US Bellows refurbished two pressure balanced elbow expansion joints for a power generation plant with a quick turnaround during outages.
The first 54″ outside diameter expansion joint leaked from a crack in the bellows, causing an unscheduled power plant outage.
This particular expansion joint was fabricated for a high-pressure turbine crossover piping for steam service of 97 PSIG at 634°F. The 27′ long, 27,000 lb. expansion joint was refurbished in less than 4 weeks. This was made possible by utilizing dedicated employees who worked overtime six days a week. The 321 stainless steel bellows and carbon steel root rings were replaced. The outside cover bolts were removed, and new bolts were installed.
The second expansion joint was also for a high-pressure turbine that was replaced during a planned outage. This expansion joint came in on October 30, 2006 and was ready to ship November 20, 2006. The overall length and centerline-to-centerline length were maintained to ensure easy installation. Both expansion joints were dye-penetrant tested and hydro-tested at 146 PSIG.
