Optimizing Dwell Time for Bolted Flanged Joint Installations
Effi cient and effective bolted flange joint installations are pivotal for minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity in industrial plants. The ASME
PCC-1-2019 Tightening Method recommends a minimum of four hours of dwell time before retightening the bolts to restore short-term creep relaxation and embedment losses. Research has shown that dwell time, which is defi ned as the period between initial torque and a post-installation retorque, is a crucial interval for gasket performance optimization. However, given the many variables that impact flange joint reliability, particularly the
differences between various gasket technologies, natural questions concerning dwell time arise. Can this four-hour installation dwell time be reduced
without compromising gasket performance? Is four hours the optimal amount of time to wait to retorque, regardless of gasket selection? Therefore,
there is value in investigating the process to seek answers to the previously highlighted questions, and others like them.
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