Bellows are thin, convoluted sections of metal that provide a solid yet flexible section of piping that adjusts as internal temperature and pressure conditions change. They hold up for thousands of cycles despite their slight appearance because of sound construction. Read on to learn about the various manufacturing methods of metal bellows that companies employ. Hydroforming To begin, hydroforming is one such method. The hydroforming starts with the creation of [...]

Crafting an expansion joint requires an engineer’s careful attention to the demands of the facility they are building for. This is because industries deal with vastly different fluids, and each building has unique construction specifications. To get more specific, there are many factors engineers should consider with metal bellows. Read on to learn about five of them. Bellows Sizing To start, bellows’ sizes must match up to fit a system. [...]

Typically, expansion joint bellows consist of a single ply of corrugated metal. Though this thin layer appears weak, it stands up to significant directional forces, pressure demands, and thermal changes. In extreme circumstances, your pipe system could require multi-ply bellows, of which the 5-ply variety is particularly helpful. To learn what the advantages of 5-ply bellows are specifically, read our brief introduction to this alternative. The Purpose of Bellows The [...]

Getting a solid grasp on core expansion joint terminology makes planning your facility’s pipe system layout much simpler. To help make some expansion joint jargon clearer, here’s a brief expansion joint glossary of terms. Bellows First, expansion joint bellows are a localized portion of the joint. Bellows consist of flexible ring-like convolutions made from metal. Though thin, these bellows withstand significant angular, lateral, and axial forces while in use. Their [...]

In gas turbines, it’s vital that a turbine’s pipe system carries exhaust gas away, downstream from the combustion reaction. This allows for further efficient combustion while safely removing these volatile gases. Expansion joints play an important role in this gas transfer. To learn the unique expansion joint challenges in gas exhaust applications, read this brief guide on the subject. Consistently Extreme Heat First, gas turbines create extremely high-temperature exhaust [...]

An expansion joint’s purpose is reduction of pipe system failures. Though it’s a protective, preventative tool, an expansion joint can fail as well. Failure doesn’t manifest in only one way and results from many possible causes. To learn what these causes are, read these reasons why your expansion joints are failing. Poor Design or Installation The most common cause is poor system design or installation. Even if your expansion [...]

So many industries rely on pipe systems to transfer all manner of fluids throughout a facility. To keep their operations running, gas and oil, manufacturing, and other energy-production industries require a solid pipe system, one that isn’t subject to sudden failure. To protect against failure, typically caused by excessive thermal expansion, companies implement several components to redirect expansion harmlessly. These implements include expansion joints, expansion loops, pipe guides, and more. [...]

Expansion joints mitigate vibrational forces, withstand high temperatures and resultant pipe expansion and contraction, and regulate fluid passage without issue. To keep steady function, these joints require certain hallmark elements. Here’s a brief guide to the basic design of piping expansion joints and how each feature contributes to its function. Bellows The first noteworthy feature is the expansion joint’s bellows section. Expansion joints consist of flanges that secure piping [...]