Is There a Right Way to Choose Welded Bellows?

Jun 9
10:27

2016

Rosario Berry

Rosario Berry

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At first glance, you may think that welded bellows are much the same, easy to identify and that there’s no real reason to concern yourself with details. You’d be wrong in thinking this way. There is a right way to go about choosing the best kind of bellows for your project, and following these simple guidelines will make the task a pleasure. Key factors include airtightness, durability, thermostability and corrosion resistance.

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Look at the Design

 

Bellows are widely used across a variety of actuation,Is There a Right Way to Choose Welded Bellows? Articles fluid handling and sensing applications. There’s a commonly used acronym, “STEP” that refers to the four main categories where welded bellows are used: sealing, temperature, evacuation and pressure. Bellows also perform differently under various types of load, so it is important to look closely at the design and materials when making your choice.

 

A Purposeful Fit

 

A special combination of piston-like and spring-like action, bellows can convert pressure changes into applied force and also redirect applied force reactively. Welded bellows will exhibit a particular balance depending on the materials and construction method used in their making. Each kind has its most suitable purpose, and there are factors to consider that will put you on the right path to choosing the right component for your project.

 

Welded Bellows in Use

 

During their use, welded bellows create a flexible connection and seal, perfect for expansion joints and electrical interrupters. Temperature changes cause contraction and expansion of the bellows, making them useful for control valves and temperature switches. Also reactive to changes in altitude, bellows can adjust fuel to air mixtures. In pressurized uses, bellows respond in a linear way, making them useful in pressure switches and gauges.

 

Temperature Extremes

 

Welded bellows made from stainless steel possess the ability to function well in extremely high and extremely low temperature environments, typically -260p to 1200p. This level of versatility is well suited to applications within power transmission systems, industrial controls and electrical interrupters.  

 

Corrosive Resistance

 

Welded bellows may be made from a variety of metals including stainless steel, Inconel, Haynes and Hastelloy, among others. Stainless steel offers high tensile strength – a minimum of 90 ksi – and high corrosion resistance, making bellows made in this material useful in multiple media and environments.

 

Durability

 

Circular or rectangular welded bellows, when manufactured to the highest specifications and fit to the correct purpose will offer extensive durability in the long term. Over 1,000,000 cycles is a common benchmark for bellows of high quality. As a company that is dedicated to high reliability in manufacture of fluid control components and systems is consistently achieving world class standards in bellows and fluid system components development, and welcomes collaboration with companies sharing these values.