Static and experimental assessment of insulating flanges

Flanges are a tried and proven fastening method for high-pressure pipelines which as such requires no explanation. Insulating flanges represent a special case. In addition to the electrical demands, they entail high mechanical loads on the insulating material, because the forces from the pipeline system have to be transmitted locally by a material whose strength properties are significantly lower than those of steel, which is the material otherwise used. These stresses become significant where high tensile and bending loads may occur in the pipeline system in addition to the internal pressure loads. This is particularly so in the case of high-pressure gas installations. The following details how insulating flanges are rated for such cases, and how their correct technical design can be verified by measurement in the course of acceptance testing.