As an elastic compensation element with the advantages of reliable work, good performance and compact structure, expansion joint has been widely used in chemical industry, construction, water supply, drainage, petroleum, light and heavy industry, refrigeration, sanitation, plumbing, fire-fighting, electric power and other basic engineering fields, playing an important role in people’s lives.
What is an expansion joint?
Expansion joint, also customarily called compensator, is a flexible structure set on the vessel shell or pipeline in order to compensate for the additional stress caused by temperature difference and mechanical vibration. Expansion joints are divided into: metallic expansion joints and non-metallic expansion joints.
Pictures
Here, please follow me to compare the differences in performance between metal expansion joints and non-metallic expansion joints, so as to understand expansion joints more deeply.
1.Compensation function
The compensation function of non-metallic expansion joints is much larger than that of metal expansion joints under the same dimensional conditions. Especially for the compensation function of lateral displacement, the compensation function of non-metallic expansion joints is almost an order of magnitude larger than that of metal expansion joints.
2. Compensation resistance
Expansion joints are like an elastomer, which will generate resistance after being shrunk or stretched, and the resistance of metal expansion joints is much larger than that of non-metal ones. This resistance is too large for the system is not good, will be the surrounding equipment top bad.
3. High temperature resistance, corrosion resistance
Non-metallic expansion joint material not only has good resistance to high temperature, but also, it has acid and alkali resistance. Ordinary carbon structural steel in the environment of 600 ℃ its yield limit is equal to zero, the temperature is higher will be oxidation skin. Carbon steel expansion joints are prone to cracking in the course of work, stainless steel expansion joints in the low temperature environment, low leakage point corrosion will occur, and its cost is also quite substantial.
4. Heat preservation and energy-saving performance
The structure of the non-metallic expansion joint itself has thermal insulation properties. While the metal expansion joint does not have this condition, in order to insulation, in the outer layer of the metal expansion joint, but also covered with a layer of insulation.
5. Maintenance and replacement performance
Non-metallic expansion joints do not require maintenance during the normal life cycle; non-metallic expansion joints are much more convenient to replace than metal expansion joints.
6.Service life
The service life of the expansion joint is closely related to the environmental conditions. Non-metallic expansion joints have better wear and corrosion resistance, and relatively speaking, the life of non-metallic expansion joints under the same conditions will be longer than the life of metal expansion joints.
7. Use of pressure
Thanks to the flexible design and the special materials used, non-metallic expansion joints can withstand greater working pressure.
8.Use of media
Metal expansion joints are suitable for liquids, gases and powders. Non-metallic expansion joints can be both gases and liquids.
Picture
Rubber expansion joints, as an important category of non-metallic expansion joints, have a large displacement compensation capacity, can carry out axial, lateral and angular displacement compensation, have the ability to reduce noise, reduce vibration and certain anti-corrosion.
Wilson Pipeline is a leading manufacturer and distributor of flange fittings material from alloy steel stainless steel to carbon steel.products, including Super Duplex Stainless Steel Flanges, Stainless Steel Flanges, Stainless Steel Pipe Fittings. ASME B16.5 ASME B16.9 ASME B16.11 EN1092,ANSI ASTM,GOST,JIS,DINWilson Pipeline products are widely used in Shipbuilding, Nuclear power, Marine engineering, Petroleum, Chemical, Mining, Sewage treatment, Natural gas and Pressure vessels and other industries.If you want to have more information you want to share your enquiry with us, contact us at sales@wilsonpipeline.com