Engineers and procurement professionals always find themselves in a situation where they need to choose either camprofile gasket or spiral wound gasket. They provide reliable performance and are made for different environmental conditions, pressure classes and other specifics. Knowing the key differences between these two types of gaskets will help you pick the right solution and avoid unexpected downtime in the future.
Understanding Camprofile Gasket Structure and Working Mechanism
A camprofile gasket (it is also referred to as groove gasket or Kammprofile gasket) has solid metal body with serrations on both sealing surfaces. Usually, a layer of soft sealing material (graphite or PTFE) is applied on top of the core. Serrations dig into the flange face under pressure provided by bolt tension, thus creating an extremely tight and efficient seal.
It is characterized by good performance in case of blowout, creep and relaxation failures. The grooved metal core is designed to provide durability while soft layer allows compensation of some irregularities in the condition of a flange. That is why it works perfectly well in high temperature and high-pressure processes.
Features and Application of Spiral Wound Gasket
A spiral wound gasket consists of wound layer of metal strips and soft filler material which is usually graphite or PTFE. One of the most popular sealing devices, it offers excellent self-spring properties which allow maintaining a reliable seal even under conditions of pressure change. It is also easy to install due to spiral structure.
There are four possible structures of a spiral wound gasket:
*without any rings;
*with inner ring;
*with centering ring;
*with both types of rings.
These sealing elements are commonly applied in ANSI flanges and are widely used in oil and gas industry and power plants.
Material Composition and Differences Between Two Types
While there are no major differences between two types of gaskets regarding materials used, the main feature of camprofile gasket is that it has machined solid core which is usually made from stainless steel. Thus, it is less sensitive to temperature changes and retains shape well. In addition, grooved structure of metal body is able to withstand side forces significantly better than spiral wound core.
The spiral structure of the device creates sealing effect thanks to its deformation and compression. On the other hand, it is inexpensive and can be used in many different applications. In the event of imperfect flanges, it is preferable to use a groove gasket.
Performance in Conditions of High Temperature and Pressure
Both products provide reliable sealing effect during exposure to high temperature and pressure. While camprofile gasket works perfectly in case of operations with temperature above 300 degrees Celsius and pressure higher than Class 900, spiral wound gasket allows using it from cryogenic temperature to 1000 degrees Celsius, depending on filler type.
It is suitable for all Classes from 150 to 2500 while there is increased risk of winding deformation or separation at very high pressure levels. Spiral wound gasket is recommended only in case of moderate pressure.
Required Bolt Load and Flange Stress Levels
Another advantage of camprofile gasket is lower bolt load requirement compared to the competitor. It is very important in case of limited bolt loading capabilities or risk of deformation caused by overtightening. In a camprofile sealing system, sealing stress is concentrated at specific points of contact which is impossible with spiral wound gaskets.
In order to maintain reliable operation of spiral wound gasket, it should be under necessary bolt load which ensures proper deformation of all layers. Spiral wound gasket tends to lose its sealing ability in case of under tightening which is not possible in case of a groove gasket.
Other Products of Industrial Sealing Ecosystem
Gasket selection depends on particular industrial operation. However, complete sealing system requires usage of different types of products apart from camprofile gasket or spiral wound gasket. Among those are ring type joint sealing devices for highly pressurized pipes and valves, soft cut gasket and flat gasket which are used for air and water sealing in small diameter pipelines, and expanded PTFE gaskets for chemical processes.
Besides of that, installation requires usage of high tensile fasteners to provide exact bolt load. Metal jacket gaskets and tanged insert graphite sealing elements are often used in heating and cooling applications. Finally, compression packing and metallic lip seal can provide dynamic sealing.
Key Differences Between Two Sealing Solutions
Here are a few examples of when it is better to use camprofile gasket:
- highly exposed to thermal cycles;
- process is hazardous and zero leakage is required;
- heat exchanger shell or valve body;
- repeated re-use of the same flanges. Here is an example of when a spiral wound sealing element should be chosen:
- standard flange system;
- moderate temperature and pressure range;
- quick replacement of the gasket in the field;
- cost-effectiveness is a priority.
How Good Rich Gasket Helps You Get Necessary Gasket
Good Rich Gasket company produces a wide range of sealing solutions for almost any industrial needs, including camprofile gaskets, spiral wound gaskets and RTJ gaskets, soft cut gaskets, expanded PTFE and high tensile fasteners. Each product produced here conforms to strict international standards such as ASME, API, EN and DIN. Thus, customers are able to get exactly what is needed.
If you need technical assistance during gasket selection, professional technicians are ready to help. You can communicate with a representative via phone, email or website contact form.
Conclusion
Taking into account all aspects we considered in this article, we can say that both camprofile and spiral wound sealing devices deserve their own place in the industrial world. If you need a reliable solution which allows working with high temperature and high pressure conditions, then groove gasket is the best option.
On the other hand, in case of necessity to work in standard conditions of ANSI flanges with moderate temperature and pressure ranges, a spiral wound gasket is a better choice.
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