High Grade Performance Proof on Gaskets for Bolted Flange Connections With Organic Fluids

For the “high grade performance proof” on gaskets for bolted flange connections according to TA Luft (German Clean Air Act) and VDI guideline 2440 “Emission Reduction - Mineral Oil Refineries” the pressure increase method was developed as an alternative method based on simple physical laws. The comparison of measuring results with results of the usual Helium mass spectrometry did show rather good agreement of both methods validating the pressure increase method. The advantage of the pressure increase method is the fact that a lot of volatile organic fluids can be used as test medium. It was shown that with Methanol and Ethanol the leakage rate criterion of VDI guideline 2200 for 40 bar internal pressure for a Graphite based sheet gasket often in use in chemical plants is met.Copyright © 2006 by ASME