Metal Expansion Joints – Benefits, Types, and Features

Metal expansion joints use bellows for conveying high pressure and temperature substances in ducts and pipelines. These joints are also termed as compensators that are produced by manufacturing the bellows and attaching the fittings, control rods, necessary liners, and other components to it. Depending on the target function and location, the joints are designed in different sizes and shapes. The expansion joints are used in nuclear plants, automobile industry, oil and gas industry, petrochemicals, and many others.

Benefits

The unnecessary vibrations in systems can severely damage the surrounding equipment as well as the system. The expansion joints help to isolate the vibrations, pressure surges, and dampening noise. These joints can cause solids, fluids, or abrasive media at low and high temperatures safely. When using corrosion-resistant and durable materials, metallic expansion joints need minimum maintenance, have a long life cycle, and are resistant to high pressure and resistance.

Types

Based on various parameters such as the functioning of the joint, location the joint is placed, and the direction of movements, there are different types of expansion joints mentioned below.

Axial expansion joints and lateral expansion joints

Axial joints are generally used for containing the movement in the longitudinal or axial direction. When the joints are used in between two pipe sections due to thermal expansion, the joint expands and compresses along the length of protecting the pipeline.

Lateral joints help in compensating all the movements in the perpendicular to the central axis direction. By using the control rods attached, the joints can also be able to control the pressure thrust.

Hinged expansion joints and universal expansion joints

Hinged joints are used to bind angular reflections in a single plane controlled by a hinge. These metal expansion joints are applicable in piping systems when there is a change in the direction of the flow.

Double bellow expansion joint or universal joint is a device made of two bellows connected by a pipe section. As a result, it can absorb movements that cannot be absorbed in normal axial expansion joints and contain deflections in angular, lateral, and axial directions.

Gimbal expansion joints and inline pressure balanced expansion joints

Angular expansion joints or gimbal expansion joints can absorb movement in different angular directions. By using multiple gimbal or hinges, the joints can curb the deflections in all the planes.

Inline pressure balanced expansions joints absorb axial movement without putting any load on the pipe system. This is possible by placing two bellows in line together and acting in opposite directions. These joints are mainly used in places where any pressure on the piping system can prove fatal and need to be avoided at any cost.

Features of metal expansion joints

Metal expansion joints have different characteristics depending on the type. The joints help in absorbing mechanical movements, oscillations, and vibrations. The maintenance cost is lower and is resistant to corrosion and abrasion. These joints are highly flexible for the pipe layout and perform better than traditional loops, pipe bends, and others. The metal joints are light and compact that helps to save space and have an array of design possibilities.

Dannenbaum supplies process equipment like pipe expansion joints, ball joints, industrial strainers, drip rings, fabric expansion, metal expansion, rubber expansion, suction diffusers, temporary strainers, and Y strainers to oil and gas industries in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. To know more, visit https://www.dannenbaumllc.com/.