According to flow control experts at Celeros Flow Technology, blind flangeson pipelines around the world could be causing millions of dollars in unneeded downtime every year.
The company's pipeline access products are sold globally by Carla Connolly, Global Sales Director for the company's pipeline access products. She explains that blind flanges are frequently used on pressure vessels and pipelines because they require less initial capital investment. Perhaps it will not be until much later in the life of the installation that the reality of the ongoing overhead associated with opening such a flange will become apparent. Business owners and operators may be completely unaware that their pipeline access system is contributing to increased operational costs in some cases.
The cumulative downtime of blind flanges can result in inefficiencies and cost increases in a variety of industries, including oil and gas exploration, chemical processing, water treatment, and power generation, among others. For Connolly, it is prudent for businesses to address this issue if they wish to maintain their competitive advantage.
Fortunately, the GD Engineering brand of Celeros Flow Technology has developed a straightforward solution: the flanged GD Bandlock 2 Closure. Connolly goes on to say:
Our flanged Bandlock 2 Closures can be used to replace the Blind Flange on either new or existing installations, depending on the application. These characteristics make them particularly well suited for installations in which the operational costs associated with opening an existing blind flange are deemed uneconomical over the life of the installation.
GD Bandlock 2 Closures provide instant access to any pressure vessel, whether it is horizontally or vertically positioned. When compared to other types of quick-opening closures, they are safer and more efficient to operate. Any size unit can be opened or closed in less than a minute without the use of any special tools or equipment.
The dependable locking band mechanism that gives the series its name is a conical thrust locking band made of duplex stainless steel that is inserted between the closure door and hub and serves as the series' primary locking mechanism. Its purpose is to distribute the pressure load uniformly around the hub's entire 360-degree circumference, as shown in the illustration. Comprehensive lifecycle support is provided for these cutting-edge access solutions, including seal refurbishment / replacement and expert technical guidance on how to improve performance.
