Proceedings of the ASME 2018

Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference

PVP2018
July 15-20, 2018, Prague, Czech Republic

PVP2018-84907

ASME B16.20 JACKETED GASKETS PERFORMANCE TESTING

Joel Baulch Carlos D. Girão José Veiga

Teadit North America Teadit Ltda Teadit Ltda
Houston, TX, USA Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

Scott Hamilton
Hex Technology
Austin, TX, USA

ABSTRACT In the paper PVP2017-65371 (7) the authors have proposed

a test protocol to evaluate ASME B16.20 spiral wound gaskets.
Jacketed gaskets have widespread use in the industry. The The leakage criteria is based upon the API 624 - Type Testing of
current revision of ASME B16.20-2017 provides several details Rising Stem Valves Equipped with Graphite Packing for
of jacketed gasket construction and dimensions for use on ASME Fugitive Emissions(8), that defines as low leak valves a
B16.5 or ASME B16.47 flanges. However, it does not currently concentration 100 ppm, using Methane (CH4) as media and a
provide a testing protocol to evaluate the sealing performance of Volatile Organic Compound Analyzer (VOC) such as the type
this gasket style. This paper reports sealability and compression TVA 2020 from Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.(9). The gasket
results with distinct sizes of jacketed gaskets tested based on the seating stress criteria are based upon the flange pressure class.
protocol proposed in ASME B16.20 - Spiral Wound Gaskets This protocol has been, with a few minor changes, incorporated
Performance Testing. in the latest revision of the ASME B16.20 dated December 29,
2017 as Paragraph SW-2.6 Performance Testing.
INTRODUCTION The objective of the present paper is to evaluate jacketed
gaskets following a similar performance testing protocol that has
Jacketed gaskets (JG) have widespread use in the Process been introduced for spiral wound gaskets.
Industry for equipment applications like heat exchangers and
pressure vessels. Even though the ASME Standard B16.20 NOMENCLATURE
Metallic Gaskets for Pipe Flanges (1) provides the Jacketed
Gaskets design and dimensions for flanges per ASME B16.5 (2) p: pressure
and B16.47(3) they have limited usage by the industry. For Shell bar: pressure, 1 bar = 14.50377 psi
and Tube Heat Exchangers, jacketed gaskets have been under MPa: pressure, mega Pascal
criticism due to poor sealability in gaseous service (4,5) and radial psi: pressure in pounds per square inch
shear in thermal cycling (6). Due to this poor performance, they ksi: pressure, 1ksi = 1000 psi
have gradually been replaced in Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger kg: kilogram
applications by Grooved Metal Gaskets with Covering Layers mg: milligram
(GMCL) or by Corrugated Metal with Covering Layers lb: pound weight
(CMCL). s: second
The current revision of ASME B16.20 provides several m: meter
details of gasket construction and dimensions. However, there is in: inch
no standard test protocol to evaluate their sealability. ppmV: parts per million by volume
LRm: mass leak rate

1 Copyright © 2018 ASME

Downloaded From: https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org on 02/12/2019 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

 JG: Jacketed Gaskets With the definition of the gasket outside diameter it is
NPS: nominal pipe size possible to calculate the maximum leak rate per gasket size. The
SOD: gasket sealing area outside diameter value for a designated gasket nominal diameter is the same for
SID: gasket sealing area inside diameter all pressure classes. Values are shown in Table 2.
GL: gross leakage

Table 1 – Gasket Sealing Area Outside Diameter (SOD)

LEAKAGE CRITERIA NPS (in) SOD (in) SOD (mm)
1/2 1.37 34.9
The performance testing introduced by ASME B16.20-2017 1.69
3/4 42.9
in Paragraph SW-2.6 for spiral wound gaskets establishes the
1 2.00 50.8
value for evaluation of the leak rate as follows (metric and
imperial values respectively): 1 1/4 2.50 63.5
1 1/2 2.87 73.0

