The thermal pipe network compensator is designed to adapt to the thermal expansion and contraction phenomenon of the pipeline when the temperature changes, so as to avoid the damage of the pipeline system due to stress concentration. According to different designs and working principles, thermal pipe network compensators can be divided into many types, the following are the common ones:
Metal corrugation compensator：
Such compensators are constructed from bellows made of single or multiple layers of metal sheets, capable of absorbing axial, lateral and angular displacements.
It is characterized by small footprint and small medium flow resistance, but the cost is relatively high.
Square compensator(also known as L-shaped or Z-shaped compensator):
A U-shaped, L-shaped, or Z-shaped structure formed by the natural bending of the pipe is utilized to absorb thermal deformation.
It is simple to manufacture, but the medium flow resistance is large, and it occupies a large area.
sleeve compensator：
Comprises two layers of inner and outer pipes, the outer pipe is fixed, the inner pipe is slidable, and the thermal elongation of the pipe is compensated by the sliding of the inner pipe.
Strong compensation ability, small footprint, but easy to leak, heavy maintenance workload.
Spherical compensator：
It is composed of a sphere and a shell, can be deformed in space, has large compensation ability and is convenient to install.
It can absorb the three-dimensional displacement of the pipeline, and is especially suitable for the pipeline with complex direction.
Thrust-free Rotation Compensator：
The thermal elongation of the pipe is absorbed by rotating, and the fixed support is not required to provide reverse thrust.
Bend compensator：
Consists of four 90° elbows, the thermal elongation of the pipe section is compensated by the deformation of the elbows.
The thrust to the fixed point is small, but the medium flow resistance is large.
Natural compensator：
Use the geometry and elasticity of the pipe itself to absorb thermal deformation, such as L-shaped, Z-shaped bends, etc.
No additional compensator components are required, but the scope of application is limited.
directly buried compensator：
Designed for direct buried pipes, capable of absorbing the thermal expansion and contraction of pipes in underground environments, often in combination with bellows technology.
Metal hose：
It is highly flexible and suitable for applications that require frequent vibrations or small displacements.
Each type of compensator has its own specific application scenarios and advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right compensator requires comprehensive consideration of various factors such as working pressure, temperature, medium characteristics, space constraints and budget of the pipeline. In practical applications, some special compensator designs may also be encountered to meet the needs of specific engineering.