Fabric Expansion Joints

Textile expansion joints for hot-gas ducts with multi-layer fabric and gas-tight inner liner.

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Fabric expansion joints (textile compensators) are the flexible link in hot-gas systems that absorb thermal expansion, vibration and minor mis-alignment between adjoining duct sections. They are used in flue-gas ducts behind boilers and HRSGs, gas-turbine exhausts, oxy-fuel plants, drying ovens, lime sintering, cement installations and anywhere a metal expansion joint would be too heavy, too costly or thermally unsuitable.

A fabric expansion joint is built as a multi-layer package: a heat-resistant outer cover (glass-fibre, silicate or ceramic fabric, optionally reinforced with stainless-steel or Inconel wire), an insulating middle layer (often combined with our insulation bolsters) and a gas-tight inner liner (PTFE film, fluoroelastomer or silicone rubber, depending on process temperature and chemistry). The flange edges carry clamp bars or bolt holes and are produced to drawing so the joint fits snugly to the duct profile.

Service temperature ranges from approximately 80°C on the cold side up to 1000°C in the ceramic build. Manufacturing runs from drawing or on-site measurement, in round, square or rectangular cross-section.