Fabric expansion joints

Non-metallic and fabric expansion joints must withstand loads like pipe itself or the system component and absorb additional stress, movements, oscillations or vibrations in axial and lateral direction, while ensuring operational safety. BestStone can design and manufacture fabric expansion joints for air and gas pipelines for the temperatures up to + 1200 °C, flexible joints, heat-insulating materials, thermal covers.

Structure
Application
Types
Design parameters

Fabric expansion joints are made from the layers of thermally insulating and gas-tight materials. Fabric expansion joints has two important properties:

Thermally insulating: The heat insulating layers are used for temperature reduction in flow media. The temperature drop takes place thanks to heat-insulating fabric based on E-glass or ceramic fibers.
Gas-tightness：It is achieved by means of special abrasion resistant coatings on carrier layers. Fabric expansion joints for non-aggressive media are made of fabric with silicone. For flue gases and chemically aggressive media we use fabric with PTFE coating, fluorine rubber.

All materials used in the production of fabric expansion joints are made of fire-resistant and refractory materials, which ensure safety and gas-tightness during use. The choice of material depends primarily on the location and operating conditions (temperature, pressure, medium). For high temperatures or in dusty media we produce fabric expansion joints with internal insulation and Flange. Thanks to the flexible materials, it is possible to produce the fabric expansion joints in different geometric shapes and sizes. Following is sample of structure fabric expansion joint.

Fabric expansion joints absorb movements, oscillations and vibrations in the axial and lateral direction in pipelines. Due to the high elasticity and technical characteristics, it is possible to reduce by the incorporation of the fabric expansion in temperature and pressure fluctuations.

The main application of fabric expansion joints areas:

Plants with gaseous media such as hot air, flue gas
Companies operating in electric power industry
Metallurgy and oil and gas industry
Gas cleaning systems of technical systems
Induced draft- and gas turbine systems
Pipelines with acidic or alkaline gases
Gas and air pipelines

Temperature and corrosion resistant fabric allows the use of expansion joints for such media as air, flue gases or dusty media such as coal dust or ash.

Expansion joints can be divided into different types according to the shape, installation method, whether there is a baffle liner, composite materials, etc.

Classified by shape:

Fabric expansion joints with round

Fabric expansion joints with rectangular cross-sections of the ducts

Fabric expansion joints with transitional cross-sections, for example, round to square.

Classified by Connection:

Belt Type Expansion Joints: Expansion joints flexible element is made as a flat belt. The most effective in terms of manufacture and installation. Materials are subject to minimum stress until moved under operation. Allow many different types of frames to suit operating conditions. Make the replacement of the flexible element much easier. Longer life expansion joints

Flanges Type Expansion Joints: Expansion joints flexible element made with integrated flanges at right angles. Simplest method of connection.

Classified by baffle liner:

Fabric expansion joints with baffle liner: baffle liner has main functions: used to install internal insulation materials, restrict airflow direction, and reduce the wear of solid particles on the fabric, such as particles, stones.

Fabric expansion joints with no baffle

Classified by composite materials:

Single Layer fabric expansion joints (Only 1 Reinforced Elastomeric Layer)
Multiple Layer Expansion Joints(more than one materials)：

Supporting layer: Give specific shapes for special configurations, protect the joint, keep the insulation in place
Insulating layer: Thermal barrier
Chemical barrier: Gas seal
Outer cover: Provide protection from external environment, complementary gas seal

The design of non-metallic Compensators needs to know the following parameters:

Flue gas medium: Does the flue gas contain acid gas? Whether it contains solid medium, such as small sand, dust, etc.
Work Pressure: What is the maximum pressure that the non-metallic Compensatory needs to bear?
Work temperature: What is the maximum operating temperature of the part using the expansion joint?
Height: What is the installation height between the pipes where the expansion joint is installed?
Dimensions: Dimensions of expansion joints, such as length*width*height; or diameter*height.