Standard bellows are found all across the metalworking industry and have been in use for a long time. Modern metal bellows are elastic components that can expand or contract under pressure (or the lack thereof) and still retain their original shape. There are many different industries that benefit from this technology today.
In the oil and gas industry, custom metal bellows and expansion joints are essential for petroleum systems to cope with the extreme environments of exploration, extraction, and refining. Externally pressurized joints featuring forged steel flanges are essential for transition lines that must absorb large amounts of movement in the field.
Likewise, the manufacturing industry incorporates thousands of machines that experience extreme thermal expansion on a daily basis. This thermal cycling can even occur every minute, which is why heavy duty expansion joints are crucial to avoid expensive downtime.
For oil and gas companies, manufacturers, and so many other industrial applications, custom metal bellows are absolutely essential. If you feel like you have a need for this technology, consider these 12 vital attributes of custom bellows and pipe expansion joints:
- Stress modes
- Flexing
- Pressure differential
- Rigid stops
- Spring rate
- Life cycles
- Temperature extremes
- Exposure
- Assembly method
- Vibration
- End configuration
- Geometric constraints
Whatever your product may be, always consider the pressures you will face and the conditions in which your system will be utilized. If you value durability, you’ll likely want to consider stainless steel bellows with a reinforcing neckband to add strength and make the weld even more secure. These are especially useful as exhaust bellows.
Standard bellows from days past were the beginning of a bright future for modern technology. Today there are hundreds of variations on these devices and their capacities. Having custom bellows made for you will give you the control over air movement that you need to perfect your product. If you would like to learn more about standard bellows, custom bellows, pipe expansion joints, or get started on your first project, give us a call today.
