A bellows expansion joint is a flexible material used to join two pipes together, allowing materials to flow freely and expand without damaging the pipes. It works like an accordion, absorbing different forces and reducing stress on the pipe walls. Bellows joints are commonly used in areas where pipe sizes change or bend, and are often lined with a metal or thermoplastic sleeve to prevent damage and reduce friction.
A bellows expansion joint is a piece of flexible material used to join two pipes together. Typically, installers weld both ends of the bellows joint to the end of the adjacent pipe run. Some installers may also use splices or other joining methods in temporary or special applications. Once the bellows expansion joint is in place, materials can flow freely between the pipes and even expand or contract without causing damage to the pipes.
To understand how a bellows expansion joint works, imagine an accordion. Just as accordion pleats move sideways or at an angle with ease, so do the components in a bellows joint. If the pressure or temperature inside the pipe changes, or if the materials are subjected to unusual forces, these materials can exert extreme force on the pipes. A regular solid wall pipe could rupture or burst under this pressure, but a pipe with a bellows expansion joint offers much more flexibility for this type of scenario.
These joints are commonly found where pipe sizes change from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter or in areas where the pipe bends around a corner or obstacle. These applications often lead to pressure changes within the pipe requiring a bellows expansion joint to maintain system integrity. A bellows joint can also be found in steam pipes or pipes that carry gases or volatile chemicals. As the pressure modulates along the path of the pipe, one or more bellows expansion joints help reduce the stress on the pipe walls.
Because a bellows joint can move in different ways, it is capable of absorbing a variety of different forces. These joints can easily expand and contract along an axis or when subjected to lateral forces. They also move both above and below the elevation of the pipe to absorb angular forces. By moving in a variety of directions, a bellows joint not only absorbs and controls movement, but also reduces the impact of vibration and minor seismic activity. As well as protecting the piping structure and supports, this also reduces noise levels within the building.
The walls of a bellows compensator must remain thin enough to maintain a high degree of flexibility. To prevent damage to the joint and reduce the risk of leakage, bellows are often lined with a metal or thermoplastic sleeve. These sleeves not only protect the tubing, they also reduce friction and eliminate material buildup that could affect flow.
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