REFLANGEKiT®, SF6 gas leak on flange – Middle-East
Online SF6 leak sealing solution for flange repair
Overview
The repair, conducted in late 2024 by 3X ENGINEERING and its local distributor, aimed to fix an AREVA flange with SF6 leak. After analyzing the data and inspecting the site, it was decided to repair the flange using our REFLANGEKiT® product, designed to seal SF6 gas leaks online.
Results
The job was successfully and quickly handled by 3X specialists, who effectively sealed the leakage with REFLANGEKiT® product. Less than a month passed from the client's emergency call looking for an immediate action plan to the solution's installation, demonstrating 3X team responsiveness.
 Defect type |
SF6 gas leak on flange |
Details |
AREVA flange Type T155 - Rated voltage 420 kV |
Location |
Middle-East |
3X Product type |
REFLANGEKiT® |
SCOPE OF WORK
Surface preparation was completed with the Bristle Blaster machine to remove the existing coating, achieve a surface cleanliness of Sa 2 1/2 and a roughness of Rz > 60 µm, ensuring optimal product bonding.
The repair was then completed following below stages:
- Installation of the soft shell around the defective flange to protect the functional components and concentrate the SF6 gas leak at a single point, specifically at the valve.
- Insulation and compression of the soft shell using specific 3X filler and adhesive tape.
- Composite reinforcement performed with glass fiber impregnated with 3X resin.
- Installation of the rigid shell around the composite reinforcement.
- 3X resin injection into the rigid shell through a top overflow.
- Valve closing and leak control. After 3X resin curing, the vent is removed and the valve is closed with a plug. The valve's integrity is then checked using SF6 gas detector to ensure that the leak is sealed.
- The flange repair is completed by applying 3X resin to the valve. The REFLANGEKiT® is then protected with a coating and identified with an ID plate for traceability.
