Replacing valves in pipework can be a challenge, especially when the pipelines have liquids running through them. One option is to completely drain the system to make the repairs, which can prove costly, time consuming and problematical as to where to drain the liquid.
The Pipestoppers® Division at Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® provides a cost saving solution to carrying out repairs or modifications on pipes with liquid inside, which also includes valve replacement.
Georgia Gascoyne, CEO for HFT® said: Qwik-Freezer is the industry standard portable CO2 Pipe Freezing System, in use around the World, covering pipe diameters from 3/8 8 (9 200 mm). The quick and easy to use system requires very little set-up time and is the only CO2 Pipe Freezing System capable of freezing larger pipe diameters.
HFT®s U.S. partner, COB Industries said: When a sprinkler head has to be repaired or replaced in a large system, there are many issues that can arise. Draining large fire systems can create problems with disposal of all the water, more so when it is treated chemically with rust inhibitors and/or anti freeze. Environmental concerns prevent disposing of this water in a normal drainage system, even if it is possible to access one.
Once liquids have been brought to a standstill, a specially designed flexible jacket is wrapped around the pipe at each point where the freeze is required. A nozzle in the jacket is then coupled to a cylinder of liquid carbon dioxide for the Qwik-Freezer and liquid nitrogen for the Accu-Freeze.
When the CO2/ LN2 is injected into the space between the jacket and the pipe, the pipe contents freeze and a secure ice plug is formed, which seals the pipe. The ice plug forms only in the section of the pipe covered by the jacket, so the resulting rise in pressure is very small and there is no damage to the pipe itself. The technique can be used safely on iron, steel, lead, stainless steel, copper, brass and plastic pipe.
Courtesy of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®.