The Benefits of Using Flange Plates

Flange plates are simple but effective pieces of metal that can connect different pipes, valves, and even entire piping systems. There are various types of flanges and each one of them has its own purpose, be it for multiple things or specifically made to fit one type of pump or pipe, like the orifice or the expander flange. Flanges are mainly used to make it easier for factories or individuals to assemble big piping systems or to fix a small issue without making too much of a mess. They provide the connection between the exhaust manifold and the tube segments, thus ensuring an unobstructed path for the flow of exhaust gases.

Not only do they eliminate welding as the primary process for assembling pipe spools, but flange plates also serve as a great alternative to provide easy access for the inspection, cleaning and even modification (if needed) of the piping system after the pipe spooling is finished. The only additional process is going to be the repairing of paint damages if any occurs during the assembly. There is also no need for painting, NDO (X-ray, Hydro) or blasting in the plant afterward because all that has been done in the workshop beforehand and with a new line, there can be multiple spool pipes which can be manufactured in the workshop as well.

There’s a selection of flange plate materials, like bronze, aluminium, cast iron, stainless and high-grade steel, that you can choose from according to the needs of your project, as they are meant to serve different purposes. The type of flange material will have to match the material of the pipe. Also, flanged connections are better than welded connections because there are no standards that regulate when a flange connection needs to be made and that’s why newly-installed factories use customary flanges which reduce the overall cost of the flange.

If you are a DIY fanatic, flanges will definitely be your new best friend, as they allow you to assemble your own pipes or change the flange gasket on your car’s exhaust. They only need a certain amount of bolts (depending on the type of flange) on every flange connection which makes them very modular and they also fit the outer diameter of most AMCE and JIS pipes. With flange plates, you have the option to change the whole system or just a part of it, which is not the case when the pipe spools are welded.