Posted to News on 17th Dec 2007, 22:35
Giant expansion joints used at biggest Belgian sewage plant
James Walker has supplied seven giant expansion joints for a new sewage plant in Belgium.
Western Europe's largest wastewater treatment plant, the new Brussels-North sewage plant, serving over one million people in Belgium, is due to go on stream in March 2007, partly with the help of seven giant expansion joints designed, manufactured and installed by James Walker.
The 2.7 x 2.5m expansion joints are fitted in concrete ducts handling the airflow of 10m/s at 140degC and 1.2bar needed for biological treatment of sewage. They were custom-made by UK-based James Walker Townson from 9.5mm thick ethylene-propylene (EPDM) elastomer reinforced with three layers of aramid fibre.
James Walker Townson was responsible for the principal design and supply of the frames and compensators and James Walker Benelux NV for the gaskets. James Walker Townson constructed the stainless steel frames for all seven joints. The expansion joints were tested by James Walker Townson and witnessed by Lloyds in order to comply with the Pressure Equipment Directive Category 2 to ensure safety at the required pressure and airflow. In addition, finite element analysis was used to ensure the frame's design integrity at the working conditions stated.
