Professional Documents
Culture Documents
U.S. Bellows 101: Expansion Joint Basics
U.S. Bellows 101: Expansion Joint Basics
presents:
Attention Attendees: to listen to the audio portion, check that your speakers or headset are on and turned up
OR dial the number and use the access code listed in your confirmation email.
• ASME U-Stamp
• ASME R-Stamp
• ASME NS Certified
Gimbal Expansion Joint Expansion Joint Movement Tied Single Expansion Joint
METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
– BUTT WELDED TUBE
PITCH LIVE-LENGTH OF
BELLOWS
EFFECTIVE AREA
• IT IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE AREA OF A CIRCLE LYING
HALFWAY BETWEEN THE CONVOLUTION’S INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
DIAMETERS.
• USED TO CALCULATE END THRUST LOAD WHICH WILL BE
PRODUCED.
SPRING RATE
• THE LOAD IN POUNDS REQUIRED TO COMPRESS A BELLOWS
ONE INCH (lb/in).
Stresses
Temperature Change
Repetitive Mechanical
Movements
Vibrations
The expansion joint should not be expected to control the movement of the pipe. If the piping analysis
shows that the expansion joint must accept axial compression, then the piping must be guided and
constrained so that only that movement will occur.
Single Weld End Single Flanged End Single Flanged Weld End
* Data tables for single expansion joints can be found in our online catalog: usbellows.com/data
76" Diameter Single Tied Expansion Joint A Metal Cover was Installed to Allow Hot Air to
Fabricated from Stainless Steel for a Hot Blast Escape. It was Designed for 1,900°F at 100 psig with
Valve in a Steel Mill 1" Compression
This expansion joint will not resist any deflections with any force other than the resistance of the
bellows, which is a function of the spring rate times the deflection amount. It is incapable of resisting the
pressure thrust along its axis, which is the product of the pressure times the effective, or cross
sectional, area of the bellows. Large diameter units, even with low pressures, can generate very large
axial pressure thrust forces, which must be reacted by main and directional anchors. Otherwise the
expansion joint will extend with disastrous results.
605 Single Expansion Joints with Rectangular Plate Flanges and Weld Ends
(6" Dia., 15-3/8" Overall Length, Design Temp.: 525°F, Design Pressure: 1 psig)
These Expansion Joints will be Installed in a Heater for a Delayed Coker Unit
In our expansion joint catalog three standard overall lengths are given with their lateral movement
capability. If the piping problem requires greater capability, then the overall length can be increased to suit.
Since deflections are usually the result of piping thermal expansion, and universal expansion joints are
usually long, our units are designed so that the thermal expansion of the entire unit's length is accepted
as compression by the two bellows elements. In this way, the overall length of the unit does not change
when the piping is heated. The standard units in our expansion joint catalog have all been designed to
accept the thermal expansion of their length when the temperature is up to the design temperature
shown.
6" Tied Universal Expansion Joints 5" Tied Universal Expansion Joints
for a Steam Recovery Reformer Project for an Oil Piping System Application
in Virginia in Nevada
Also, because of the hinge mechanism's design, shear loads, such as from the weight of adjacent piping,
can be accepted by this expansion joint, relieving the piping designer of having to provide additional
supports and anchors required by the Single type.
Two 43" Hinged Expansion Joints with 5" Thick Single Hinged Expansion
Refractory Lining, Manufactured to be Part of Joint with Control Rods
FCC Stand Pipes in a Synfuels Plant
90" Universal Flanged and Flued Head Expansion Joint and Duct Work Assembly
(Designed for a 90" dia. line; includes slotted hinge plates installed across the bellows to carry the weight of the duct
between the bellows and equalize the axial compression between the two bellows)
On the other hand, if the full axial restraint of the hinged type is desired, the piping designer should
understand that there is no allowance in the expansion joint for any axial travel, including none for any
installation misalignment.
Features:
- Absorbs angular rotation
- Eliminates pressure thrust forces
- Transmits shear and wind loads
- Supports dead weight
- Prevents torsion on bellows
- No main anchors required
- Minimum guiding required
- Low forces on piping system
It contains two sets of hinge pins or pivots, the axis of each set perpendicular to the other. Each set
of pins is connected to each other with a central gimbal ring, in much the same way that a universal
joint on an automobile works. This unit provides the same type of restraint and resistance to axial
forces, such as the pressure thrust, and to shear forces as the hinge type.
44" Double Gimbal Universal Expansion Joint 72" Double Gimbal Universal Expansion
Designed for Angular Rotation in Two Planes of Joint with a 90° Elbow and
up to 4° in Each Plane Flanged and Flued Head Bellows
The deflections to be accepted are handled by the proper type of expansion joint, which
normally, and as shown in the above sketch, is a tied universal type to accept lateral
movements. However, the pressure balanced elbow is usually required because axial
deflections are also present. In order to accept these movements, a bellows is added
beyond the elbow with the same cross-sectional area as the ones in the universal section.
Because of their arrangement, however, the spring rate of the entire expansion joint is the sum of
the spring rates of the balancing and the universal bellows. This is a constant volume system, in
that when the universal end compresses, the balancing end extends the same amount. All of the
lateral deflection is absorbed by the universal end, and there is no lateral deflection imposed on the
balancing end. Therefore, the balancing bellows is almost always a single bellows type.
