1. The function of compensator.
The compensator is also called an expansion joint, or a telescopic device. In order to prevent the deformation or damage of the heating pipeline due to thermal elongation or temperature stress, it is necessary to set compensators on the pipeline, so as to compensate for the thermal elongation of the pipeline, and reduce the stress of the pipe wall and the force acting on the valve or support structure.

2. Type of compensator
The compensator is divided into natural compensation and mechanical compensation. Corrugated extenders and packing compensators are the two types of mechanical compensators that are frequently utilized in building heating engineering.
Ripple Compensator
The primary components of the ripple compensator are a corrugated pipe and an end pipe, a support, a flange, a conduit, and various accessories. In order to compensate for the axial, lateral, and angular displacement of pipelines, conduits, containers, etc., or to absorb the dimensional changes of these objects caused by thermal expansion and cold contraction, the working body of the bellows is effectively expanded and deformed.
A guide bracket is positioned on the two ends of the pipe that is linked to the bellows, and a protective tie rod or protection ring is positioned at both ends of the bellows to prevent going over the permitted compensation amount.
Packing type compensator
The packing type compensator is normally sealed between the inner and outer sleeves (tubes) with a stuffing box, and keeps both ends of the tubes moving on an axis when used. The inner sleeve (tube) is connected with the pipeline, using the principle and structure of high-performance self-pressure dynamic seal, which may slide freely in the shell with pipeline expansion and adapt to the sealing requirements of every pipeline.
3. Compensator installation requirements
The installation of the compensator shall comply with the following requirements:
The compensator’s compensation amount and installation location must fulfill the criteria of the design document, and it must be pre-stretched or pre-compressed in accordance with the compensation amount calculated by the design.
With a weld, one end of the bellows expansion joint or compensator is fitted at the inflow end of the water flow on the horizontal pipe and the upper end on the vertical pipe.
The packing compensator shall be concentric with the pipe and shall not be skewed
The pipe at one end of the compensator should be provided with a fixed support, the structural form and fixed position should meet the design requirements, and should be fixed before the prestretching (or precompression) of the compensator.
The position of the sliding guide bracket should be consistent with the design and product technical papers, and the pipeline’s sliding axis should be consistent with the compensator axis.