An expansion joint is essential in helping your pipeline cope with vibrations, pressure, expansions, and contractions. But if you pick the wrong one, it can result in disaster. Here are four tips for choosing the right expansion joint for your application.
Choose a Reputable Manufacturer
One tip for choosing an expansion joint is to buy a product from a manufacturer you know you can trust. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a faulty product you need to replace far sooner than you would like. Instead, buy your expansion joint from someone who has previously provided you with quality products or has earned strong recommendations.
Match Up With the Right Media
Another tip for choosing the right expansion joint is to consider the type of liquid or gas media you’ll convey through the joint. For example, if you’ll be transferring abrasive media, you may want to purchase a joint with insulation bolsters or flow liners.
Both will protect the joints from damage. Otherwise, if you pick the incorrect joint, the abrasive material may reduce its service life.
Find One That Can Handle the Pressure
It’s also important to consider the type of pressure you need the expansion joint to handle. For example, one of the major differences between universal and in-line expansion joints is the type of movement they can absorb. A universal joint can absorb axial, lateral, and angular movement in a piping system, but an in-line product can only take on axial movement in straight piping runs.
So if you need a metal joint that can absorb pressure from all directions, you should go with the universal type. But if you need a product for a straight piping run that only needs to take on axial movement, you should go with the in-line product.
Look at the Temperature Requirements
Another aspect you should look at is the temperature involved with your application. Determining if your piping system requires the transfer of materials at high or low temperatures can help you discover what materials, components, and frame designs to use in your expansion joint. But if you go with the wrong joint, it can result in disaster, with the seals breaking or the joint malfunctioning.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be better at picking the right joint for your application. Choosing the proper one will allow you to get the best return on your investment and keep your pipeline flowing without any issues.
