Saturday, July 13, 2013

What You Need To Know About Bleed Rings

By Roxanne Cruz


Bleed rings are circular sections that are designed to fit between standard pipes. They get the name from the fact that they are specially designed to fit between sections and help extract substances from a pipeline. This can be for testing the substance or for some other reason. Ideally, they fit in bolt circles and between standard flanges, with the use of a conventional gasket. Their sizes vary, but usually they are based on the flange they're meant to connect to as well as the actual piping size.

One of the more common uses for them is in place of an orifice flange union. Some say that in certain types of situations, such as brown field applications, it's much easier to install the bleed ring than it is to install orifice flanges. The cost can also be considerably less expensive and that's why they are often the preferred choice.

The rings' primary use is in bleeding gas or liquid from pipes. Because of this, it's not unusual for oil companies to be among the biggest users. As well as oil companies, other firms that use pipes also use the ring, these include gas companies as well as the water companies. Because of the variety of substances that pass through the pipes, the rings are made with a variety of materials that reflect that. For instance, a PVC pipe will most likely have a ring made of the same material, as would a carbon steel pipe.

They're very convenient method of draining piping, as well as taking samples or attaching instruments. They are also great to use when bleeding a valve. When they are used in conjunction with a blind flange, they'll allow the user to relieve pipe pressure if a valve is leaking.

Purchasing them is simple. Those who only need one or two can buy one or two. Anyone wishing to purchase a full set can do the same. The sizes do vary so make sure you get the size you need. In some circumstances, a socket-weld cap might be needed. If so then these normally cost extra. At about 3/4 of an inch at their biggest and 1/2 an inch at their smallest, the user should understand that the bigger caps might affect the way the ring works.

Overseeing the standards of the industry is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). They are a non-profit group who oversee standards not just for products but for services and processes too. The organisation try to seek voluntary cooperation from industry when making proposals.

Bleed, or flushing rings as they have been called, are also used for checking the calibration for level instruments. In situations where weight or space could be an issue, such as on an offshore oil rigs, they are frequently used. It can also be a substitute for a pipe spool and it can allow you to test gas pressure.

Bleed rings have been used for many years in installations the world over. You can purchase bleed rings from specialty pipe fitting manufacturers. These places are highly likely to have off the shelf varieties which meet ANSI standards.




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