The spring and fall outage season of power industry can provide considerable strain on equipment and personals. In order to provide sensitive maintenance for safe operation of piping system non-metallic expansion joints are used to accommodate axial, lateral and angular movements along with absorbing vibration. The rest of the details are provided in this article.
Manufactured with metal reinforced elastomers in bellow like configuration, with one or more convolutions, the non-metallic expansion joint is a very crucial device for industries. If installed and specified in a correct manner, these can last 5 to 7 years based on the application.
Determining what will be required for maintenance of proper expansion joint during a schedule outrage call can be done for establishing detailed specification for each joint in particular unit and location. These specifications should be done with accordance to STAMP (size, temperature, application media and pressure). The size data is most important that ensures the expansion joints fit properly. The temperature of the media helps to contract them. The media itself assure with system pressure and joint material, which includes surges and periodic spikes.
Failure
Sometimes the manufacturer falls in awkward situation, if they fail to consider the STAMP variables that usually results in arbitrarily fixed specifications. The STAMP serves as base line criteria to guide the non-metallic expansion joint (NMEJ), which help the manufacturer with best solution. Some of the manufactures even asks data sheet on piping system details as per expansion joint type.
Verification By Dimension
The analysis of STAMP should be supplemented by comprehensive inspection of system by manufacturers which include non-intrusive examination of expansion joints in particular location of plant. The dimensional verification can include misalignment, dimensional verification over compression or over elongation in order to assure that they are installed correctly in first place. It also provides information of associated harderware and help to prioritize the replacement of expansion joint that are showing signs of leakage.
Given the lead times that is required for production and development of expansion joints, the STAMP data can provide to the manufacturer with resumption of normal operations and greater odds for successful turnover. The budgetary stages are one of the relative soft periods when significant time can be lost as estimates are evaluated and reviewed by various parties that include the end users and client.
Once the budgetary issues and technical problems are solved, the manufacturer understands what type of non-metallic joints should be provided. The significant savings can be realized by abolishing over engineered solutions, unnecessary testing of joints other cost drivers and certifications.
Savings
A plant anticipates certain degree of movement in piping system, which might identify expansion joints with few arches to accommodate it, when less expensive joint with few arches is sufficient. For example, a fluid gas desulpharization system utilizes limestone-based medium, which is highly abrasive in nature. In these circumstances, certain elastomers are more suitable. A certain review shows that quotation request for expansion joints reveal just one involvement of STAMP for follow up site and analysis, in order to finalize the preparations.
After the placement of order and production of expansion joints, the manufacturer must coordinate and schedule and inspections of non- destructive requisite hydrostatic cycle and other testing for which parties to the project usually want to present. These joints are crafted to protect them and corners are manufactured with various colours in order to indentify the product. If these joints leak, it should be assumed that the STAMP criteria are not specified.
Author Bio:
Boson Engineering manufactures Non Metallic Expansion Joint that is suitable for safe operation in industrial system.
