2400 Longhorn Industrial Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78130 Ph: (830)629-8080 Fax: (830)629-6899 email: info@myej. net Copyright © 2001 Senior Flexonics Pathway. NEWS RELEASE For a typical expansion joint used in FCC service, most of the purchase price goes toward the piping, refractory and the hardware that is designed to resist pressure thrust or support portions of the expansion joint. The bellows element is really a small part of the total cost. When a bellows fails on an FCC expansion joint, the cause is usually a crack or a pit from some form of chemi- cal attack. However, the pipe, refractory and support hard- ware can generally be reused. It makes good economic sense to rebuild an FCC expansion joint in the event of a failure or whenever there is a need to upgrade an exist- ing design with current technology. In the case of BP Oil, the decision was made to rebuild an existing expansion joint to upgrade it with the latest design features. BP Oil did not experience any kind of failure, they simply wanted to upgrade an FCC expan- sion joint that had been in service for several years while replacing the components that are most often subject to failure over time. SENIOR FLEXONICS PATHWAY UPGRADES FCC EXPANSION JOINTS The subject expansion joint was removed and replaced with a ply testable bellows made from alloy 625. Seal strips were installed over the bellows attachment welds. The seal strips were fitted with a tap so that pressure could be detected if the bellows attachment weld devel- oped any leakage. A Senior Flexonics PathwayRED TOP EARLY WARNING LEAK DETECTOR was fitted to the seal strip pressure tap and the ply testable pressure tap so that operations could be warned of any leakage of either of these areas without creating a shut down situa- tion. Also included in the upgraded design were heavy wall telescoping covers capable of holding media pressure, bellows packed with ceramic fiber enclosed in knitted wire mesh and knitted wire type liner seals held in place with extra heavy alloy clips. To find out more about rebuilding expansion joints con- tact Senior Flexonics Pathway. NR 46 FOR BP OI L WITH LATEST FEATURES Finished assembly ready for shipping Close up of pressure taps from ply testable bellows and atta chment weld seal strips. A Red Top Early Warning Leak Detector will be attached to the nipple.
