Misalignment Flanges – Ball Joints

Key Benefits

Key Benefits of MBC – Misalignment Ball Connectors

  • Angular adjustment of misalignment up to ±10° (20° total compensable misalignment)

  • Customizable designs for specific applications

  • Rotational freedom facilitates bolt-hole alignment for quick bolt insertion

  • RTJ sealing of connection flanges

  • Advanced wiper seal system protecting the metal-to-metal sealing area from external contaminants

  • Resistant to high flange loads during line opening operations under fluid passage

  • Compliance with ASME standards

  • Available in all ASME sizes and ratings or in customized designs

 

 

 

The MBC – Misalignment Ball Connector is an innovative joint designed for pipeline and piping systems where it is necessary to compensate for misalignments between line sections.

Thanks to its hermetic sealing, the MBC significantly reduces installation time for connections, especially in subsea environments, while ensuring superior performance and versatility compared to welded joints or conventional flanges.

Although primarily developed for subsea applications, the MBC is also a reliable solution for surface installations, wherever pipeline misalignment may compromise proper joint assembly.

The spherical ball joint design with metal-to-metal sealing on the RTJ flange allows compensation of up to ±10° misalignment on any axial plane relative to the pipeline axis (20° total), without compromising sealing capacity.

Bolt tightening locks the spherical element into the flange seat, transforming the assembly into a rigid, static, and completely leak-tight connection.

The connection is engineered according to ASME sealing criteria for RTJ (ring-joint) flanges and ensures:

  • Constant sealing at any angle of misalignment within the admissible range

  • Resistance to external bending loads during operation

  • Reliability at maximum operating pressures

 

 

Design Parameters of MBC – Misalignment Ball Connector

  • Nominal size (NPS): any size in accordance with API Specification 5L, regardless of wall thickness and material grade

  • Service:

    • Standard (crude oil, natural gas, hydrocarbons, water, chemical injection, etc.)

    • Sour (hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, etc.)

  • Design pressure rating and dimensions: in compliance with applicable ASME, MSS or API standards

  • Design temperature range: –5 °C to +120 °C

 

Material Specifications of MBC – Misalignment Ball Connector

 

  • RTJ flange, retainer body and ball: normalized forged steels ASTM A694 or as per client specification

  • RTJ gaskets: stainless steel SS316 or as per client specification

  • Stud bolts and nuts: ASTM A193 B7 (studs) and ASTM A194 2H (hex nuts), with anti-corrosion protection or as per client specification

  • External coating: as per client specification

Latest Edition of Standards Applicable to MBC – Misalignment Ball Connector

 

  • ASME BPVC Sezione V – Nondestructive Examination

  • ASME BPVC Sezione VIII Divisione 1 e 2

  • ASME B16.5 & B16.47 – Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings

  • ASME B31.4 – Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids

  • API SPEC 5L – Specification for Line Pipe

  • API SPEC 6A – Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment

  • API SPEC 6H – Specification on End Closures, Connectors, and Swivels

  • MSS SP-44 – Steel Pipeline Flanges

  • ASME B18.2.1 – Square and Hex Bolts and Screws (Inch Series)

  • ASME B16.20 – Metallic Gaskets for Pipe Flanges (Ring Joint, Spiral Wound, Jacketed)

  • NACE MR0175 – Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant Metallic Materials for Oilfield Equipment