. 2 3.63 92.1
.
2 1/2 4.13 104.8
or
3 5.00 127.0
. . 4 6.19 157.2
5 7.31 185.7
The maximum leak rate is calculated by multiplying the 6 8.50 215.9
above value by the gasket winding outside dimension as shown 8 10.63 269.9
in Table SW-2.1-1. 10 12.75 323.8
The gasket design for jacked gaskets per ASME 16.20 12 15.00 381.0
is shown in Figure 1. 14 16.25 412.8
16 18.50 469.9
18 21.00 533.4
20 23.00 584.2
24 27.25 692.2

Table 2 – Gasket maximum leak rate

Concentration
NPS (in)
(ppmV)
1/2 135
3/4 166
1 197
1 1/4 246
1 1/2 283
2 357
2 1/2 406
3 492
Figure 1 – Jacketed Gasket Design per ASME B16.20 4 610
5 720
The above figure shows that using the gasket outside 6 837
diameter to obtain the maximum leak rate is not feasible since a
8 1047
portion of the gasket protrudes beyond the flange raised face. To
10 1256
determine the maximum leak per gasket it is necessary to have
12 1477
the gasket sealing area outside diameter
14 1601
As shown in Figure 1 the gasket sealing outside
16 1822
diameter is the same as the raised face portion of the flange for
18 2068
ASME B16.20 designed gaskets. Values are shown in Table 1. It
20 2265
is important to notice that the flange raised face outside diameter
24 2684
is the same as a designated nominal diameter regardless of the
pressure class.

2 Copyright © 2018 ASME

Downloaded From: https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org on 02/12/2019 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

 SEATING STRESS CRITERIA Table 3- Gasket stresses in psi for 22.5 ksi bolt stress
NPS Pressure Class
(in) 150 300 400 600 900 1500 2500
To establish the seating stress for each flange size and 1/2 12975 12975 12975 12975 31162 31162 31162
pressure class, consider that all gaskets meet ASME B16.20 3/4 9140 14666 14666 14666 21952 21952 21952
1 8231 13207 13207 13207 27450 27450 27450
dimensions. 1 1/4 5318 8534 8534 8534 17736 17736 23308
We have considered two scenarios for the minimum 1 1/2 3869 9291 9291 9291 16955 16955 22393
seating stress. A “low end” case for ASTM A193(10) B8 Class 1 2 4773 9546 9546 9546 19840 19840 26073
2 1/2 4137 12385 12385 12385 22600 22600 29849
Stainless Steel bolt, a weak material in the ASTM series, which 3 3340 9998 9998 9998 13882 24095 30761
has a yield stress of 30 ksi (210MPa). And a “high end case” for 4 4063 6081 8444 8444 14656 18711 28301
ASTM A193 B7 Alloy Steel bolt, a strong material in the ASTM 5 3965 3965 5505 7235 12199 18452 25990
6 4324 6487 9007 11837 15633 24816 37987
series, which has a yield stress of 105 ksi (720MPa). For all cases
8 2780 5789 7608 10049 15952 23202 36626
the gasket seating stress was calculated considering a bolt load 10 4014 7033 9288 11858 14745 22050 41084
corresponding to approximately 75% of the yield stress of each 12 3371 7801 9960 12450 15480 28435 50855
material. A third point corresponding to approximately 50% of 14 4072 8964 11444 14230 17310 33728 -
16 4098 8637 10739 13064 15621 31918 -
the yield stress of the ASTM A193 B7 was also added to the 18 4740 9077 11286 13680 18753 34253 -
evaluation. The three bolt stress values are: 22.5 ksi (155MPa), 20 4737 7258 10977 13126 17267 32940 -
50.0 ksi (325MPa) and 80.0 ksi (550MPa). Tables 3, 4 and 5 24 5068 9199 12958 15079 23413 38186 -

show the seating stress for each case.

