Thorium Energy Alliance Talk – Multi-Mate / De-Mate Fittings with Torque Elimination

This is the equipment and procedure used to determine the quantity and size of the particles shed into the process stream, due to galling, as a legacy metal face seal fitting is tightened. Objectives Compare standard metal face seal fitting with the OmniSafe torque suppression fitting over the following criteria: Examine the sealing surfaces of…

Tribology is the study of friction, lubrication, and wear. Formally defined, it is the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion. A face seal fitting that transfers torque to the sealing surfaces during the compression that creates the seal, has a fundamental flaw. A tribological study of metal seals shows that this rotation…

These findings are in regard to 22 nm circuitry, which is currently in design for 2011-2012.  For this circuitry we will be concerned with all particles >10nm.  There are some new issues that may reveal a need for cleaner, torque elimination metal face seal fittings.  One new challenge is that with these extremely small geometries,…

* taken at the point indicated by the red arrow on the first S.E.M.s After checking the nickel peaks on the bottom EDS we notice much higher nickel reading. This higher signal is from nickel particles that are embedded into the torroid of the gland from the galled nickel gasket during tightening of the fitting….

In the S.E.M. (top) the severe effects from over tightening on the sealing surfaces of a legacy face seal fitting are shown. In the S.E.M. (lower) using Omnisafe torque elimination, the seal area is not galled. One half turn past finger tight is a worst case scenario. At 5/8 turn past finger tight the gasket…

This graph shows the installed cost of an Omnisafe vs the legacy metal face seal fitting. For either fitting, the purchase price is based on quantity. The additional labor cost of legacy fittings occur while trying to keep the components in alignment, undamaged, and leak tight during gas system assembly. Cost avoidance due to torque…