Pipes

Bellows liner for water and gas: characteristics and benefits

July 20, 2020

Bellows liner for water is a special device, which is a corrugated hose, made of stainless steel. This product is very practical, however, inferior in flexibility to conventional rubber hoses in a metal braid. To choose the right bellows model, you need to get acquainted with its features and technical characteristics.

Bellows liner for water or gas is a flexible part, which remains strong and tight even at repeated deformations, related to pressure and temperature

What it is and where it is used?

Flexible bellows eyeliner for water, is made of stainless steel and has a corrugated structure. Such devices are used in those cases, when installation of usual pipes is difficult or impossible.

Consider, in which cases the bellows liner is mounted:

  • connection of various plumbing equipment to water supply communication;
  • gas supply from the gas pipeline to the stoves, boilers, etc.. d .;
  • for the organization of connections at installation of various climatic equipment (example, air conditioners);
  • as well as bellows models of eyeliners are widely used to connect sprinklers (sprinklers), which are a part of automatic fire extinguishing systems;

pay attention! It is worth noting, that the operating area of ​​the flexible bellows-type eyeliner expands, if it is used in a complex with various fixing fittings.

Such combined designs are used at the enterprises and are a part of the equipment, which serves a variety of products:

  • air and other gases;
  • petroleum products;
  • aggressive chemicals.

In plumbing, such an eyeliner is used to connect faucets and other devices to the water supply

To date, in addition to bellows, there are other varieties of these devices. The range of such hoses is incredibly wide, which allows you to expand the operational scope of eyeliners. When choosing an eyeliner, first of all you should pay attention to the material of the product, as this is considered a deciding factor.

Varieties of flexible eyeliners

Consider the main types of flexible eyeliners on the material of manufacture:

  • rubber hoses, equipped with a special stainless steel braid. In some cases, aluminum or nylon is used as the braid, and sometimes the braid of the rubber hose is completely absent;
  • cross-linked polyethylene hoses. This material has high flexibility;
  • Stainless steel corrugated tube (bellows eyeliner).

It should be noted, that each of the above models differs in its pros and cons. Rubber hoses, equipped with aluminum braid, are used to connect water or gas and have a service life of up to 3 years. Pressure, which is able to withstand such devices, does not exceed 0,5 MPa, and the temperature resistance is not more 80 ° C. The main disadvantage of this model is its weak resistance to the harmful effects of corrosion.

Rubber hose, reinforced with stainless steel, in terms of performance, is more reliable, than the first option. Pressure indicators, which can withstand such a hose, make up 1 MPa, and the maximum temperature of the working environment reaches 95 ° C. The service life of such models is close 10 years.

Rubber flexible eyeliner, equipped with a nylon braid, is very popular in today's market. The service life of such models in the shell of polymer threads can reach 15 years. Pressure indicators, which are able to withstand such models, make up 2 MPa, and the maximum allowable operating temperature -110 ° C.

The most durable and reliable is the eyeliner, made of stainless steel

Product from strong cross-linked polyethylene, provided with a metal braid, is considered quite reliable. Such models have high resistance to corrosion and aggressive chemicals. However, polyethylene eyeliners have temperature restrictions.

Bellows models of eyeliners are made of stainless steel and have a corrugated surface. Such products are far superior to all previous types in their technical characteristics.

Design and features of bellows for water

Bellows model is made of different brands of stainless steel (example, AISI 304). The production process of this device can take place using different technologies. Depending on the manufacturing technology, there are two main types of bellows hoses:

  • welded;
  • solid drawn.

Regardless of the technology of execution, bellows products have almost the same technical characteristics. The wall thickness of these devices, usually, is 0,3 mm. exept this, all of them are completed with special constructive elements - nuts of cap type.

Nuts for bellows liners are made basically of the same material, as the eyeliners themselves. However, in some cases, these elements can be represented by brass or bronze. To increase the service life of brass and bronze nuts are covered with a protective layer of nickel or chromium. And also worth noting, that for the most reliable connection of a nut-hose the end of an eyeliner, consisting of approximately 2-3 ring, fold.

Nuts for hoses are made of the same material or covered with a protective layer of chrome or nickel

Useful Information! Bellows hoses for water are not mounted without a special element - a snap ring. This part provides uniform joining of a rebate and a special sealing lining to a pipe or the corresponding fitting during installation..

exept this, special adapters are used to connect the bellows hose to the fitting equipment. Adapters are made of steel or brass and, among other things, provide docking of this device with pipes, the cross-sectional indicators of which differ from the diameter of the eyeliner itself.

