Socket Weld Flange
SW Flange (Socket Weld Flange) contain a shoulder on the inside of the flange that acts as a guide to set the depth at which the pipe is welded to the flange. They are fabricated by inserting the pipe end into the flange until it bottoms out against the shoulder, and then retracting the pipe 1/8 in before welding it in place. This practice was originally employed to reduce cracking due to thermal stresses in stainless steel superheaters, but over the years has become standard practice for the installation of all socket weld flanges (SW Flange).
Socket Weld Flanges are available in pressure from 150# and up and pipe schedule 40 to schedule 160. Specifying the pipe schedule ensures that ID of the SW Flange matches the ID of pipe for smooth fluid flow.
Trupply offers SW Flange in A105N, A105, SS316, SS304, A20, High Yield & Nickel Alloys. Email sales@trupply.com for all your flange buying needs.
The video below gives an overview of socket weld flange.
Video Transcript:
This is a socket weld flange. 2 inch, raised face, 150 pound, socket weld flange. Remember, all flanges have a stamping here that shows the size, the pressure rating, the country of origin, the specification, the material. A socket weld flange, as you can see right here, has a little socket. The pipe goes in here and it fits in the socket and then you can weld it. You can see from the backside, this is a standard schedule pipe, this is a standard bore socket weld flange, and it is very flush from the backside.
On the socket weld flange, you have to specify the pipe schedule. The pipe schedule, this is a 2 inch nominal pipe, and this is a standard schedule pipe, and this is a standard schedule socket weld. The pipe schedule and the bore of the socket weld flange has to match so that there is no raised face, there is no protrusion on the backside. The difference between a socket weld flange that has a bore of schedule 40 or schedule 80 is that this inner bore will change so it matches the bore of the pipe. That’s what you’re trying to do.
Remember, on a socket weld flange, other than specifying if it’s a 150 pound or 300 pound, you also have to mention if it is for a schedule 40, schedule 80, schedule 120, schedule 160, what is the schedule of the pipe where you’re trying to use this socket weld flange.