PurgExtra® is a new inflatable tube and pipe purging system that has been developed for weld purging tube and pipe joints from 1 to 24 in diameter.
The new design features an extra gas purge hose to speed up the purging process to ensure that the cost of the product is paid for in just one weld.
A PurgExtra® System is simply inserted into a pipe and positioned using RootGlo®, a material adhered to the centre of each System, allowing the welder to see the System clearly through the root gap, explained Luke Keane, technical support for Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT).
The PurgExtra® System is then inflated with the inert gas. Once the dams are inflated, the gas will displace the oxygen within the pipe ready for welding. Each System is manufactured with a Weld Purge Monitor® connection, to ensure the oxygen level can be measured, giving precise oxygen values throughout the purging process, Keane continued.
The PurgExtra® Range allows the operator to purge at the recommended rates initially and then, when conditions are correct, to introduce the additional gas at high flow rates. This system is especially valuable for achieving the lower oxygen levels required for welding materials around 20 parts per million.
The PurgExtra® also allows extra argon gas into the welding zone when interpass temperature control is necessary, in order to help cool the weld zone drastically. This will help remove the gases that are expelled by out-gassing, which occurs as the metal is being heated.
Image courtesy of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques