Apparatus and method for sealing and monitoring a bolted flange joint

A method of fabricating a bolted flange joint sealing and monitoring apparatus on a bolted flange joint, the bolted flange joint comprising two flanges abutting one another at an interface, each flange having a series of holes therein, the holes of the two flanges of the joint aligned and receiving a bolt therein, and the abutting flanges providing an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) preparing inner surfaces of the abutting flanges of the bolted flange joint;
• b) applying a first sealant to the interface on the inner surface, thereby sealing the interface, wherein the first sealant is a frangible sealant;
• c) attaching a first layer of sheet material to the inner surface, overlying the interface sealed by the first sealant in step b), wherein the first layer of sheet material is adapted to provide an air space;
• d) attaching a second layer of sheet material such that it overlies the first layer of sheet material;
• e) applying a layer of a second sealant over the second layer of sheet material, the layer of second sealant extending to each side of the interface such that the air space provided by the first layer of sheet material is air tight;
• and
• f) connecting a vacuum source to the air tight space formed about the first layer of sheet material.

A method of sealing and monitoring a bolted flange joint, the method comprising:

• forming the combination of a bolted flange joint sealing and monitoring apparatus and the bolted flange joint, the bolted flange joint comprising two flanges abutting one another at an interface, each flange having a series of holes therein, the holes of the two flanges of the joint aligned and receiving a bolt therein, and the abutting flanges providing an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sealing and monitoring apparatus provides a seal on the inner surface of the interface, and wherein the sealing and monitoring apparatus comprises:
• a first sealant applied to the interface on the inner surface, sealing said interface, wherein the first sealant is a frangible sealant;
• a first layer of sheet material overlying the first sealant and an area of the abutting flanges surrounding the sealed interface on the inner surface, the first layer of sheet material adapted to provide an air space;
• a second layer of sheet material overlying the first layer of sheet material;
• a second sealant overlying the second layer of sheet material such that the air space is air tight;
• a vacuum source in fluid communication with the air space;
• and
• a vacuum monitor configured to monitor a status of a vacuum created in the air space;
• and
• monitoring the status of a vacuum in the bolted flange joint monitoring apparatus with the vacuum monitor.