This expansion joint is obviously more expensive than the simpler types; however, they may result in a
lower overall system cost when the elimination of main anchoring is considered. This expansion joint can
also be used to replace pipe loops, and its cost advantage may be seen in reduced pumping energy by
the elimination of the loop's elbow-generated pressure losses. This may also allow reducing the pipe size
for the entire system.
In externally pressurized expansion joints, the bellows elements are arranged so that the media flow
is on the external surface of the bellows. Externally pressurizing the bellows eliminates pressure
instability as a limitation to the design and permits the absorption of large amounts of axial
expansion.
A toroidal convolution consists of a circular tube (or totus) wrapped around weld
ends or pipe ends having a gap at the I.D. to permit axial stroke. A toroidal
expansion joint may consist of one convolution, or multiple convolutions. This
joint is also known as an Omega bellows expansion joint for it resembles the
Greek letter Omega.
Most toroidal bellows are hydraulically formed which requires high pressure.
Others are free formed, similar to blowing up a balloon. More accurate
convolution shapes may be formed into toroidal dye cavities. Since this forming
pressure is high, pressure resistance is also high.
"U" shaped bellows cause a bending stress due to the pressure load on the convolution side wall.
This generally determines the maximum pressure, however the toroid contains only membrane stress
thus determining the maximum pressure. Due to the toroidal shape, deflection is limited. With "U"
shaped convolutions, more deflection can be achieved but allowable pressures are lower.
92" Toroidal Bellow Expansion Joint for an ASME “U” Stamp Heat Exchanger Shell.
(Designed for 400 psig at 500°F; extension stroke of 5/16"; the bellows element
was fabricated from .060" Inconel® 600 with A-516 Gr. 70 weld ends)
44" Universal Refractory Lined 36" Double Hinged 70" Tied Universal
Expansion Joint designed for Expansion Joint designed Expansion Joint designed
30 psig and 1400°F for 50 psig and 1000°F for 51 psig and 1460°F
This expansion joint was fabricated with two-ply Inconel® 625 LCF bellows, tie rods, slotted hinges,
insulation bags and liner seals. It is designed to operate at 58 PSIG and temperatures up to 1,450° F.
The expansion joint was preset for 6" lateral travel and is capable of lateral travel up to 13".
Refractory-lined expansion joints are used in Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCU), furnaces, hot gas
turbines, styrene plants, fluidized bed boilers, kilns, power recovery trains and thermal oxidizers.
Refractory-lined expansion joints are custom designed for each application due to the extreme
environments.
72" Diameter Tied Universal Thick Wall Expansion 108" Diameter Thick Wall Expansion Joint
Joint with 316 SS Bellows for a Sulfuric Acid Plant (with 2 convolutions)
Thick-wall expansion joints are used primarily in heat exchangers and large diameter piping systems
where thin-wall expansion joints would not be sufficient. The bellows are typically fabricated from A516
Grade 70 material, with the thickness ranging from 3/16" to 1". Other materials are available to meet
different temperature requirements.
78" I.D. x 100" O.D. Thick Wall Flanged and Flued Head Expansion Joints
All four expansion joints were fabricated from 1/4″ thick ASTM A516 grade 70 carbon steel plate. The
expansion joints were cold formed and heat treated. The weld ends of the expansion joint are beveled,
and drainage plugs are installed in the crest of the bellows.
71" x 143" Round Corner Regular Expansion Rectangular Metallic Expansion Joint
Joint for an Oil Refinery in India 240" x 80" and 157" x 65"
The expansion joints were fabricated from COR-TEN ASTM 588 carbon steel and are designed for 1.2
PSI at temperatures up to 748°F. The expansion joints were designed for an axial compression of 1.5″
and a lateral resultant movement of 1.84″. The entire expansion joint was shipped to the job site in one
piece. This avoided having to splice weld the expansion joint into one piece, which saved the customer
countless assembly man hours in the field.
www.usbellows.com sales@usbellows.com Phone: 877-660-1795
Types of Expansion Joints - Rectangular Metallic
Unlike circular bellows where the pressure stress is a circumferential membrane (hoop) stress, the
rectangular bellows must be designed for longitudinal (beam) bending stresses. Long unsupported
lengths must frequently be supported to prevent excessive deflection and stresses of the bellows
element. In certain applications, covers and liners can perform the function of pressure supports.
Typical convolution geometry's and corner construction details are shown below. The "V" convolution
profile will be supplied with single miter corners, unless otherwise specified. Round corner bellows will
always be constructed using the "U" convolution profile.
78" Dia. Fabric Expansion Joint and Duct Work 72" Dia. Duct Work Designed for Absorbing
Assembly with a 90° Elbow for a Sulphuric Acid Plant
Tower Piping in an Acid Plant
Internal Liners
Being relatively thin, the bellows element should be protected on the outside from damage during plant
construction and later maintenance activities. Falling tools, standing on the bellows, contact with pipes,
hangers and equipment, and weld and burning spatter can render a bellows unsafe or unusable. PT&P
offers, as an optional accessory, standard carbon steel removable covers attached to the upstream end
connection, and sized to permit free flexing of the expansion joint.
It is sometimes desirable to limit the axial expansion or compression of the expansion joint. Limit rods,
shown above, provide freedom of movement over a range determined by the location of nut stops
along the rods. In the event of a main anchor failure, limit rods are designed to prevent bellows over-
extension while restraining the full pressure thrust of the system.
Saturday
– 3D modeling technology
– Field Testing
www.usbellows.com
Attention Attendees: to listen to the audio portion, check that your speakers or
headset are on and turned up OR dial the number and use the access code listed in
your confirmation email.