BEST-IN-CLASS

DISTRICT HEATING
EXPANSION JOINTS

District heating pipelines are mainly exposed to temperature expansions caused by temperature fluctuations as a result of a system start-up or predisposed operating conditions. Depending on the purpose District Heating Expansion Joints can be divided into two main categories:

District Heating Expansion Joints for multiple usage
One-step Expansion Joints

Both types are specifically developed for district heating applications and are suitable for ground-surface and underground pipeline systems. Belman offers standard as well as customised solutions.

Design range and scope of supply within District Heating Expansion Joints

District Heating Expansion Joints are available in sizes DN 80 – 1200 in all materials.
Other sizes and designs are designed and manufactured as cost-efficient customised solutions based on customer specifications and drawings.

DIMENSIONS:
DN 15-1200
Up to DN 12000 on request.

PRESSURE:
Up to 25 Barg / 362 psi
Up to 150 barg on request.

TEMPERATURE:
-40°C to +200°C
Higher and lower temperatures
on request.

MATERIALS:

Austenitic stainless steels, High alloys, Duplex, Titanium, Hastelloy,
Incoloy, Inconel, Alloy 59

DESIGN CODES:

EN 13445, EN 13480, EN 14917
ASME VIII, div.I, ASME B31.3
ASME B31.1, EJMA, AD 2000
and others on request

TESTS:

Radiographic examination (X-ray), Helium leak testing, Pressure test, Air test, Dye penetrant test, Magnetic particle examination and many more

ENGINEERED

DISTRICT HEATING EXPANSION JOINTS

For temperature expansions of the pipeline

Bellows for both trenched/trenchless pipelines

DISTRICT HEATING EXPANSION JOINTS

CASE STORY

In some district heating piping systems large movements needs to be absorbed. In such cases highly customised District Heating Expansion joints are needed. A district heating pipeline owner in Latvia needed to absorb -0/+300 axial movement and Belman solved this challenge by customising some double Distict Heating Expansion Joints.

Read Case Story

EXPERIENCED & APPROVED SUPPLIER

REFERENCES

DISTRICT HEATING & ENERGY

Vattenfall • Termo Petroleo • Ørsted (Dong Energy) • RWE • Irkutsk Energo • STEAG • Novosibirsk Energo • Mosenergo • Drax • Hofor • Tauron • PakGen • BHEL • Ceylon Electricity Board • Rosatom • RWE Npower • Fortum • EDF (British Energy) • AEP Energy

Services • E.ON • Inter RAO • Fernwärme Wien • ENGIE Electrabel • Enel • Howden Turbo UK • Uniper • Veitur • Ceylon • Howden • Mitsuibishi Power • Stadtwerke Flensborg • Kraftzer •

See more references

DISTRICT HEATING EXPANSION JOINTS

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

APPLICATION

The District Heating Expansion Joints are specially developed for district heating piping systems and power plants.
These Expansion Joints are suitable for ground-surface and underground pipeline systems.

TYPES & DESiGNS

Depending on the purpose District Heating Expansion Joints can be divided into two main categories:

DISTRICT HEATING EXPANSION JOINTS
District Heating Expansion Joints are designed to take up mainly axial movements caused by temperature expansions of the pipeline. The Expansion Joints are suitable for both trenched/trenchless pipelines, are reliable in operation and do not require any maintenance. A highly flexible bellow is a main component of District Heating Expansion Joints, ensuring compensation of large axial movements. A solid casing and guides/rings mounted on the Expansion Joints serves multiple functions for example; the protection of the bellows from mechanical damages, higher bellow stability and the absorption of eventual misalignments in the pipeline. An inner sleeve protects the bellows against internal abrasives such as sand and dirt particles which are often carried by district heating water, settling between the convolutions which can prevent the bellows from their intended function. Furthermore, the Expansion Joints have a safeguard preventing torsion on the bellows and other unintended loads, and thus ensuring a longer service life. The basic design can be additionally reinforced, so the Expansion Joints would be able to absorb additional loads coming from the pipeline. Consequently, this will result in the saving of the first guide supporting the pipeline, normally placed at 4 x DN from the Expansion Joint to a distance of 10 x DN. The reinforcement is obtained through a more solid construction, more specifically the casing and inner sleeve.

