1. Structural and performance advantages

Flexible compensation mechanism

The elastic deformation of the rubber sphere absorbs the displacement caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the pipeline, vibration and foundation settlement, and the compensation capacity is significantly better than the rigid connection. For example, its axial displacement compensation can reach ±25mm, and the angular displacement compensation can reach ±15°, which effectively reduces the risk of pipeline stress concentration.

The three-sphere structure further enhances its adaptability under complex working conditions through multi-directional bending design. Typical cases show that it can adapt to angular deflection of ±45°.

Vibration and noise reduction characteristics

The high damping characteristics of rubber materials can increase the pipeline vibration attenuation rate to more than 80%, which is particularly suitable for pipeline systems near vibration sources such as pump rooms and compressor stations. For example, after application in a chemical plant, the vibration noise of the equipment was reduced from 95dB to 65dB.

The built-in steel wire skeleton structure ensures flexibility while making the burst pressure reach more than 3 times the working pressure, ensuring safety under extreme working conditions.

Medium resistance and weather resistance

Using special rubber formulas such as EPDM and NBR, it can withstand temperatures ranging from -30℃ to 150℃ and acid-base corrosion environments. For example, in a power plant desulfurization system, the joint has been running continuously for 3 years without aging and cracking.

Ozone resistance meets ISO 1431 standards, and the outdoor service life exceeds 15 years, significantly reducing the maintenance cost of the entire life cycle.

2. Typical application scenarios

Municipal infrastructure

In urban water supply networks, flexible joints effectively solve the problem of pipeline expansion and contraction caused by temperature differences. After the application of DN1200 water pipelines in a municipality, the annual leakage rate dropped from 1.2% to 0.3%.

By installing this joint, the aeration system of the sewage treatment plant reduces the equipment failure rate caused by pipeline vibration by 60%, ensuring the stability of the biological treatment process.

Industrial process control

In petrochemical plants, its high-pressure resistance (maximum pressure 6.4MPa) meets the stringent requirements of high-temperature steam pipelines. Data from a refining project showed that the joints operated continuously for 20,000 hours without failure at 450°C.

The CIP system in the pharmaceutical industry uses food-grade silicone rubber joints, which are FDA-certified to ensure zero contamination of process media.

Energy and power field

The main steam pipeline of a thermal power plant reduces the risk of pipeline cracking caused by thermal stress by 90% by configuring a double-ball joint. After a 660MW unit was applied, the maintenance cycle was extended from 2 years to 5 years.

Offshore wind power platforms are significantly affected by wave loads, and the flexible joints can absorb ±300mm axial displacement to ensure the flexible connection between the submarine cable and the platform.

III. Technology development trend

Material innovation

Nano-modified rubber technology expands the temperature resistance range of the joint to -50°C to 180°C, while increasing the tear strength by 30%. A laboratory test showed that the fatigue life of the new material exceeded 100,000 cycles in a 150°C hot oil environment.

Self-healing rubber coating technology achieves automatic healing of microcracks and extends the service life of the joint by more than 2 times.

Intelligent upgrade

Intelligent joints with built-in fiber optic sensors can monitor displacement, strain and leakage status in real time, and transmit data to the SCADA system for predictive maintenance. A pilot project shortened downtime and maintenance time by 40% through this technology.

5G+ edge computing technology shortens the response time of joint status diagnosis to milliseconds, meeting the needs of high-safety scenarios such as nuclear power plants.

Modular design

The quick-install joint adopts a clamp connection structure, and the installation efficiency is 5 times higher than that of traditional flange connection, which is particularly suitable for emergency repair scenarios. An emergency drill of a water supply company showed that the replacement time of DN800 pipes was compressed from 8 hours to 1.5 hours.

The prefabricated thermal insulation integrated joint integrates the insulation layer with the joint body, reduces on-site construction procedures, and reduces heat loss to below 0.3W/(m·K).

IV. Market and standard evolution

Industry scale

The global flexible rubber joint market size is expected to exceed US$3.5 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%. As the largest producer, China accounts for 45% of the global share, and its products are exported to more than 120 countries and regions.

Standard system

The international standard ISO 10806-1:2021 puts forward new requirements for the fire resistance of rubber joints, stipulating that the sealing performance should be maintained for 1 hour in a 950℃ flame. The EU EN 14917:2023 strengthens the sanitary certification clauses for drinking water systems.

China's GB/T 26121-2023 standard adds a new seismic performance level classification, dividing the products into Level I (8 degrees fortification) to Level III (6 degrees fortification), guiding the engineering application in different seismic intensity areas.