Since the gasket sealing area is the same for all Pressure Table 4- Gasket stresses in psi for 50 ksi bolt stress
NPS Pressure Class
Classes, we propose that the seating stress be based upon the bolt (in) 150 300 400 600 900 1500 2500
load. 1/2 28832 28832 28832 28832 69248 69248 69248
Analyzing Table 3, it can be seen that the minimum value is 3/4 20311 32592 32592 32592 48783 48783 48783
for the DN 8 Class 150, a well-known “low bolt load” flange. 1 18291 29350 29350 29350 60999 60999 60999
The calculated value of 2780 psi (20MPa) seems to be unrealistic 1 1/4 11818 18964 18964 18964 39413 39413 51795
1 1/2 8597 20647 20647 20647 37677 37677 49761
for this kind of gasket. So, to be consistent with ASME B16.20, 2 10607 21213 21213 21213 44088 44088 57940
we can consider the same 5000 psi (35MPa) for the first 2 1/2 9194 27523 27523 27523 50222 50222 66331
evaluation. This value will cover most flanges in Table 3. 3 7422 22217 22217 22217 30849 53544 68357
The second evaluation can be performed at 7000 psi 4 9028 13514 18764 18764 32569 41579 62890
5 8811 8811 12234 16078 27109 41004 57756
(50MPa) to meet all minimum seating stress values of Table 4 6 9610 14415 20015 26304 34740 55147 84416
with the exception of the DN8 Class 150 combination. The same 8 6177 12866 16908 22331 35448 51560 81392
applies to Table 5 for 10000 psi (70MPa) as a third evaluation. 10 8919 15628 20641 26352 32766 49000 91297
Three additional tests are performed at 15000 psi (105MPa), 12 7491 17336 22133 27666 34400 63188 113010
14 9050 19920 25431 31622 38466 74950 -
20000 psi (140MPa) and 25000 psi (170MPa). Values higher 16 9106 19193 23865 29030 34713 70929 -
than 25000 psi (170MPa) seem to be unrealistic because most 18 10533 20171 25081 30401 41674 76117 -
flanges are not capable of reaching such stress value. 20 10527 16128 24394 29169 38371 73200 -
The sealability tests are then performed at the following 24 11263 20443 28795 33509 52029 84857 -
gasket stresses: 5000 psi (35MPa), 7000 psi (50MPa), 10000 psi
(70MPa), 15000 psi (105MPa), 20000 psi (140MPa) and 25000 Table 5- Gasket stresses in psi for 80 ksi bolt stress
psi (170MPa). NPS Pressure Class
(in) 150 300 400 600 900 1500 2500
1/2 46132 46132 46132 46132 110796 110796 110796
3/4 32498 52147 52147 52147 78053 78053 78053
TEST MEDIA AND PRESSURE 1 29266 46960 46960 46960 97599 97599 97599
1 1/4 18909 30342 30342 30342 63060 63060 82872
1 1/2 13755 33036 33036 33036 60283 60283 79618
ASME B16.20 specifies Methane (CH4) as test media for 2 16971 33941 33941 33941 70541 70541 92703
spiral wound gaskets with two pressure classes 290 psi (20bar) 2 1/2 14710 44036 44036 44036 80356 80356 106130
and 580 psi (40bar). To keep consistency, we used the same 3 11874 35547 35547 35547 49358 85670 109372
media and values for the present evaluation. 4 14445 21622 30023 30023 52110 66527 100624
5 14097 14097 19574 25724 43375 65606 92409
6 15376 23063 32025 42086 55585 88236 135065
It is important to notice that this paper does not address the
8 9883 20585 27052 35729 56716 82497 130227
gasket characteristics determination for ASME Boiler and 10 14271 25005 33026 42163 52425 78400 146076
Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII (11) calculations. 12 11986 27738 35412 44265 55040 101101 180816
14 14479 31872 40690 50595 61546 119920 -
16 14570 30709 38184 46449 55540 113487 -
18 16853 32273 40129 48641 66679 121788 -
20 16844 25805 39031 46670 61393 117120 -
24 18021 32709 46072 53615 83247 135771 -

3 Copyright © 2018 ASME

Downloaded From: https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org on 02/12/2019 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

