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 KaMOS® RTJ Gasket
By using an unique patented technique KaMOS has developed a sealing arrangement for pipe systems which incorporates surveillance of flange conventions for all sizes.
The method is new and will be able to provide a quick and effective control as to whether the flange connection is intact before the flange receives system pressure. This will offer large safety benefits. The risk of leaks after maintenance actions will be reduced. Experience shows this to have been a safety problem. It will also offer major economic savings since the test method is significantly faster than traditional leak testing. Production can recommence faster after a maintenance action.
Also, there will be savings in the volumes of nitrogen / helium used since the tester requires only tiny amounts of gas.
The principe applied in the leak test is based on pressurizing the annual space above and below the seal ring using nitrogen gas. If no pressure loss is experienced in this pressurization, the seal is deemed tight. The test pressure is applied to the annular space by drilling a hole trough the flange into one of the annular spaces. Pressure can be equilibrated between the annular spaces by drilling a hole through the seal ring from the upper to the lower annual space.
ADVANTAGES OF USING THE KaMOS RTJ GASKET
* The flange is tested for leaks before the process pressure is applied
* Flanges that would not otherwise be leak or pressure tested (such as blind flanges to isolate spools) can be tested
* Certainty that the seal actually seals all contact surfaces (primary and secondary sides)
* Time of testing is significantly reduced, resulting in significantly less downtime due to leak testing
* Equipment is simple and easy to use
* Necessary volumes of nitrogen required for testing are minimal, so therefore large quantities of nitrogen and helium will be saved compared with conventional leak testing
* The method can also be used for continuous monitoring of seals by equipping the annular space with an indicator of gas pressure
* The pressurization line can be used to feed in liquid sealant in case of emergency.
* Future surveillance for leakages of flanged connections
* The tester will offer a safety benefit and an economic benefit because at an early stage it will detect flange connections which are basically leaky.
* DNV approved, the new method is reported to have compared favorably with conventional methods in test program run at the Statoil F&U laboratory and has over the past year been adapted for a number of projects by Total, Cameron, Norsk Hydro, Statoil and Shell UK.
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