Slip-on flange is a popular type of pipe flange designed to accept pipe into the bore/center of the flange for welding around both the Outer Diameter (OD) of the pipe and on the interior side of the connection. You may recognize them:
The slip-on flange is a simple and excellent alternative to a weld neck as it does not have a weld bevel, and therefore allows the pipe to be adjusted in length relative to its position of the flange.
The bore of the slip on will give ample amount of space for the matching pipe. This allows for enough working space for the welder and fabricator to make the connection.
This flange type is extremely common in lower pressure applications. Most slip on style flanges will have a hub which will often appear similar dimensionally to a raised face. It can be furnished without a hub if space is limited and the application allows for a “ring style” slip on.
Slip ons in higher pressure classes are often made with the height of a lap joint for a better connection. If the hub height is not a concern and a lap joint is not readily available, customers will sometimes opt for a slip on made to a lap joint style with a machined hub.
This is because a slip on style flange will accept a pipe with a fillet weld connection, whereas a weld neck flange will have a reinforced hub at the base and form a weld bevel connection directly to the butt weld end of a pipe. This tapered hub allows for stronger service in a mechanical stress environment.
Slip-on (SO) flanges come in two main types: SO welding plate flanges and SO welding hubbed steel pipe flanges.
These flanges balance integral and lap joint flanges with a straightforward design and easy processing. Consequently, slip-on flange welding finds extensive applications in various fluid pipelines.
The raised face slip-on flange features a small protrusion on its bottom face. This raised face serves as a designated area for gasket placement during installation, enhancing the overall sealing performance.
In the case of RTJ slip-on flanges, a small groove is precision-machined on the raised face section. This unique RTJ design is intended explicitly for high-pressure applications, providing a compelling groove for gasket ring placement and ensuring superior sealing compared to the RF type.