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How is the air tightness of a bellows compensator tested? What factors affect the service life of a bellows compensator?
Release time:
Dec 05,2022
How is the air tightness of bellows compensators tested? What factors affect the service life of bellows compensators? A bellows compensator with good air tightness will not leak the circulating medium and can absorb deviations in the pipeline. Therefore, high air tightness is a prerequisite for bellows compensators. So, how do manufacturers of bellows compensators test the air tightness of their products?
How is the air tightness of a bellows compensator tested? What factors affect the service life of a bellows compensator?
A bellows compensator with good air tightness will not leak the circulating medium and can absorb deviations in the pipeline. Therefore, high air tightness is a prerequisite for compensators. So, how do manufacturers of bellows compensators test the air tightness of their products?
In fact, checking the air tightness of expansion joints is relatively straightforward. We can perform the check using a corresponding air-tightness test. During the testing process, we primarily examine the sealing performance of the welded joints, flanges, connecting pipes, and other connected components of the corrugated expansion joint. The inspection method involves applying a foaming agent to these areas. If any of these areas are not air-tight, bubbles will appear in the foaming agent. This is a relatively simple method for testing the air tightness of corrugated expansion joints.
A commonly used method is to place the compensator in water, reinforce and tighten the inlet and outlet ends with sealing gaskets to ensure that there is no water inside. Then, observe whether any bubbles appear to check its airtightness. If bubbles do appear, it indicates that there are poorly welded areas. Mark the locations where bubbles emerge and re-weld those areas. This method is also widely employed.
Generally speaking, bellows compensators—also known as expansion joints, telescopic connectors, or corrugated compensators—are available in several types: bellows compensators, sleeve compensators, rotary compensators, and square natural compensators. Among these, bellows compensators are the most commonly used and are primarily employed in pipeline systems. They serve the following functions:
1. Compensates for axial, lateral, and angular thermal deformations of the pipeline.
2. The corrugated compensator’s flexibility facilitates the installation and removal of valve pipes.
3. Absorb equipment vibrations and reduce the impact of equipment vibration on pipelines.
4. Absorb pipeline deformation caused by earthquakes and ground subsidence.
The service life of a bellows compensator is 1,500 fatigue cycles, making it a key component in pipeline systems used in power plants, chemical plants, steel mills, and other industrial facilities. Next, let’s take a closer look at the three main factors that affect the service life of bellows compensators.
1. The working pressure of the pipeline is too high. Often, because the contractor cannot locate the original design data, the working pressure of the bellows compensator purchased turns out to be lower than the actual working pressure of the pipeline, posing a safety hazard. Once the pipeline’s working pressure exceeds the compensator’s rated pressure, the bellows section will rupture.
2. The medium conveyed through the pipeline is abrasive. Typically, the material for bellows is selected based on the temperature and degree of corrosion of the medium being transported in the pipeline. If the user fails to comply or opts for a bellows material without proper markings in order to save on project costs, this will also affect the service life of the compensator.
3. The fixed supports of the pipeline shift. After the bellows compensator is installed in the pipeline, if the fixed supports of the pipeline shift during the trial run, the corrugated tube of the bellows compensator will become straightened.
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