Did you know that the U.S. has more than 1,382,569 miles of pipeline stretching across America? That means hundreds of billions of tons of liquid petroleum products and trillions of tons of cubic feet of natural gas are crisscrossing the nation in pipes that have to be connected. For the majority of connections, the long weld neck flange does the job.
Weld neck pipe flanges come in two different neck sizes: the standard weld neck flange and the long weld neck flange. Although they have some similarities, they are different in the job they do for the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry.
What Is a Weld Neck Flange?
A high-strength forge product, the weld neck flange is most commonly used in connecting piping and components in a piping system. The welding of this flange allows for a strong connection that is easy to assemble and disassemble as needed for regular maintenance and repair.
When piping systems need a flanged joint, weld neck flanges connect the two pieces with a butt weld joint, the most common joint employed in fabrication welded pipe systems. To butt weld a flange to a pipe, the flange is butted up to the pipe, and a welder welds the entire circumference of the connection. Welding the neck makes a strong connection and is a good choice for pressure vessels and other high-pressure applications such as drilling rig standpipes.
What Is A Long Weld Neck Flange?
Long weld neck flanges (also known as LWN) have an extended neck that acts as a boring extension and is longer than a standard weld neck flange. Welded neck flanges are easy to recognize because they have a long tapered hub that reduces its size from the pipe to the fitting. Industrial long weld neck flanges are used in high pressure industrial applications and in high temperature situations as well.
Often used in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, long neck flanges are also known as nozzles and can be used to replace pipes. A standard weld neck flange’s tip has a weld prep at its neck, but the long weld neck flange neck has a square cut on the end and not a schedule bore. Long weld neck flanges come in a variety of lengths with the most common being 9 inches, 12 inches, and 16 inches. Lengths are based on the parts needed for each application, so no universal standard length exists for these industrial long neck flanges.
Long weld neck flanges have a beveled flange so that it fits with the pipe for added strength. Long weld neck flange connections improve pipe flow. Additionally, piping systems are safer when reinforced with long weld neck flanges. This kind of flange helps to balance pressure and temperature changes in the liquid that is flowing in the pipeline.
Long weld neck flanges are often found as anchors in water mains. Because they can withstand higher pressures, this flange can be used to connect larger networks of pipes, such as those in a factory. Long weld neck flanges can also be used in expansion bends or extending or reducing pipe sizes.
Now that you know the difference between a standard and long neck weld flanges, you can decide which one is right for your application. When you are in the market for industrial long weld neck flange, contact a reputable flange distributor like Lynco Flange & Fitting that deals only in high-strength forged products like long weld neck flanges. No matter what kind of pipe fitting you need, be sure every part comes from a trusted source so that will have only the highest quality. When dealing with high pressure oil and gas piping systems, you need the best long neck weld flanges on the market.