From the outside, an elastomeric expansion joint looks to simply be made out of molded rubber. Part of the reason expansion joints are used in such a wide variety of applications is that the interior construction of a joint can be custom-designed to handle your specific application - materials of construction will depend on size, temperature, application, media, pressure (S.T.A.M.P.).
Tube
Garlock launched of ABRA-SHIELD™ in 2018, an expansion joint material designed for abrasion resistance and sustainability in demanding high temperature operating conditions.
As the newest addition to Garlock’s family of abrasion resistant expansion joint materials, ABRA-SHIELD™ joined ABRA-LINE® and Natural Rubber to provide a variety of liners that cater to increased abrasion protection. ABRA-SHIELD™ will be an option for use with a number of expansion joint products that Garlock offers – including styles 204, 206, 7250, 8400 and 9394. These expansion joints also provide high levels of protection from stress, misalignment, vibration, noise, shock and corrosion.
Garlock Style 215 Expansion Joints are PTFE concentric spool-type flexible couplings that are designed to reduce noise and compensate for expansion, contraction, and minor piping misalignment in chemical processing, air conditioning, and heating systems.
The complete assembly includes a fluorocarbon resin PTFE body, electroless nickle-plated ductile iron flanges, polyethylene-covered restriction zinc plated bolts, and stainless steel corrosion-resistant reinforcing rings.
Primary Metals
South American manufacturer of flat and long steel products
Construction of two new facilities including a hot rolling mill.
The plant was in need of expansion joints that could handle chemicals on their pickling lines. Pickling is a metal surface treatment used to remove impurities, such as stains, inorganic contaminants, rust or scale from ferrous metals. A solution called pickle liquor, which contains strong acids, is used to remove the surface impurities. It is commonly used to clean steel in various steel making processes. The line required an expansion joint with a PTFE tube to handle the pickle liquor which included hydrochloric and sulfuric acid, but a very short overall length for installation.
The Style 204 family of spool-type expansion joints are manufactured with the industry standard narrow arch design. This style is intended to be used in dynamic conditions where both pressure and vacuum concerns are present.
The ABRA-LINE™ family of products was developed for highly abrasive applications typically found in the power generation, fertilizer, mining and chemical industries. These may include flue gas desulphurization systems, phosphate mining, dry bulk power transfer systems, tailings and slurry applications. Our proprietary urethane formula was designed to reduce wear and extend
service life.
Style 404 Expansion Joints are specially designed for full vacuum abrasive service applications. The tube material is a proprietary urethane formulation. Style 404 can be constructed as a single or multiple arch design. It can also connect pipe flanges in concentric or eccentric tapers, to join piping of unequal diameters.
Industry
Chemical Processing
Observation
A stainless hosing was used and would continuously fail due to abrasion on the leading edge of the hose. The hosing would last for 3 to 6 months before replacement.
In July, Gallagher released its Expansion Joint Design Guide, now available for download on our site. This design guide takes an in-depth look at elastomeric, metal, and flue duct expansion joints. The excerpt below is a section of our Expansion Joint Design Guide focusing on types of flue duct expansion joints. To download the entire guide, visit our Resources Page, or click on the image to the right.
Used to manage air and gas handling systems, flue duct expansion joints are most widely utilized in the Power Generation, Industrial & Institutional industries:
Gallagher recently released its Expansion Joint Design Guide, now available for download on our site. This design guide takes an in-depth look at elastomeric, metal, and flue duct expansion joints. The excerpt below is a section of our Expansion Joint Design Guide focusing on types of metal expansion joints. To download the entire guide, visit our Resources Page, or click on the image to the right.
Much like elastomeric expansion joints, metal expansion joints are used to preserve the integrity of a piping system where the piping is subject to changes in temperature, pressure, vibration, compression, extension, cyclical movements or movements required by usage.
Oftentimes, metal expansion joints are used when an elastomeric joint simply cannot handle the extreme conditions - applications where high temperature, large temperature range, or high pressure exists. Generally, metal expansion joints can be used from -450°F to +2000°F, depending on the metallurgy, and can also handle pressures from full vacuum to 3,000psi.
Though customized and intricate expansion joints can be manufactured for a variety of specialized applications, there are four basic designs that are most commonly used:
A bellows can be supplied without end fittings for field installation. The skirt, or straight portion at each end of the bellows, can be sized to fit a flange or pipe. Skirt length can vary depending on your needs and should be specified when ordered.
An unrestrained single expansion joint is best used by piping systems which are equipped with proper guides and anchors to absorb axial, angular, and a small amount of lateral movement.
Gallagher recently released its Expansion Joint Design Guide, now available for download on our site. This design guide takes an in-depth look at elastomeric, metal, and flue duct expansion joints. The excerpt below is a section of our Expansion Joint Design Guide focusing on types of elastomeric joint installation, pipe layouts, and joint troubleshooting. To download the entire guide, visit our Resources Page, or click on the image to the right.
An expansion joint can relieve stress in piping systems and prevent flange gaskets from being crushed. But which expansion joint is best for your specific application? Let us first describe the two types of expansion joints:
Rubber — a flexible connector fabricated of natural and/or synthetic elastomers and fabric and, if necessary, internal metallic reinforcements designed to provide stress relief in piping systems due to thermal movements and mechanical vibration.
Metal — a flexible element (bellows) constructed of relatively thin gauge material (generally stainless steel) designed to absorb mechanical and thermal movements expected in service.
Temperature
Rubber joints with standard construction and materials have an upper range to 230°F. Most manufacturers, however, can offer special constructions up to 400°F. Metal expansion joints do offer a far greater range, from -420°F to +1800°F. However, working pressures are reduced at elevated temperatures.
Gallagher recently released its Expansion Joint Design Guide, now available for download on our site. This design guide takes an in-depth look at elastomeric, metal, and flue duct expansion joints. The excerpt below is the first section of our Expansion Joint Design Guide, diving into elastomeric expansion joints, and what to consider when selecting which joint is right for your application. To download the entire guide, visit our Resources Page, or click on the image to the right.
An expansion joint is a specially engineered product inserted in a rigid piping system to achieve one or more of the following:
They are built to expand, contract, and adjust without straining or breaking the piping or ducting on either side. Essentially, an expansion joint is meant to protect the piping system from damage.