Operational parameters of bellows liners

Stainless steel is a very reliable and durable material. It is resistant to corrosion and aggressive chemical compounds, and also has resistance to temperature fluctuations. Consider in more detail the characteristics of corrugated bellows liner stainless steel:

  • the service life of bellows models can reach 20 years (and in some cases more);
  • temperature indicators, which are able to withstand bellows models vary from? 40 to +200 ° C;
  • operating pressure of such products varies depending on the cross section of the hose and the thickness of its walls, however, in most cases, bellows models made of stainless steel are able to withstand from 1,5 MPa to 3 MPa.

exept this, it is worth noting, which is the most reliable detail, which is a part of a bellows flexible supply, there is a special gasket. The sealing gasket is made of the following materials:

  • paronite;
  • fluorine-containing polymer;
  • copper.

Bellows eyeliners are also available for connecting gas appliances, such hoses have a yellow coating

Sealing element, usually, feels the same pressure, as well as bellows devices. Based on this, experts recommend the use of gaskets, having a thickness of not less 2,5 mm.

Excellent performance characteristics of stainless steel make a bellows hose for water a universal device. These products are allowed to be used for:

  • communications of cold and hot water supply;
  • heating communications;
  • gas pipelines.

Advantages of using bellows liners made of stainless steel

Consider the main advantages of using flexible corrugated bellows made of stainless steel:

  • resistance to oxygen diffusion;
  • stainless steel is a fire-resistant material;
  • stainless steel is an environmentally friendly material and does not emit any harmful substances, capable of causing any harm to human health;
  • high resistance to wear.

Importantly! It is worth noting, that at installation in case of bending of a bellows hose, it does not change the shape of its working cross section (DO NOT squeeze). It is very important, because in this case the same indicators of pressure on all length of a hose remain.

exept this, the use of such hoses in production is ideal, as they can be used to transport aggressive working environments and petroleum products. Since these devices are durable, they may be used for the transportation of bulk substances.

Bellows eyeliner does not have high flexibility, but keeps the form given to it without additional fastenings

But such products have some disadvantages. Example, bellows models made of stainless steel are inferior to rubber hoses in terms of flexibility. Because of this, the installation of bellows liners is not always convenient, especially, in conditions of limited space. However, this property is also a virtue, as the device is able to maintain and maintain its shape without auxiliary structures.

Tips for choosing eyeliner

When choosing the right size bellows water liner should be guided by the following rules:

  • Before purchasing this product, you need to find out the water temperature and pressure in your system, that will allow you to buy the product, corresponding to the required parameters;
  • the diameter of the product is determined by the water consumption of a plumbing equipment. Optimal cross-sectional indicators for connection to the toilet water pipe - 8 mm, for the sink - 10 mm, and for the bath - 15 mm;
  • the length of the bellows of the eyeliner is determined on a case by case basis. It is not recommended to install such a device in conditions of too limited space. exept this, the hose should not be too tight.
  • the fittings of the product must not have any defects or deformations.

If necessary, you can always consult a specialist, which will help to choose the necessary device for a particular case and will explain to you all the nuances of using and installing such an eyeliner.

Bellows liner for gas

With the help of bellows eyeliner it is easy to connect a gas column or boiler to the supply network

Of the three main types of eyeliners, it is recommended to use a bellows hose to connect the gas. It has to do with that, that it has the highest technical characteristics and is very reliable. Such hoses easily withstand pressure, generated in the gas pipeline by the gas flow. Bellows, as mentioned above, there is a corrugated hose from stainless steel, equipped with two fittings for connection to the pipe and the device (plate, boiler, etc.. D.).

The gas liner is attached to the pipe and equipment with cap nuts. Plastic metals are used as gaskets, including:

  • copper;
  • aluminum.

It is worth noting, that the sealing element in this case can be made of a polymeric substance. The hose itself is made of stainless steel, which is marked AISI 316. And the fittings are made of steel, with high strength with AISI marking 304 or AISI 303. exept this, fittings can be made of carbon steel.

Advice! It is best if both the hose and the fitting are made of the same material. This eliminates the possibility of electrochemical reaction (during welding) between the structural elements of the eyeliner. In other cases, the destruction of the weld is possible.

If the fittings are soldered with tin or silver to a corrugated hose or glued to it, then such a connection will not be strong and will not last long. exept this, it is worth noting, that the price of bellows gas liners at least in 2 times higher, than on ordinary rubber hoses, equipped with metal braid or braid of polymeric material.

Bellows, which has undergone a special annealing procedure is able to stretch, increasing its length in 2 times, but, such stretching has a negative effect on the rigidity of the device and is not recommended by experts. Corrugated bellows are resistant to pressure 0,6 MPa, and the temperature range for such products is from € 40 to +200 ° C.