Tag: fabric expansion joint

For this project, U.S. Bellows designed and manufactured a custom EPDM neoprene expansion joint for an air recirculation and ventilation application at a gas turbine facility in Hungary.

The unit measures 153″ long x 55″ wide x 21″ face-to-face and was engineered to absorb movement and vibration within the ventilation system while maintaining reliable operation under demanding service conditions. 

Designed for operating temperatures up to 200°F and pressures of ±100 inches water column, the expansion joint accommodates 1 inch of axial compression and lateral deflection to support thermal movement and system flexibility.

The flexible fabric belt was constructed from neoprene-reinforced fabric cloth, selected for its durability and resistance to heat and environmental exposure. The supporting framework was fabricated from A572 Grade 50 carbon steel to provide the structural integrity required for the application and coated after welding. 

Due to US Bellows’ engineering expertise and proven performance in critical power generation applications, the customer selected U.S. Bellows as the sole-source supplier for this expansion joint scope.

This project also reflects the long-term confidence customers place in US Bellows. Our team has worked strategically with this client for more than a decade, supporting evolving expansion joint requirements across critical applications and international projects.

This project highlights U.S. Bellows’ continued commitment to delivering custom-engineered fabric expansion joint solutions for demanding power-generation and industrial-ventilation applications worldwide.

US Bellows custom-designed a rectangular fabric expansion joint with rounded corners for an exhaust duct application at a gas turbine in Saudi, Arabia. The unit is 70″ W x 126″ L x 17.5″ face-to-face; the fabric belt is PTFE and the framework is stainless steel. The expansion joint is designed for an operating temperature range from -20°F to 600°F, an operating pressure of +/- 100″ water column, and a movement of +/- 1″ axial compression and lateral offset combined. A 100% dye-penetrate exam and anchor install test were performed before shipment.

US Bellows custom-engineered this fabric expansion joint for a gas and water vapor application at a rotating dryer facility. It is fabricated from a 3-layer PTFE belt with a 304 stainless steel frame and 2205 duplex framing. The unit is 83″ in diameter and 20″ face-to-face. The expansion joint is designed for an operating temperature ranging from 500°-1500°F at a +/- 2″ water column pressure and 1 1/2″-6 1/2″ of axial compression. A 100% dye-penetrant examination was conducted on the unit prior to shipment.

US Bellows fabricated this rectangular fabric expansion joint for a natural gas application at a gas turbine facility. The fabric belt is made from PTFE fiberglass reinforced, and the frame and liner from 304 stainless steel. The unit is 136″ long x 45″ wide x 12″ face-to-face. It is designed for an operating temperature ranging from -20°F to 650°F with a pressure of +/- 100″ water column. A dye penetrant examination was performed on all welds prior to shipment.

US Bellows designed this fabric expansion joint for a gas turbine application. The dimensions for the expansion joint are 153” x 55” x 21”. The fabric belt is made from reinforced neoprene, while the frame and liner are fabricated from A572 Gr.50 carbon steel. The expansion joint is designed for -20°F/+200°F at +/- 100″ water column. A 100% dye-penetrant examination on the welds was preformed prior to shipment.

These fabric expansion joints were fabricated from stainless steel pipe and flanges with a three layer fabric belt protected by an insulation pillow. Each joint is 44″ ID x 40″ face-to-face and designed for 3 PSIG at 845°F. The expansion joints are designed for a lateral movement of 1/2″ and an angular rotation of 1.5°. Stainless steel covers were included to protect the fabric expansion element from possible outside damage.

U.S. Bellows designed a 20″ x 13″ rectangular fabric expansion joint for a plant in Louisiana. This unit was custom designed to improve the current design by eliminating the need for insulation. The fabric belt consists of five layers and the frame is fabricated from 321 stainless steel. The expansion joint is designed for 1-7/8″ lateral movement at 1350°F and ± 10 psig and was 100% dye-penetrant tested prior to shipment.

These fabric expansion joints were custom designed for offshore oil extraction and natural gas project. They are 105″ dia. x 24″ O.A.L. 309 stainless steel was used for the duct, 310 for the liners, 316 for the covers, 321 for the studs, 309 for the flanges. The fabric belt was a three-layer belt with an inner layer of glass cloth, a layer of Kaowool, and an outside layer of reinforced PTFE. The expansion joints were designed for 1 psig at a temperature of 1100°F. They are designed for 4″ axial compression, a 1″ extension, and a 0.5″ lateral offset. All welds were 100% dye-penetrant examined prior to shipment.

A total of three rectangular fabric expansion joints and six round fabric expansion joints were custom-designed for an offshore oil extraction and natural gas project. The rectangular joints were 56″ x 81″ I.D. x 25″ O.A.L., and the round joints were 105″ dia. x 24″ O.A.L. 309 stainless steel was used for the duct and flanges, 310 for the liners, 316 for the covers, and 321 for the studs. The fabric belt was a three-layer belt with an inner layer of glass cloth, a layer of Kaowool and an outside layer of reinforced PTFE. The expansion joints were designed for 1 PSIG at a temperature of 1100°F. The rectangular joints were designed for 2″ axial compression, a 1″ extension, and a 1″ lateral offset. The round joints were designed for 4″ axial compression, a 1″ extension, and a 0.5″ lateral offset. All welds were 100% dye-penetrant examined prior to shipment.

This rectangular fabric expansion joint is designed for high air circulation flow for an air cooling loop duct in a power plant. It measures 81″ L x 18″ W x 16″ face-to-face, and is fabricated with stainless steel angle, frame ends and internal liner. The fabric belt material is reinforced silicone fabric cloth, which can withstand temperatures up to 550°F. This expansion joint is rated for axial movement of +/- 1″ with a 1/2″ lateral offset. A 100% dye-penetrant test on all welds was conducted prior to a quality assurance inspection prior to shipment.

This rectangular fabric expansion joint will be used in an exhaust duct in a power plant. It measures 136″ L x 54″ W x 12″ face-to-face and is fabricated with stainless steel angle, frame ends, and internal liner. The fabric belt material is PTFE coated glass cloth, which is low friction and high in tear/crease resistance and tensile strength. This expansion joint is rated for an axial movement of 1-1/2″ with a lateral offset of 1/2″ and maximum temperatures up to 600°F. A quality inspection was administered, including a 100% dye-penetrant test prior to shipment.

This air duct fabric expansion joint has a unique design that allows for lateral movement of 2″ in any direction. It will be used in an air duct system as a transition piece between the air blower and the air duct. This expansion joint is fabricated with Alpha 827 fabric cloth and A36 carbon steel flanges and has a design temperature of 300&def;F at .1 PSIG. The top flange measures 68-5/8″ L x 57-5/8″ W, and the bottom flange measures 53-5/8″ L x 64-5/8″ W.

This fabric expansion joints‘ frame and liner are fabricated from 304 stainless steel. The three-layer fabric belt consists of an inner layer of silica cloth, a middle layer of mineral wool, and an outer layer of PTFE/coated fiberglass. The dye-penetrant examination was performed on all welds of the expansion joint’s frame prior to shipping.