Had a flange gasket let go on a 300 psi steam line yesterday

We were doing a pressure test on a new section at the plant in Toledo, and I heard that hiss before I saw the steam. It was the main feed line to the turbine, so we had to shut down and cool it fast. Took me and two other guys about four hours to get it stripped, cleaned, and a new gasket set. Anyone have a go-to brand for high pressure gaskets that hold up better than the standard ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.aaron8d ago

Man, I gotta disagree on the brand thing. I mean, idk, maybe it's just me but chasing a better gasket feels like the wrong move. The real fix is in the prep work and the bolt torque. I've seen cheap gaskets hold for years when the flange face is clean and flat and the bolts are done right. But if that surface is even a little off, the fanciest gasket you can buy is gonna blow out. It's all about the install.

david_hayes6d ago

Yeah, you're not wrong about the install being the biggest factor.

clark.adam8d ago

That 300 psi main feed line is no joke, you can't mess around. Aaron's point on prep is dead on, but saying brand doesn't matter at all is a stretch. A cheap spiral-wound gasket from a no-name supplier might seal if everything is perfect, but a quality one from a known maker has better fill and can handle a little more surface variation. It's not an either-or thing, you need both the right part and the right process.