Vessel manways, handholes pose special

sealing challenges
There are many types of flanged openings that serve as manways and handholes, providing access
into tanks and other types of closed vessels. Some use standard ASME-type flanges and are bolted
much like flanged pipe connections. Internal manways and handholes have covers or plates that fit
inside a vessel and are drawn back against a gasket and external flange.
These designs pose a number of sealing challenges. For example, flange surfaces are often less than
perfect. Moreover, a round cover will not fit through a round opening since it must be larger than the
opening to serve its function. Therefore, gaskets for these flanges are usually oval or obround so the
covers can be turned sideways to fit through the openings.
Oval gaskets maintain a smooth curvature, providing sufficient hoop strength for manufacturing and
installation. By contrast, obround gaskets include a straight section that limits their radial strength.
Manufactured to OEM specifications in a wide range of sizes, these gaskets are typically dimensioned
from the inside diameter (ID). Both the major and minoraxes are delineated, along with the flange
width of the gasket. In gaskets incorporating an inner ring, the width of the ring must also be
specified.

Figure 1. The single stud bolt on this manway cover will apply low, uneven
compressive force on the gasket, sealing the flanged access to the vessel.
Internal manway covers sealed by these gaskets typically have just one or two stud boltswelded to the
center of the cover (Figure 1). These are fitted through a yoke that bridges the opening so the bolts
can pull the cover back against the gasket. This bolting limitation, combined with the distance
between the bolts and the gasket, results in low and often uneven compressive force.
Since the manway is inside a tank or vessel, the internal pressure acts differently on the assembly
than it would on a conventional bolted flange connection. In the latter, the internal pressure acts to
separate the flanges and unload the gasket. With a manway, the internal pressure actually pushes the
flange into place, loading the gasket and, in many cases, generating more compressive force than the
bolts (Figure 2). Notwithstanding, this dynamic,compressive load rarely reaches recommended levels.

Figure 2. The internal pressure on manway covers can exceed the compressive force of the
bolts, serving to seat and load the gasket.
Pressure vessels commonly utilize internally seating and sometimes hinged doors for interior access.
Such doors must be oriented so the internal system pressure generates sufficient stress to seat the
manway gaskets. As the internal pressure increases, so does the stress on the gaskets, a factor that
must be taken into account to optimally match gaskets to vessel design pressures. Lower-pressure
systems call for softer, more easily deformed gaskets, but these are subject to blowout on the ends
where the compression is low. Conversely, higher-pressure vessels require more rigid, higher-density
seals such as metal reinforced gaskets, which can be difficult to seal.
For the purposes of this discussion, it is helpful to understand that a sealing surface is normally
measured to the inside edge of the gasket. So, an oval shape will be expressed as inner width x inner
length x gasket surface width e.g. a gasket listed as 12 inches x 16 inches x 1 inch x 1/8 inch has
inner measurements of 12x 16, with a 1 flange width and thickness.
Gasketing
There are several different types of gaskets suitable for sealing manways and handholes in pressure
vessels. Spiral-wound gaskets are available for both lower pressure (less than 999 psi) and higher
pressure (greater than or equal to 1,000 psi) applications. Although their compressive loads are
usually below recommended levels, they typically seal effectively. Made from long strips of thin metal,
wound and filled with a soft material between the windings, or wraps, these gaskets come in two
configurations windings only and windings with inner compression rings.
Lower-pressure systems dictate the use of a thicker grade of filler to make the gasket softer, whereas
higher-pressure vessels require gaskets with a thinner gauge of filler. This not only increases the
number of metal plies in the gasket, but also makes it denser and more capable of withstanding
higher compressive loads. System pressure is exerted on the outside diameter (OD) of the gasket,
which is seated at the door-to-vessel interface. This makes sealing failures readily apparent if the
gasket is seen protruding toward the ID of the connection. Where this type of failure has been
observed and in applications with high-pressure cycling, a solid metal inner ring can be designed for
the gasket.
The first choice for manways with internal pressures under 1,000 psig are corrugated metal core
gaskets with graphite facing (Figure 3). These gaskets consist of a relatively thick metal core that is
corrugated to create concentric or parallel ridges and faced with graphite sheet material. They work
best when the flange width of the gasket is one-half inch or greater. For flange widths less than one-
half inch, the gasket supplier should be consulted.

