Metal Bellows Manufacturers in India | Metallic Bellows

1. Metal Bellows Manufacturer - Metallic Bellows Bellows in layman terms are simply devices that have concertinaed sides and have the ability to expand or compress as per the necessity. Normally, bellows are used in industries where there is a need to transfer high temperature and pressure fluids that can cause deformations and stress of varying capacities. Bellows can be made from metal, rubber, or even Teflon depending on the requirements. What are Metal Bellows? Metallic bellows are bellows that are made from metals such as stainless steel, or any other metal alloys. Used in metal expansion joints for the safe and convenient functioning of pipelines and ducts, these are extremely tolerant to heat and pressure, and also have excellent corrosion resistance. The metal bellows are manufactured by first forming cylinder from thin sheets, and then creating circumferential convolutions on the surface. These help in providing a compressive and expansive effect on the device thereby helping to withstand extreme conditions. To make metal expansion joint bellows, metal bellows manufacturers attach the metallic bellows with end fittings, control rods, liners, cover, and other components to form a whole product. The metallic expansion joints are used in various industries and help contain the stress in the system such as axial, lateral, angular, and universal stress, as well as help in controlling the vibrations, thereby protecting the pipeline as well as the surrounding pieces of equipment. However, the production is not that easy. There are plenty of protocols and regulations to be followed in the manufacturing process, along with mandatory testing to be done as well. At Kwality Products, we use state of the art equipment to manufacture metal bellows. It is done using hydroforming machines, and mechanical expanders. Apart from these, the manufacturing is done in according to the EJMA standards, as well as pertaining to the ASME codes, thereby maintaining excellent product standard and quality. How to install Metallic Bellows? since the ​metal expansion joint manufacturer provides with the bellow joints of various dimensions and features as per your requirement, straightforward installation of the metallic bellows in the system is not enough. There are several guidelines as per the EJMA to be

2. followed while installing the metallic bellows expansion joints. The following are the points to be followed to ensure a successful and safe installation. ● Installation Guidelines ○ The metallic expansion joints are made of thin gauge material. As a result, it is necessary to follow the instructions to avoid damage to the product. Failure to do so may lead to premature failure or short life cycle. ○ Be careful while using cleaning agents as these may contain chlorides which can eventually lead to corrosion. You may use isopropyl alcohol to clean the surfaces if required. ○ Do not use wire mesh, steel wool, or any other abrasive products to clean the surface. ○ Avoid torsional manoeuvres during any process in the installation. ● Storage of Metal Expansion Joints ○ It is strongly advised to store the bellows in a safe and secure storage area to avoid any damage. Mechanical damage caused by dropping, stacking, or bumping the product can lead to failure and shortened life cycle. ● Removal of Old Expansion Joints ○ The position to which the expansion joint has to be installed must be examined carefully such that the opening does not exceed the tolerances. Expansion joints cannot make up for severe piping misalignment. If there are large misalignments, you must contact the manufacturer before installation. ● Handling Expansion Joints ○ Do not use bars or ropes through the holes in the joint to lift. There may be lugs in some bellow expansion joints. The lighter expansion joints may be transported by the ends. Do not carry them on the bellow part. Do not use chains or other abrasive material directly on the bellows. ○ Shipping bars may be installed on the expansion joint to maintain the bellow’s length and to provide stability while shipping. Do not remove these until the installation is complete. ● Preparation to Install Metal Expansion Joints ○ Remove all the protective covering on the metallic expansion joints. Check the inner region for any foreign objects. If applicable, align the expansion joint in the direction of the flow. Installing the expansion joint in the wrong direction will lead to failure of the device. ○ Use ideal lifting devices to position the expansion joint to the required position in the piping system. ● Weld End Expansion Joints

3. ○ Before welding, cover the metallic bellows with a fire-resistant blanket to ensure that there are no abrasions from the weld splatter. By using the correct procedure and filler material, weld the ends of the joint to the respective ducts. ○ ● Flanged Expansion Joints ○ Once positioned, align the bolt holes of the expansion joint with those on the mating flange. Do not torque or twist the bellows to line up with the holes. ● Pressure Testing ○ It is essential to test the equipment before using it. ○ All anchors and bolts must be in place before testing. The testing pressure must not exceed more than 1-1/2 times the working pressure of the bellow joint. ● Operation and Maintenance of Metal Expansion Joints ○ As soon as the installation is done, test the equipment to ensure that the thermal effects are contained. ○ Check the bellows for unwanted vibrations. ○ Inspect the expansion system regularly. Even though there is less maintenance required, it is essential to inspect them, as the functioning can be affected by the different factors in the work environment. Types of Metal Bellows Metallic bellows are normally called as metal expansion joints bellows interchangeably. Based on the direction of movement restriction, the direction of flow, and other factors, these can be classified into the following. Axial Expansion Joints This type of metal bellows is used to contain the deflections in the longitudinal direction (along the length). In the case of thermal expansion, this joint compresses along the length thereby accommodating the stress. Hinged Expansion Joints This bellow expansion joint is used where there is a requirement to constrain angular movements in a single plane. With the help of a hinge, these restrict the deflection in one direction. They are used in systems where there is a change in the direction of flow of the substance. Elbow Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints This is a type of pressure balanced bellow expansion joint and is used in piping systems where there is no room for pressure acting on the piping system and also a directional flow change is present. This absorbs motion in the axial direction. ● ● ●

4. Lateral Expansion Joints As the name suggests, this type of bellows is used to constrain all the movements in the lateral (perpendicular to the central axis) direction. Using control rods attached, the lateral expansion joints also control the pressure thrust including full vacuum. Inline Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints This form of pressure balanced expansion joints is used to constrain axial movements without transferring any load on the pipe system, unlike normal axial joints. By using two bellows in line together and acting in opposite directions to control the pressure inside, this is mainly used in systems where pressure on the system must be avoided at all costs. Universal Expansion Joints The universal bellows joints, also sometimes known as a double bellow expansion joint is made up of 2 bellows attached together by a pipe in between. Due to this design, this can absorb movements that are beyond the capacity of axial expansion joints. These can also restrict deflections in the axial, lateral, and angular directions. Gimbal Expansion Joints Gimbal expansion bellow joints, also known as angular expansion joints are used to absorb deflections in multiple angular directions. By using multiple hinges or gimbal, these can constrain movement in all planes. ● ● ● ●