Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints
Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints are specially designed to compensate axial and/or lateral movements while containing the pressure thrust load within the joint assembly. This eliminates the need for heavy anchors to resist pressure thrust forces.This is achieved using tie rods that connect a Line Bellows and an Opposite Balancing Bellows, which is subjected to the same line pressure. The balancing bellows counteracts the pressure thrust generated by the line bellows, keeping the system balanced.
Elbow Type Pressure Balanced Expansion Joint
- Designed for use at pipeline direction changes.
- The tie rods link the line bellows and balancing bellows arranged around an elbow.
- Absorbs axial and lateral movement while containing pressure thrust within the assembly.
- Ideal for piping systems with bends where pressure thrust must be controlled.
Inline Pressure Balanced Expansion Joint
- Consists of a line bellows connected to a balancing bellows with twice the effective area.
- When the line bellows compresses to absorb axial pipe expansion, the balancing bellows extends by an equal amount.
- This action maintains a constant internal volume across the joint, thereby eliminating pressure thrust load transfer to pipe anchors.
- Primarily used in straight pipe runs between main anchors for axial expansion compensation.
- Can also accommodate a limited amount of lateral movement.
- Supplied as a complete factory-assembled unit.
- Movement animations are available to assist in understanding the operating principle.
At LSI-MECH, we have extensive experience in designing and manufacturing pressure balanced expansion joints tailored to your piping system requirements. Our in-house engineering uses advanced design tools to provide compact, cost-effective solutions that safely manage pressure thrust and thermal movements. To see visualize how this expansion joint compensates the equipment’s movements go to-movement animations.