SAFETY IN THE PLANT 


Dynamic sealing solutions prevent fugitive emissions


 Control and management of fugitive emissions is becoming even more important for safety compliance, spawning a host of novel sealing solutions. Eugene McCarthy reports.


 Die Steuerung und Handhabung diffuser Emissionen wird für die Sicherheit, einen Altbestand neuer Dichtungslösungen zu erzeugen noch wichtiger. Eugene McCarthy berichtet.


 Le contrôle et la gestion des émissions diffuses ont gagné en importance pour se conformer aux règles de sécurité, faisant émerger une foule de nouvelles solutions d’étanchéisation. Selon Eugene McCarthy.


M


arking another industry first for Flexitallic, the company says its Change gasket delivers a more


dynamic seal with superior compression and recovery than any other gasket on the market. Five years in the making, the Change


gasket represents the development of a novel sealing construction which utilises a new advanced welding process to engineer a resilient metal-wound gasket. Change can be supplied with


Thermiculite, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or graphite filler combined with a wide variety of metals, making it suitable for an extensive range of applications, particularly heat exchangers and pressure vessels. Exclusive to Flexitallic, Thermiculite


gasket material can be utilised in systems that operate at extreme process temperatures, from cryogenics to temperatures in excess of 1000°C. Due to its insulating and fire-safe properties it is also highly effective at preventing corrosion. The Change gasket comes hot on the


heels of Flexitallic’s Flange Rescue Gasket (FRG), which recently won the prestigious NACE 2013 corrosion innovation of the year award. The company says that the FRG


revolutionised the industry by being the first ever solution to seal damaged flanges without the need for replacement or machining. Created in direct response to an


industry-wide issue, the FRG reduces the lengthy and costly process of flange maintenance in corrosive environments. The gasket is fabricated from highly- compressible Sigma PTFE to ensure the FRG conforms to damaged flange surfaces to seal and prevent further deterioration. The bright, easily identifiable FRG


has a Fluoropolymer coated body which is corrosion resistant and features integral bolt holes for ease of installation and ensuring correct location. Superior


9 ECE


mechanical integrity allows the use of the full range of torque - reducing the risk of operator error in order to meet stringent health and safety standards, not least those covering fugitive emissions. Russ Currie, head of engineering at


Flexitallic, said: “The Change gasket comes at an important time for the industry when further improvements in joint integrity are being sought and there is a renewed focus on prevention of hydrocarbon leaks. Change has out- performed all alternative gaskets tested to date, including our own gaskets, but we are continually looking to prove and improve our technology. We are engaging with companies that have troublesome applications to challenge Change, which will dramatically improve their performance.”


Fig. 1. One of the three Garlock valve stem packing products successfully tested to ISO and API standards for control and leakage of VOCs.


Meanwhile Flowserve Corporation has signed a collaborative agreement with Advanced Diamond Technologies (ADT) to become the exclusive developer and


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