Expansion joint, also known as Pipe Compensator, is mainly used to compensate for the thermal expansion and contraction of the pipeline caused by temperature changes. If the pipe does not expand or contract completely free when the temperature changes, thermal stress will be generated in the pipe. This stress must be considered in the design of the pipe, otherwise, it may cause the pipe to rupture, affecting the normal production. As an important part of pipeline engineering, the expansion joint plays an important role in ensuring the long-term normal operation of the pipeline.
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Types of Expansion Joints

Pipe compensator is divided into metallic compensator, non-metallic compensator, sleeve compensator, square compensator and so on. Metallic compensators and non-metallic compensators are more common in use.

1.Metallic compensator consists of a bellows (an elastic element) constituting its working body and attachments such as end pipes, brackets, flanges, and ducts. It belongs to a kind of compensation component. The effective telescopic deformation of the bellows of the working body is utilized to absorb dimensional changes caused by thermal expansion and contraction of pipelines, pipes, containers, etc., or to compensate axial, lateral, and angular displacements of pipelines, conduits, containers, and the like. It can also be used for noise reduction and vibration reduction. Widely used in the modern industry.

2.Non-metallic compensator can compensate for the axial, lateral and angular displacement of the pipeline. It has the characteristics of no thrust, simplified bearing design, corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, noise reduction and vibration damping, etc. It is especially suitable for hot air ducts and soot pipes.

How to select the types of Expansion Joints

When selecting a compensator, we should first consider the credibility of the manufacturer. In addition, we must pay attention to the production process and materials. In addition, in terms of installation, only in strict accordance with the provisions to ensure that product performance is not damaged, so when purchasing the compensator, each link must be carefully and carefully completed.

Due to various constraints, it is quite complicated, but any complex pipe system can choose several fixed brackets to choose different settings in different parts, and divide it into several separate pipe segments with relatively simple shapes, “Z” pipe segments and “∏” type pipe sections, etc., and determine the deformation and compensation amount of each pipe section separately. Due to the variety of compensators, it is very important to select the correct type. Therefore, in the overall design of the pipe system, the pipeline should be fully considered. The design of the strike and support system (including fixed pipe racks, guided slide pipe racks, etc.) and the comprehensive consideration of the shape and configuration of the compensator to achieve the best combination of safety, rationality, application and economy.

——–Traditional types of Expansion Joints

The bellows compensator is a flexible element with a bellows as the core and is compensated in three directions of axial, lateral and angular directions on the pipeline.

In order to reduce the self-excitation phenomenon of the medium, the axial type compensator has no inner casing inside the product, which limits the radial compensation ability to a large extent, so it is generally only used to absorb or compensate the axial displacement of the pipe (if the pipe system A small amount of radial displacement is required, and the maximum displacement of the diameter can be stated when ordering.

The lateral displacement compensator (large tie rod) mainly absorbs the lateral displacement perpendicular to the axis of the compensator. The small rod lateral displacement compensator is suitable for absorbing lateral displacement, and can also absorb the combination of axial, angular and any three directions of displacement.

A hinge compensator (also known as an angular compensator) that is used with two or three compensators (single hinge compensator has no compensating ability) to absorb lateral deformation in a unidirectional plane. The universal hinge (angular) compensator, used in combination with two or three, absorbs the amount of deformation in three dimensions.

——–New types of Expansion Joints

The rotary compensator can be combined with the bellows elements by means of additional tie rods, hinges and other accessories to form a rotary compensator of various functions. Different types of compensating tubes can be constructed by different combinations of rotating compensators to complete the heat tube. Network compensation is required. The products are compact in structure, large in compensation, small in flow resistance, zero leakage, no maintenance, and many other advantages in the heating network.

However, it also has the disadvantages that are difficult to solve: for example, the axial type compensator generates pressure thrust to the fixed bracket, which causes the thrust of the fixed bracket to be large, and the cost is high; and the wall of the rotary compensator is thin, cannot withstand torque and vibration, and has poor safety; A series of shortcomings such as high investment, strict design requirements, high precision of construction and installation, and often fail to meet expected life.

The product structure of the rotary sleeve compensator, although using the same mechanical seal structure as the sleeve compensator, has different effects due to different running modes. The sleeve compensator compensates for the wear sealing material due to the axial direction, and the number of expansion and contraction is large. The leakage compensator is operated by the relative rotation of the inner and outer sleeves, and the rotation angle is small, the wear on the sealing material is small, and the sealing surface is not easily damaged.

Comflex–Expansion Joint China Manufacturer

The quality problem of the compensator is mainly in the manufacturer, and the manufacturer should control the quality of the compensator. Comflex as one of China best expansion joint manufacturers has always insisted on producing high quality expansion joint for our customers.We should be responsible for our customers.