Spiral Wound - centering rings

[mel124]

Dear all,

we have some leakage problem with spiral wound gaskets (installed in piping connections). One possible solution suggested is to reduce the outer ring thickness to 2.0 mm. What do you think about that ?
Have you any negative experience of this solution ?

 

[bk19702]

Need a better visual on what you are describing or thinking of doing. A picture may better explain it.

In general with spiral wound gaskets I would verify that your bolt torque / tightening procedure is in order before you go and customize the gasket.

 

[gasketguru]

Thinner guide rings are a bad idea...

Check that the original manufacture is a reputable brand and that you have the correct installation loads and procedures to start with.

If you try to over-compress a spiral, then the V-windings become too "sharp" and tend to try and cut through the filler turns as the joint tightens within itself. (Not easy to explain properly here...)

Don't forget to check that your surface finish is not too deep, as I have seen problems where although the correct pitch of serrations has been made, the gramophone groove on the flange was too deep (on a Monel flange in this case...) and there was a leak underneath the gasket as the filler above the windings couldn't reach the bottom of the flange finish and make an effective seal, and a spiral leak-path resulted.