Fabric expansion bellows is widely used in many projects because of its good comprehensive properties. Fabric expansion bellows is always used to exhaust smoke and remove sulfur in steel factory, smelting plant, petrochemical plant, fossil-fuel power station, cement plant, atomic-energy plant. Knowing how to maintain the fabric expansion bellows helps to give full play to the function of fabric expansion bellows.

How to maintain the fabric expansion bellows?

•After start-up, re-tighten the screws once using the necessary torque, since the expansion joint material settles as a result of heat.

•Perform inspections one week after operational start and then annually.

•Inspect for:

-external damage and changes to the fabric bellows such as blisters, brittleness, tears or discolourations.

-leaks.

-impermissible movements, displacements and installation lengths.

-corrosion and wear on the entire component.

-position of pre-insulation.

-remove ash buildup from the pre-insulation.

-Shore hardness on expansion joint bellows. All rubber grades are subject to natural aging that reduces elasticity and raises Shore hardness. Under normal conditions, one can assume that the Shore hardness increases on average by 1°Shore A per year. This value may rise at higher temperatures. For this reason, we recommend that you inspect the Shore hardness at regular intervals and replace the fabric bellows when the value reaches approximately 80°Shore A. Assuming a Shore hardness of approximately 60°Shore A, the component lifetime will be 15 to 20 years. Wear and external influences such as UV radiation and ozone damage are also involved here.

•Clean the fabric bellows with dilute soap suds and then with clean water. Do not use sharp objects, wire brushes or emery paper.