ENGINEERINGlocation_on Typical Applications
Typical Application: Heat Exchanger Flange Separation During Plant Shutdowns
This is a typical application scenario provided for reference. It does not describe a specific customer project.
Reference setup for separating and re-aligning high-pressure heat exchanger flanges during maintenance shutdowns using hydraulic flange spreaders and alignment tools.
Typical application scenario — this page describes how our equipment is commonly configured for this type of job. It is a reference, not a specific customer project.
Scenario
During plant shutdowns, heat exchanger and pipeline flanges have to be opened for inspection and gasket replacement. After long service at high temperature, gaskets often stick, and flanges can be hard to separate without damaging the faces.
Typical challenges
- Stuck gaskets and tight flange gaps
- Congested pipe racks with limited access
- Tight shutdown schedules
Equipment usually used
- HFS-W Series hydraulic flange wedges — separate flanges evenly from a small gap
- HFS-I Series stepped flange spreaders
- HFA Series flange alignment tools — re-align flanges before closing
- HNC Series nut cutters — for seized nuts that cannot be removed
Typical procedure
- Remove or cut the nuts, then place spreaders or wedges at two or more points.
- Open the flange evenly and fit safety blocks before working between the faces.
- Replace the gasket, re-align the flanges and close them in a controlled way.
- Tighten the bolts following the required pattern.
Send us flange class, size and access conditions, and we will help choose the right tools.