Tag: Pressure Balanced Expansion Joint

This custom tied elbow pressure balanced expansion joint was designed for an acetic acid producing application at a chemical plant in Texas. It is 30″ in diameter and 118″ in length. The bellows are fabricated from 321 stainless steel and all the other components are from carbon steel. It is designed for 400°F at 50 psig, an operating load of 959 lb/in, and 1 3/8″ in axial compression. The expansion joint hydrotested prior to shipment.

This 60″ elbow pressure balanced expansion joint was custom designed by U.S. Bellows for a power plant in California. The bellows are fabricated from Inconel 625 LCF while the remainder of the expansion joint from carbon steel. It is designed for an operating temperature of 350°F at 15 psig with 1/2″ of axial compression and 1/4″ of lateral deflection. The unit was hydrotested prior to shipment.

This elbow pressure balanced expansion joint was designed for a chemical processing plant to aid the nitrogen oxide process for compound fertilizers. It is 18″ diameter with a face of weld-end to centerline of elbow length of 83- 3/8″. The body of the assembly, the pipe, covers and tie-rods were fabricated from 304L stainless steel, the bellows and liners from 321 stainless. This unit was designed for 1/2″ compression and 4-1/8″ lateral movement with an operating temperature of 600°F at 125 psig. The assembly was dye penetrant tested and hydro-tested at 190 psig prior to shipment.

This pressure balanced expansion joint was custom made for a nuclear facility in Texas. It is 66″ID x 169″ OAL. This expansion joint was fabricated with 304 stainless steel bellows and carbon tee, pipe and tie rods. 100% dye-penetrant and soap and air tested, its operating conditions were 15 PSIG at 300°F for 1 1/4″ axial compression.

U.S. Bellows, Inc. specially designed and fabricated two 770 lb. pressure balanced expansion joints for a company in Ohio. These expansion joints, designed for 450 PSIG and 1350 °F, will be used for wind tunnel testing of airplanes and engines. With an overall length of 70, these expansion joints consist of four 8 diameter bellows with 3 plies of Inco 625 Gr1 material, an 8 diameter Inco 800 HT elbow, four 74 A193 B8 tie rods, and four 2 thick A240 tp304H rings. To ensure quality, 100% x-ray and 100% dye-penetran tests were performed on the bellows. A pneumatic test at 550 PSIG was conducted on the entire assembly prior to shipping

The photograph above shows a 72-inch universal pressure balanced expansion joint designed for a chemical plant in Pasadena, Texas. The expansion joint is designed for 30 psig at 200°F and full vacuum. All materials in the “wetted surface” are TP-316/316L stainless steel. Design movements are 3-inch axial compression and 5 ¾ -inch lateral offset. The assembly is approximately 24-feet long and 14,150 lbs.