Restricting your pipe weld purge zone
Published by Lydia Woellwarth,
Editor
World Pipelines,
It is often very common for welders to spend hours waiting for their weld purge level to be low enough to begin welding. Without restricting the purge zone with an inflatable pipe purging system when welding stainless steel, titanium or zirconium tube and pipes, displacing the oxygen in entire pipelines with an inert gas (usually argon), can cause a lot of wasted time and gas.
Experts in the field of tube and pipe weld purging, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® design and manufacture PurgElite®, a range of low cost tube and pipe purging systems to achieve a clean, oxide free, zero colour weld in just minutes.
Ron Sewell, Chairman for HFT said: “To save welders the expense of completely filling tubes and pipes with an inert gas, PurgElite Systems are available. They inflate and seal in the pipe, restricting the volume that is needed to be purged. This not only saves welders time waiting for pipes to be purged, but also inert gas costs.”
“Manufactured to suit pipe diameters from as low as 1 in. right up to 24 in. (25 to 600 mm), each system is made with a special Weld Purge Monitor® connection, so you can really keep a close eye on your purge!”
The special spinal tube is resistant to hot metal up to 300°C (572°F) and is super flexible to allow movement of the PurgElite Systems around 180° bends if necessary. These spinal tubes are made of a low outgassing rate material, so there is no risk of weld contamination.
Each PurgElite features IntaCal®, a purge gas feed device, which means there is no complicated valve to adjust and set. A centrepiece glow positioning indicator RootGlo® comes as standard to ensure the system can be positioned accurately inside the tube or pipe. In addition, there is no metal braiding on the high temperature resistant gas hose connecting the two inflatable dams, which could be accidentally welded to the root of a joint or which could scratch the internal bore of an electro polished tube on entry or on removal.
Quick connect/disconnect fittings with collets and ‘O’ ring seals for gas tight sealing, fitted with anti-release circlip are fitted to all systems to prevent parts accidentally separating inside pipes.
HFT’s innovative PurgeGate® Valve is available as an accessory, a unique one way valve suitable for all types of inflatable pipe weld purging systems. PurgeGate regulates the gas flow and pressure during weld purging to prevent the dams from over inflating and bursting.
Heat resistant covers with a rating up to a temperature of 300°C are available as accessories to protect the inflatable dams. These are attached with ties sewn into the covers.
By using PurgElite tube and pipe purging systems, companies can save significant amounts of money in both time and inert gas costs.
HFT offer a live demonstration where required and they can send a return on investment chart to show you how quickly it pays to use up to date technology from the very first weld.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/product-news/25102018/restricting-your-pipe-weld-purge-zone/
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