 TEST RIGS Table 6 - Tested Gaskets Dimension
Dimensions SID Dimensions SOD
B16.20 B16.20 Table 1 Table 1 B16.20 B16.20
Two test rigs were used in this research. A 50-ton Gaskets Tested
(in) (mm) (in) (mm) (in) (mm)
Hydraulic Press and a 300-ton Hydraulic Press, with a Volatile
3" CL150 4.25 108.00 5.00 127.00 5.25 133.40
Organic Compound Analyzer TVA 2020 as shown in Figures 3 4" CL300 5.19 131.80 6.19 157.20 7.00 177.80
and 4 respectively. 6" CL150 7.50 190.50 ‐ ‐ 8.63 219.20
8" CL150 9.38 238.30 10.63 269.90 ‐ ‐

For 3” CL150 and 4” CL300, the tests were conducted

on both standard B16.20 dimension gaskets, and on gaskets with
special dimensions according to Table 1 that considers only the
compression area to evaluate if there are any existing correlation
between gasket width and sealability.

Figure 3 - 50-ton Hydraulic Press with a Volatile Organic

Compound Analyzer TVA 2020.

Figure 5 – Tested Gaskets Images

It was also evaluated whether the addition of a graphite

facing on both sides of the jacket gaskets would improve its
sealability. For this evaluation three different gaskets sizes were
tested as shown in Table 7.

Table 7 - Tested Gaskets with Graphite Facing

Dimensions SID Dimensions SOD
B16.20 B16.20 Table 1 Table 1 B16.20 B16.20
Gaskets Tested
(in) (mm) (in) (mm) (in) (mm)
3" CL150 4.25 108.00 ‐ ‐ 5.25 133.40
4" CL300 5.19 131.80 ‐ ‐ 7.00 177.80
6" CL150 7.50 190.50 ‐ ‐ 8.63 219.20

A detailed image of the graphite facing used is shown

in Figure 6.
Figure 4 – 300-ton Hydraulic Press with a Volatile Organic
Compound Analyzer TVA 2020.

TEST SAMPLES

The following samples of 304 stainless steel with 1/8”

(3.2mm) thickness and flexible graphite filler were used to
evaluate the sealability.
Figure 6 – DN 6” CL150 JG with Graphite Facing

4 Copyright © 2018 ASME

Downloaded From: https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org on 02/12/2019 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

 TEST PROTOCOL

A summary of the Methane test procedure is as follows:

1 – Record the gasket full thickness.

2 – Install the gasket sample between the hydraulic press platens.
Assure that the platens are clean from a previous test and the
gasket is centered.
3 – Close platens and seat the gasket with 5000 psi (35MPa).
4 – Install the VOC TVA probe and turn it on.
5 – Pressurize the rig with Methane. Test pressure is 290 psi
(20bar) for Class 150, or 580 psi (40bar) for Class 300 and above.
6 – The test pressure shall be maintained for a minimum of 4h.
7 – After 4 hours register the average of 3 reading at 5 minutes
interval.
8 – Measure the gap between press platens for the current step Figure 7 – Compressibility
9 - Release the Methane pressure.
9 – Change the force on press to the next step and repeat steps 5, All gaskets presented a similar strain behavior.
6, 7, 8 and 9 until 25000 psi (170MPa) is reached.
10. – Finish test, remove the gasket and record the final The same leakage evaluation was performed facing the
thickness. gaskets sealing surfaces with a layer of flexible graphite of 1/64”
11 – Report the ppmV concentration and the gap between platens (0.4mm) thick. The results are shown on Table 9 where an
for each step. additional column with sealability results of a high performing
SWG design was added to enable comparisons between the two
TEST RESULTS types.

All jacketed gaskets were tested according to ASME Table 9 - JG Leakage Test with Graphite Facing
B16.20-2017 Performance Testing protocol for spiral wound Leakage in ppmV at 5000 psi
gaskets up to 25.000 psi (170MPa). Gaskets Tested JG SWG
3" CL150 5.6 8.6
Table 8 - Leakage Test 4" CL300 10.9 12.3
Gross Leakage at 25000 psi ? 6" CL150 6.9 7.8
Gaskets Tested SOD ‐ Table 1 SOD ‐ B16.20
3" CL150 Yes Yes As shown above, there was a major performance
4" CL300 Yes Yes difference since all JG with graphite facing presented an
6" CL150 Not Tested Yes acceptable sealability. At 5000 psi (35MPa) seating stress, test
8" CL150 Yes Not Tested results were well below the limit of Table 2.

