Expansion Joints are considered to be one of the essential components of a fully functional pipe system. They are especially used widely in industries that have thermal expansion occurrences in the piping system.

The pipe system is a changing thing that moves, alters temperature and even loses structural integrity when any fluid passes through it. In order to maintain these alterations, the expansion bellows for pipes are used.

The expansion joints/bellows are specifically designed to absorb the dimensional changes safely that impacts the pipe systems and ducts. The heat induced expansion and contraction, vibrations that are caused by rotating machinery, misalignment during installation, pressure deformations and many more dimensional changes are absorbed with the application of expansion joints.

Keep reading till the end to learn about the importance of expansion bellow/joint in a pipeline system.

Protection against Thermal Expansion

The primary purpose for the application of expansion joints is to prevent any failure of the pipeline system. It also helps in resultant stoppage of fluid and eliminates expensive repairs for restoring everything back in order.

The expansion joints work to anticipate thermal expansion that frequently happens as the temperatures internally rise within the system. The rising temperature tends to generally induce expansion and this results in a straight, regular type of piping to bend and distort or may even crack.

The application of expansion joints limits these actions by simultaneously moving with pipes’ expansion and accommodating the axial down-the-line forces. All in all, the use of expansion joints enables flexibility that responds effectively to the alterations in the pipe size.

Helps in Vibrational Resonances Mitigation

Limiting thermal expansion within the pipeline system isn’t the only thing that the application of expansion joints enables. It also fortifies the system by saving them from vibrational resonance mitigation.

The fluids that pass through the pipes apply a certain force to the pipes, over time when this applied force builds up, they resonate hazardously to the pipe’s length. The longer the pipe length is, the more these forces resonate strongly and induce its impact.

Expansion joints are essential tools that halts this resonance as they fragment the pipe systems into smaller segments and also allows the movement with the built-up forces in different directions.

Gives advantage over Pipe Loop Application

In account for thermal expansion, expansion joints give more advantage over pipe loops. While the application of pipe loops are effective as well, the expansion joints offer more space efficiency.

The U-shape design of the pipe loop needs more space within a pipeline facility. Whereas, the expansion joints are practically flushed with the remaining of the pipeline system and doesn’t cause the challenge of taking up extra space.

This eventually means that facilities with short and limited space prefer the application of expansion joints over pipe loops. Moreover, expansion joints are practical expansion for low-pressure systems, on the contrary pipe loops are unable to preserve pressure consistency within a low-pressure system.

So, what are you waiting for? If you are looking for efficient performance of the pipeline system then the application of expansion bellows for pipes is the ideal solution.