Figure 3. Corrugated metal core gaskets with graphite facing are recommended for
manways with internal pressures of less than 1,000 psig and flange width one-half inch or
greater.
Flexible graphite sheets can be used to effectively seal boiler manholes and handholes as long as the
gasket is at least one-half inch wide, and preferably three-quarters of an inch or more. For
connections requiring a gasket width of less than one-half inch, spiral-wound gaskets should be used
since uneven compressive load can adversely affect graphite sheet gasketing. Most graphite sheet
gaskets contain a metal insert, and in some cases multiple inserts, to facilitate handling without
damaging the gasket.

Figure 4. Kammprofile gaskets seal less-than-perfect flanges and withstand extreme
temperature and pressure excursions.
Kammprofile gaskets (Figure 4) are an excellent alternative for applications where the available
seating stress is too low for a spiral-wound gasket, but gasket cross-section, system pressures,
surface irregularities and other conditions are not conducive to the use of flexible graphite or non-
metallic gasketing materials. These type of gaskets consist of a metal ring with deep grooves and
faced with a soft material such as expanded graphite, micro-cellular PTFE or expanded PTFE.
High compressibility, low-creep PTFE gaskets are biaxially oriented with either a micro-cellular
structure or filled with micro-balloons. They have been used successfully in sealing manway and
handhole flanges for chemical services, but are not usually recommended for steam/boiler
applications. The chart below provides a quick reference for matching gaskets to service conditions.

Installation
Since manway and handhole gaskets are installed on the inside of a vessel, pressure-sensitive
adhesives are sometimes used to affix them gasket to the covers. However, these adhesives soften or
melt at steam temperatures, and may break down in chemical service.
Non-metallic gaskets should be installed without adhesive, but a few small spots of spray contact
adhesive can be used to hold them in place. Metal gaskets are available with retention tabs to hold
them in place during installation.
Sealing internal manways and handholes can be difficult given the pressure differentials and other
conditions to which they are subjected. Most assemblies generate low compressive load during bolt-
up, and some produce high compressive stresses when internal pressure is applied. Different types of
gaskets are available to seal these openings, but their effectiveness will depend on selecting the right
type of gasket, correctly dimensioned for the specific application.


Elliptical Handhole & Manhole Assemblies


The self-sealing yoke and bolt manway provides the most economical and reliable access to pressure vessels.
Yokes are designed for the positioning and holding of the covers only. Gasket sealing is accomplished by the
appliction of internal pressure.
When cover assemblies are ordered without rings, customers are requested to specify the bolt length required.
Handhole and manhole covers are designed and fabricated in accordance with the ASME code. (See cover profile
drawing) The size and pressure temperature rating are stamped on all covers where space permits. All sizes shown
are in inches. The nominal size dimensions are the inside dimensions of the opening into which the covers will be
installed.
Covers are stocked in SA516 Grade 70 steel. They can also be supplied in stainless steel (grades 304, 304L, 316
and 316L). Our gasket stock includes red rubber, neoprene. Gaskets in other materials are available on request.
All covers are registered in Canada.
Covers Size
in Inches Type
Max PSI rating
(depending on Design Temp.)
2-3/4 x 3-5/8 Welded Stud/Radius 1000 psi Stamped H2
3-1/2 x 4-1/2 Welded Stud/Anchor 800 psi Stamped H3
4 x 6 Single bolt 1000 psi Stamped H1
6 x 8 Single bolt 660 psi
11 x 15 Double bolt 300 psi
12 x 16 Double bolt 900 psi
14 x 18 Double bolt 600 psi
18 x 24 Double bolt 200 psi