Definition
A rubber expansion joint is a flexible connector made of natural or synthetic fabrics and elastomers. A version with metallic reinforcements is also available to relief the stress from the piping system caused by vibrations and/or thermal and mechanical movements.The flexibility, the ability to compensate vibrations and simultaneous movements whether in single arch or multiple arch type, soundproof properties, chemical abrasion, and erosion’s resistance, are the major features of the rubber expansion joint, providing high performances.
Functions
Our engineers can solve problems related to vibrations, noise, stress, and duration of the designed piping system in advance, by incorporating the rubber expansion joint into it, even in the presence of corrosive and/or abrasive fluids.
Damping sound’s transmission
Rubber expansion joints reduce the noise from the wear and abrasion of moving equipment during its working. Thanks to the interface of the joint’s flange and the piping one, they realize a rubber-steel coupling, effectively damping the transmission of the sound. Thick-walled rubber expansion joints are particularly effective for this, because they significantly reduce the sound unlike metallic expansion joints.
Compensation of axial movements
Rubber expansion joint, working as helix springs, if effectively use, they are able to compensate expansion and contraction movements due to temperature variations or hydraulic surges.
Construction length is reduced
The reduced lengths of expansion joints constructions, have huge economic advantages, if compared to the more expensive loop/omega expansion joints. Despite the costs of pipes can be less or equal to the rubber expansion joint’s one, if we consider the work of its installation, occupied space, supports, and pressure drops, they will far exceed the overall costs.
Resistance to corrosion and erosion
A wide variety of natural, synthetics and special elastomers are currently available. The materials are composed and processed to resist various pressure and temperature operating conditions, corrosive attack, erosion, and abrasion. They are available with PTFE/FEP coating to increase safety against corrosive attacks. PTFE has extraordinary and unique characteristics of thermal stability providing a non-stick surface, an extremely low friction coefficient, and resistance to all kinds of corrosive fluids and acid attacks.
No gaskets
Elastomers expansion joints are supplied with vulcanized rubber flanges, having an inner fabric reinforcement embedded in their rubber body, they make the use of gaskets unnecessary. Flanges sealing surface of the expansion joints match the surfaces of pipes flanges, ensuring the gases and sealing fluids. A metallic spacer ring could be necessary for raised face flanges.
Reduction of vibrations
Rubber expansion joints isolate or reduce the vibrations due to equipment, which some need better control of vibrations. Pumps and compressors can generate greater unbalanced forces unlike centrifugal systems. Rubber pipes and rubber expansion joints, however, dampen unwanted noise, including resonance, and vibrations due to centrifugal pumps and fan blades frequencies.
The factor of fatigue is reduced
Natural and synthetic elastomers are not vulnerable to fatigue damage or fragility, thanks to their own characteristics. Moreover, they prevent all electrolytic action phenomena, thanks to the steel-rubber interface in the coupling flanges.
Low weight
Rubber expansion joints are not very heavy to carry. Therefore, they don’t need any peculiar equipment for their placement, minimizing the installation costs.
Advantages
Our rubber expansion joints meet all the current and most strict standards. The cooperation with qualified synthetic fabrics and rubber compounds manufacturers, allows BBV Group to maintain a high standard of quality and reliability.
Minimal forming forces
The elasticity of the rubber expansion joints provides great flexibility and produces a low reaction, if stressed by movements caused by the plant. In that way, necessary forming forces are reduced, avoiding possible damages to the moving parts of the plant.
Heat loss is reduced
Rubber expansion joints reduce thermal loss because they allow to produce pipes with reduced lengths. Otherwise, it would be necessary to design pipes with longer operating processes, expecting the use of loop/omega systems, which will increase the costs due to thermal loss once the plant is launched.
Compensation of lateral, torsional, and angular movements
Pumps, compressors, fans, pipes, and related equipment, misalign over time because of wear, load stress and the ground misalignment. Rubber expansion joints compensate lateral, torsional and angular movements, preventing damage and burdensome periods during the production steps.