ONE STEP EXPANSION JOINTS

One-step Expansion Joints are used during the start-up of the district heating pipelines to relieve the system from expansions, caused by temperature fluctuations. Once the Expansion Joint absorbs the movement, it functions as a regular part of the pipeline. One-step Expansion Joints are normally utilised in a pipeline system with an average operating temperature below 90°C and are installed while it is cold. Prior to pipeline’s commissioning, it is heated up to a mean temperature by pumping the system up with hot district heating water. Once the system reaches the mean temperature, One-step Expansion Joints should be “locked” by welding the cover to the pipe end. The entire system can be insulated and ready for operation. One-step Expansion Joints are maintenance free.

Engineering at Belman

HOW DOES THE
DISTRICT HEATING
EXPANSION JOINTS
WORK?

This animation is showcasing how movements are absobed by the District Heating Expansion Joints



BELMAN YOUTUBE CHANNEL

More animations on how different Expansion Joint types absorb movements can be seen on the Belman Group Youtube channel

Go to Belman Youtube

SPECIAL FEATURES

PRE-STRESSING

The District Heating Expansion Joints are usually available as pre-stressed. Pre- stressing is often required in order to utilize the complete range of compensating ability of the Expansion Joint. The optimum value of pre-stressing is 50% of the total movement. It comes ready to install with a pre-tensioning device that unfastens itself automatically when the system is started-up.

REMOTE LEAKAGE MONITORING

District Heating Expansion Joints are suitable for pre-insulated pipes – meaning that insulation foam is applied directly on the Expansion Joint’s cover and covered by an additional layer of plastic. Insulated Expansion Joints are available on request.
Pre-insulated District Heating Expansion Joints are normally provided with leak indicator for the timely detection of any leakages, allowing remedial action to be quickly taken.

INSULATION

District Heating Expansion Joints are suitable for pre-insulated pipes – meaning that insulation foam is applied directly on the District Heating Expansion Joint’s cover and covered by an additional layer of plastic. Insulated District Heating Expansion Joints are available on request.

ADVANTAGES

What are the advantages of using District Heating Expansion Joints?

Prevention of torsion
Pre-stressed
Suitable for insulation
Safety and reliability of operation
Maintenance free

What are the advantages of using One Step Expansion Joints?

Available pre-stressed
Suitable for pre-insulated pipelines
Functions as an ordinary part of a pipeline

Catalogue on Belman district heating expansion joints

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CATALOGUE

Download

Installation instruction - district heating expansion joints

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INSTALLATION iNSTRUCTION

Download

QUALITY & TESTS

Belman is known for high quality products and therefore our quality control is a fundamental part of our business. All processes during production designed by the Belman quality engineers, is strictly follow and implement according our procedures and instructions and carefully inspected by Belman quality inspectors. All checks and inspections are done according to the strict prevailing Belman quality control procedures which is part of the Belman ISO 9001 quality management system approved by DNV.

ITP & Test
Inspection test Plan generated by the quality management system makes sure that each step of manufacturing has the appropriate inspection points such as Hold and Witness points.

Based on manufacturing code, project specification, application, media, and eventual ship classification rules Belman performs a large variety of quality tests including destructive, non-destructive testing and proof testing. All tests can be witnessed by the 3^rd part based on the customer and classification requirements.

Destructive test: such as life cycle test and burst test to validate the design, i.e., vessels and offshore platforms
Non-destructive test such as Visual testing, dye penetrant test, Radiography examination, Magnetic testing, ultrasonic testing, hardness testing and PMI for all applications
Proof tests: leak test with air, leak test with helium and former gas, hydrostatic pressure test for all application