What conditions should flanges meet for the gauge manufacturer?

Do you or your customer need to install a gauge in a pipe? If so, you can realize the connections in different ways. But the best way to do so is by using flanges. Why exactly? And what requirements do the flanges and their manufacturer have to meet? We will go over the basics below. You can find all the necessary details in our checklist.

Download our quality checklist

The reason why it is best to use flanges when installing a measuring instrument is the ease of maintenance afterwards. If the instrument is ever in need of replacement, you can easily remove it and fit a new one in its stead.

Flanges are therefore often used to integrate flow and pressure gauges or temperature probes into the pipework or to place a level gauge on a vessel. This is the case for numerous applications in all kinds of sectors, from the (petro) chemical to the food industry. For this purpose, the flanges must meet several crucial conditions.

Extreme precision is required

If your own company or customer needs flanges to connect a level gauge or gauge glass, you can often use standard flanges, with standard dimensions and tolerances. Here, the tolerated deviations do not affect the measurement result.

However, when you need to monitor pressure, flow or temperature, you will have to be able to measure even more precisely. This means that the flanges have to be made even more accurately, with lower margins for error.

Customization is often needed

Can only minimal deviations of the flange be allowed? Then there is a good chance that your flanges not only need to be extremely precise but also made to measure.

The connection of these flanges is standard so that they fit perfectly on the already installed standard flanges of the pipework, with the bolts precisely in the same places. However, the inner work needs to be exactly made-to-measure.

In quality material

This high-precision, made-to-measure flange must always be manufactured in high-quality material. After all, the instrument is a crucial part of the piping work. A part that must at all times provide very accurate measurements, regardless of the dynamic influences to which it is subject. Ideally also during a long life span.

As a result, the measuring instrument must be made of the right material, of the right quality. If this is not the case, the instrument will generate incorrect measurement results due to corrosion after a few months to years.

Quality ensures safety

One of the reasons why the quality of the flanges is so essential is safety in the factory. Wherever gauges are installed in pipes or attached to vessels, there is a potential risk of leakage. Not so much if water runs through the pipes, under low pressure, but definitely when sulfuric acid flows through, under high pressure. Then nothing may go wrong.

As long as the flanges are made precisely according to your specifications, technical drawing and supplied standards, they will reduce that risk of leakage.

How can you be sure of all this?

How can you be sure that the flanges for your measuring instruments are guaranteed to remain within the minimum tolerated size deviations? Or that their interior fits the instrument’s inner diameter perfectly, minimizing the risk of erroneous measurements? And that the flanges are made in the right quality material?

With the required tests

On the one hand, of course, by having the necessary tests carried out, to check that the material of the flanges indeed meets the standards, to obtain the necessary certificates. The more critical the application, the further you take it. The test can be carried out by the manufacturer himself, followed by a second test by an external inspection organization.

With a thorough audit

The gauge builder can also audit the manufacturer himself. He will then be able to check the internal quality control system and place a test order to check whether the made flanges exactly meet his requirements. A manufacturer who pursues quality will gladly assist in this process.

With the insights from our checklist

We spoke to you about the importance of precise dimensions, customization and quality material. To make sure that flanges for gauges meet these requirements, you can have them extensively tested and audit the manufacturer. But even before you order, you need to know what precision, quality and customization entail and how to ensure them.

Read the answers in our quality checklist

Which manufacturer can supply you with these flanges?

Extremely accurate in terms of dimensions, precisely tailored to the interior of your measuring instrument, in guaranteed quality material, and also in small quantities, because you only need two flanges per instrument? Also quickly delivered, because you don’t have the custom made flanges in stock?

These are precisely the assets that make Anita Steel & Metals unique on the market. Not only do we produce extremely reliable flanges in all kinds of special shapes and materials according to your technical plan, but we also do it speedily. On average, we deliver worldwide within one to two weeks. This swiftness is due to our extensive stock of semi-finished products and our flexible production, fully focused on fast top quality.

Contact us today