Gaskets don’t fail - bolted joint assemblies do

When maintenance engineers encounter leaking process equipment, the simple gasket or seal all too often takes the blame. In the majority of cases however, traditional installation practices produce errors which lessen the reliability of the bolt and seal combination on the joint concerned.

In his seminar presentation at Maintec 2014, Adrian Jefferies, a Senior Project Engineer at sealing engineering specialist James Walker, will illustrate the best practice in bolted joint assembly by using measurement of the installed bolt loads. The factors affecting the reliability of bolted joints will be explained, along with examples of how leaks on critical equipment in refineries and nuclear plant have been eliminated using this approach. Both reliability and speed of installation are improved by the use of tension measurement control, not only providing cost savings but also enhancing safety and environmental performance.

Bolted joint integrity is one of the cornerstones of the James Walker Total Cost of Ownership Reduction Programme through which the company is helping its customers to reduce maintenance costs and improve plant performance. By carrying out detailed investigation and root cause analysis of leakage and seal or joint failures, James Walker engineers are able to prescribe a detailed solution complete with product specifications, fitting and maintenance regimes and, where necessary, any re-engineering of the components concerned.

James Walker will be exhibiting a comprehensive range of products and services at Maintec on stand M4F.