Autoclave seal rings: pressure vessel rules apply
An autoclave is a stationary quick-opening pressure vessel. Its door seal is a pressure-containing part, so selection follows vessel codes first.
Autoclaves fall under TSG 21 for stationary pressure vessels, with JC/T 720 covering the autoclave itself and GB/T 150.1 to 150.4 covering pressure vessel design. The door seal sits in the flange groove and is a pressure-containing component, so its selection is a safety decision, not a consumable purchase.
Standard autoclave duty is a design temperature of 145 C to 200 C with working pressure of 1.0 to 1.4 MPa in saturated steam.
Materials in use
Nitrile rubber, EPDM, silicone and fluororubber are the four common seal materials. They differ in temperature ceiling, steam resistance and compression set. Selection starts from the steam condition and the opening frequency, then checks the groove dimensions and the required compression ratio.
- Temperature and pressure rating above the stated duty, with margin
- Steam and condensate resistance over the service interval
- Groove dimensions and seal cross-section checked against the door drawing
Reference note. Figures and standard references are indicative and do not replace the project specification, the current edition of the standard, or product test reports for the specific supply.