To address thermal expansion in a pipeline, it is recommended to install expansion joints (made of metal or other materials, depending on the application) and thermal expansion joints. These components are designed to absorb axial, lateral, and angular movements caused by temperature changes, thereby preventing material fatigue, excessive stress, and potential system ruptures.
To isolate and mitigate mechanical vibration generated by rotating equipment such as pumps or compressors, the best practice is to install flexible metal hoses or expansion joints at the equipment’s inlet and outlet. These flexible components act as dampers, absorbing vibrations and preventing resonance from being transmitted to the rest of the rigid piping system.
For the insulation of pipelines with cathodic protection systems, the standard approach involves flange sealing solutions—specifically, dielectric flange isolation kits. These kits block the flow of electric current through pipeline connections, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of the cathodic protection and preventing galvanic corrosion.
Misalignment during piping assembly or installation can be compensated for by using flexible piping components, such as flexible metal hoses. These elements allow for the correction of deviations and facilitate mechanical coupling, reducing residual stresses on flanges and pipes that could otherwise lead to future leaks.
The safest and most reliable elements for providing flexibility to hot piping are metal expansion joints and flexible metal hoses made of stainless steel or special alloys. These products maintain their structural integrity at high temperatures and pressures, ensuring the safe handling of thermal fluids without compromising the seal.
For large-diameter ducts—commonly used for handling low-pressure gases or air—the best solutions for absorbing thermal expansion are non-metallic expansion joints (fabric or textile joints) and large-diameter metallic expansion joints. These joints allow for the absorption of significant multidirectional movements within confined spaces without transmitting excessive loads to the duct anchors.