and maintenance while providing a strong, corrosion-resistant joint.
Stainless steel flanges are widely used in oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment, power plants, and food industries due to their durability, high strength, and resistance to rust and chemicals.
Different Types of Stainless Steel Flanges
• Weld Neck Flange (WN)
Description:
A Stainless Steel Weld Neck Flange is a type of flange with a long tapered hub that is butt-welded to a pipe, providing superior strength and stress distribution. It is commonly used in high-pressure and high-temperature applications, such as oil & gas, chemical, and power plants.
Best For:
✔ High-pressure & high-temperature applications.
✔ Critical systems like oil refineries and power plants.
Application:
Oil & Gas Pipelines
Power Plants & Boilers
Chemical & Petrochemical Processing
High-Temperature Steam Systems
• Slip-On Flange (SO)
Description:
A Stainless Steel Slip-On Flange (SO Flange) is a type of flange where the pipe slides into the bore before welding. It is welded inside and outside for better strength and is commonly used in low to medium-pressure applications.
Best For:
✔ Low-pressure & low-temperature applications.
✔ Water pipelines, HVAC, and fire protection systems.
Application:
Water Distribution Systems
HVAC & Plumbing
Fire Protection Systems
Food & Beverage Processing
• Socket Weld Flange (SW)
Description:
A Stainless Steel Socket Weld Flange is designed for small-diameter, high-pressure piping systems. Specifically, in this design, the pipe is inserted into a socket inside the flange and is fillet welded at the top, thus providing a strong and leak-proof connection.
Best For:
✔ Hydraulic and steam lines.
✔ High-pressure applications with small pipes.
Application:
Hydraulic & Steam Systems
Oil & Gas Pipelines
Power Plants & Boilers
Marine & Offshore Industry
• Threaded Flange (TH)
Description:
A stainless steel threaded flange is a type of flange with internal threads. As a result, it can be screwed onto a pipe without welding.This makes it ideal for low-pressure applications and situations where welding is not possible or desirable, such as flammable or explosive environments.
Best For:
✔ Low-pressure & flammable environments (gas lines).
✔ Easy disassembly & maintenance.
Application:
Gas & Fuel Piping Systems
Water & Plumbing Networks
Fire Protection & Sprinkler Systems
Chemical & Petrochemical Plants
• Blind Flange (BL)
Description:
Blind flanges close off the end of a pipe or tube. As a result, piping systems commonly use them to allow for future expansion or maintenance activities. In addition, workers weld blind flanges to the pipe or tube end to prevent any flow through the pipe. Therefore, these flanges are commonly used in high-pressure and high-temperature applications.
Best For:
✔ High-pressure testing & maintenance.
✔ Oil & gas pipelines, power plants.
Application:
Oil & Gas Refineries
Chemical Processing Plants
Pressure Vessels & Storage Tanks
Water & Wastewater Treatment
• Lap Joint Flange (LJ)
Description:
Lap joint flanges are a type of stainless steel flange commonly used in applications requiring frequent dismantling. Specifically, the flange consists of two parts: a stub end and a ring. The worker slips the ring over the pipe or tube end and welds the stub end to the pipe or tube.The user can then rotate the ring to align it with the connected equipment. Industries commonly use lap joint flanges in low-pressure and non-critical applications.
Best For:
✔ Systems requiring frequent disassembly.
✔ Low-pressure, non-critical applications.
Application:
Oil & Gas Refineries
High-Temperature Steam Systems
Nuclear & Power Generation Plants
Offshore & Subsea Pipelines
Specialty Stainless Steel Flanges
Expander Flange: Acts as a weld neck flange with a built-in reducer.
Reducing Flange: Connects pipes of different diameters.
Orifice Flange: Used for flow measurement with orifice plates.
Spectacle Blind Flange: Used to block flow or allow flow when rotated.
Conclusion
Choosing the right stainless steel flange depends on:
Pressure & Temperature Requirements
Piping System Design
Industry-Specific Needs
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