As shown in Table 8, the increase in load did not

improve sealability and all tested gaskets exhibited gross leakage CONCLUSIONS
(GL) values at every evaluation step from 5000 psi (35MPa) up
to 25000 psi (170MPa). In some of the tests, the leak was an
With the proposed test protocol, it was possible to
audible noise. The leakage was beyond TVA measurement
validate that ASME B16.20 jacketed gaskets are not suitable for
capabilities and for this reason no value was recorded. The
piping flanges in gaseous service. If it is mandatory to use this
gasket dimension presented no performance influence.
gasket type in piping flanges in gaseous service, the gasket
This result confirms the conclusion of the paper by
should be faced with a good sealing product such as flexible
Veiga et al,(4,5) that jacked gaskets exhibit poor sealability in gas
graphite. However, this facing may have other drawbacks and
service.
should be further researched.
To follow ASME test protocol a compressibility
It was also possible to identify that there were no
evaluation of the above gaskets are shown in Figure 7.
noticeable differences in the leakage and compressibility for the
standard ASME B16.20 gasket sizes and the special size gaskets
manufactured with outside diameter similar to the raised face
portion of the flange.

5 Copyright © 2018 ASME

Downloaded From: https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org on 02/12/2019 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use

 SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 3. ASME B16.47 2017 - Large Diameter Steel Flanges: NPS 26
through NPS 60 Metric/Inch Standard, The American Society of
Since the research of this proposal considered only 304 Mechanical Engineers, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY, USA.
stainless steel with flexible graphite filler, other metallurgies
such as carbon steel, Inconel and Monel, etc. should be 4. PVP2000-Vol.405 - The influence of gasket finish on the
evaluated. The same applies to other fillers such as PTFE and sealability of double-jacketed gaskets used in heat exchangers.
Mica.
Based upon the test results, it is recommended that 5. PVP2005-71023 - Double-jacketed gaskets for heat
ASME B16 committee reviews the suitability of Jacketed exchangers sealability behavior in flanges with and without
Gaskets for pipe flange applications or evaluates the possibility nubbin, 2005 ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping Conference,
of adding of a note on ASME B16.20 about the use of Jacketed Denver, USA.
Gaskets for gas services.
The test protocol could also be evaluated for grooved 6. PVP2008-61121 - Heat Exchanger Gaskets Shear Testing,
metal gaskets with covering layers and ring-joint gaskets to 2008 ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping Conference, Chicago,
verify the possibility to have a type test protocol for all ASME USA.
B16.20 gaskets.
7. PVP2017-65371 - ASME B16.20 Spiral Wound Gaskets
Performance Testing.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
8. API 624 - Type Testing of Rising Stem Valves Equipped with
The authors would like to acknowledge assistance from Graphite Packing for Fugitive Emissions, First Edition,
Igor Meira, Teadit R&D intern, for coordinating the testing and American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
collecting results.
9. TVA2020 Toxic Vapor Analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc,
REFERENCES www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/TVA2020.

1. ASME B16.20 2017- Metallic Gaskets for Pipe Flanges, The 10. ASTM A193 / A193M-17, Standard Specification for Alloy-
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2 Park Avenue, Steel and Stainless Steel Bolting for High Temperature or High
New York, NY, USA. Pressure Service and Other Special Purpose Applications, ASTM
International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2017, www.astm.org.
2. ASME B16.5 2013 - ASME B16.5 Pipe Flanges and Flanged
Fittings: NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard, The 11. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, The American
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2 Park Avenue, Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY,
New York, NY, USA. USA.

6 Copyright © 2018 ASME

Downloaded From: https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org on 02/12/2019 Terms of Use: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/terms-of-use