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52 Tube Products International November 2015
Fi t t ings , f langes , valves & connectors
Valve system prevents welding dam bursts
Many inflatable tube and pipe purging
systems are at risk of overinflating
during the weld purging process.
As the heat of welding rises, the
inflatable dams can expand beyond
their safe limits. In addition, other
personnel working near the welding
area can vary the gas flow or pressure
at random, causing over-inflation and
bursting.
Once a burst occurs, the purge is lost
and the weld will immediately oxidise
in the presence of incoming air. The
welder will then have to cease welding,
grind out the oxidation and start the
whole process again.
To prevent such bursts, Huntingdon
Fusion Techniques (HFT®) designed
and manufactures the PurgeGate®
valve system, in order to stop any over-
pressurising of inflatable tube and pipe
purging systems.
These devices, which are fitted as
standard on the HotPurge™ and
QuickPurge® systems (PurgeGate II),
are offered as accessories for the
PurgElite® , PurgExtra™ and any other
manufacturer’s versions of inflatable
tube and pipe purging systems. They
have an easy push-fit connection and
are plug-and-play. The PurgeGate
valves fit all system sizes from 1" to
96", and can be moved from system
to system.
Huntingdon Fusion Techniques – UK
Valve World Americas sets new record
The third staging of Valve World
Americas Expo & Conference, held in
Houston, Texas, USA, was a success.
A total of 3,718 visitors and delegates
(not including exhibitor staff) attended
the event to get a broad overview of
the latest technologies, components
and systems in the field of industrial
flow control.
Products and innovations were
presented by 192 exhibitors from the
USA, Asia, Europe, India and Mexico
on 38,900ft2 of exhibit space. Since
its inception in 2011, the event has
grown significantly with each staging,
in terms of both exhibitors and
attendees. Key support was provided
by major valve manufacturers as show
sponsors, including Bonney Forge, Bray
International, Crane ChemPharma &
Energy, Emerson Process Management,
Metso, MRC Global, Pentair Valves &
Controls and Velan, with the support of
the Valve Manufacturers Association of
America (VMA), API and the Society of
Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED).
“The response to Valve World Americas
has been nothing short of exceptional,”
stated Tom Mitchell, president of
Messe Düsseldorf North America. “We
are especially proud of the
fact that this has become a
real partnership between the
organisers and the industry to
build and foster a community.
Due to the unprecedented
growth and demand for exhibit
space at the 2015 show, we
will again expand our available
exhibit space at the George R
Brown Convention Center for
the 2017 show.”
The Valve World Americas
Conference 2015 followed
the successful format of the
previous event, by having the
conference consist of plenary sessions
and panel workshops developed by a
steering committee of industry experts.
The workshops covered a variety of
timely topics and issues such as valve
testing for emissions, performance and
validation, valve technologies selection
for cryogenic applications, variables in
the design of a valve, material selection
and casting specifications. The plenary
sessions included themes such as the
outlook on the Houston economy, the role
of effective valve selection and operation
for improved safety, the benefits of
standardising specifications in valves
and environmental enforcement.
For the 2017 event, the conference
organisation will employ a call for papers
for the first time; more information
on how to become involved with the
conference will be made available in
the near future.
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH – Germany
KCI Publishing – Netherlands
PurgeGate valve from HFT