Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
(OP)
What is the best way to allow a 1.5 inch movement (Axial only) due the temperature difference for a 36 inch 316L stainless steel pipe (convey hot air) through a vertical wall of building. The pipe is anchored inside the building but I am trying to permit a 1.5 inch free axial movement for the pipe at the location where the pipe penetrates the vertical wall and leaves the building. The pipe is located in a cold climate. My intent is to transfer a minimum horizontal force to the vertical wall.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.





RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
An expansion joint (or preferably a pair of) would be a good option. It is always best to avoid a simple axial bellows if possible due to the pressure thrust, assuming you have some pressure to deal with. A pressure compensating joint could be an option, albeit an expensive one.
I would recommend using two hinged joints or possible a double-tied expansion joint, both options located in a leg of pipe perpendicular to the movement.
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
My motto: Learn something new every day
Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
The blower room is not conditioned space so a tight seal is not necessary.
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
10psi internal pressure in your simple sleeve equates to around an axial 10,000 lbf at the wall / anchor.
Remember Flixborough !
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
There are sleeve and seal arrangements which allow axial movement of a solid continuous pipe through an opening whilst providing some sort of seal - all depends on temperature of the pipe, amount of rain / snow etc it has to resist. 1/1/2" is not that big a movement. A schematic drawing would help, but it's not a complicated question.
I do remember flixborough and looked up the root causes which may have been bellows related. Any system needs to be correctly designed or it has severe consequences.
My motto: Learn something new every day
Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
Thanks a lot for all the replies.
C2it you are correct. Minimal transfer of forces to the vertical wall. The internal pressure in the pipe is about 11 psi.
I like what bmir proposed. I will do more research on this. I will also contact USbellows.
Regrads
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion
But a "simple sliding joint" can lock up (freeze) by rust, debris, birds and dirt, ice or dirt (dust probably won't affect it much) and possibly galling if stainless. Not too likely.
A well-kept-up, maintained slide and cover assembly routinely greased and with a good animal/critter/bug and bee cover can last a long time though. Or until the maintenance foreman leaves and a skinflint plant manager decides to cut costs and eliminate maintenance ... Then the wall joint doesn't slide. It still moves 1.5 inch sideways, it just doesn't slide.
I would have expected less resistance to an in-line bellows installation, but it appears there is an institutional memory against them.
RE: Stainless Steel Pipe Expansion