Special Design Expansion Joints Solve Space Problem

For Stewart and Stevenson

On high efficiency gas turbines which are used for power generating applications, it is necessary to duct high pressure air and steam around portions of the turbine casing. These lines can operate at temperatures in the range of over 9000 F at pressures in excess of 450 psig. The parts shown were designed to handle a 1850 psig hydrostatic test. Because of extreme spacing limitations inside the turbine housing, expansion joints used for these applications must be as compact as possible.

Senior Flexonics Pathway developed specially designed hinged and gimbaled expansion joints for Stewart and Stevenson to accommodate very tight space limitations on a new generation of gas turbines being developed for power generation. These expansion joints were only 7" overall length. This allowed for maximum flexibility in the pipe design.

The design shown in the photos was a radical departure from Senior Flexonics Pathway’s typical industrial hardware. Previous Senior Flexonics Pathway designs offered to Stewart and Stevenson had met with some criticism. The previous designs were scaled down versions of large hinged and gimbaled expansion joints that Senior Flexonics Pathway typically builds for large diameter petrochemical applications. By incorporating the comments of Stewart and Stevenson engineers and quality assurance people and designing the new expansion joints for the specific purpose, the result was a product with the look of a turbine component which was compact and competitively priced.

For this application, Senior Flexonics Pathway engineers also performed pipe stress analysis to assist Stewart and Stevenson engineers in the development of the final piping design. This service proved to be a valuable time saver which helped to keep the project on schedule.

To find out more about custom design expansion joints or pipe stress analysis services from Senior Flexonics Pathway, contact Senior Flexonics Pathway.