In refineries and petrochemical plants, ring-type joint (RTJ) flanges have been applied to high-pressure processes or sensitive areas that are susceptible to leaks.
Many end users are trying to use feedstock with higher sulfur content for their refineries to increase profitability, but numerous unknown or plausible bottlenecks exist.
The use of spiral-wound gaskets on flanges has resulted in good sealing performance. However, most gaskets do not perform well when the flange is improperly installed.