TPT September 2017

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T E CHNOLOG Y
58 SEPTEMBER 2017
Pipe freezing system for repairs
PUBLIC buildings, factories, hotels,
sports facilities and apartment blocks
may have pipework systems, such
as sprinkler systems, that are full of
water or other fluid that needs to be
completely drained for the smallest
of repair. Such drainage costs time,
money with respect to the product that
is lost, plus delays and costs related to
bring the system back online.
Repairs can now be done in-situ with
the Accu-Freeze™ system, which will
work on metal and plastic pipes up to
12" diameter, making ice plugs either
side of the repair site without draining
the whole system.
The Pipestoppers® division of
Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT)
recently carried out installation of an
Accu-Freeze system for a client who
was contracted to repair pipework in
large blocks of apartments. Working in
the plant room, access was tight as the
pipes were only 6" to 8" from the ground.
At one end of the pipe was a pressure
gauge, and at the other a 1,000-litre hot
water cylinder. Ambient temperature in
the pipe was approximately 38°C.
A 6mm Ø copper coil was wrapped
around the 2" carbon steel pipe between
the hot water cylinder and the repair
site. A freeze was performed using the
Accu-Freeze system connected to a
container of liquid nitrogen (LN2). Within
50 minutes, a solid ice plug had been
formed, blocking the flow from the
cylinder to enable the pipe section to be
cut out and replaced.
Following the repair work, the ice
plug defrosted naturally and the flow
continued in the system, with minimum
disruption, no system drain down, no air
locks, and in a short time in relation to
alternative methods.
Accu-Freeze utilises LN2 in a controlled
way to freeze stationary liquids in a
selected section of pipe or tube. By
controlling the surface temperature,
Accu-Freeze can accurately and safely
form an in-line ice plug capable of
withstanding 138 bar in diameters up to
300mm (12").
Huntingdon Fusion Techniques – UK
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Website:
Compact storage tower for sheet metal
METAL sawing and storage equipment
manufacturer Kasto has introduced
a new tower to provide a compact,
standardised solution for automated
storage and retrieval of pallets and
flat material. Advantages of the
KASTOecostore system include its low
space requirement, high storage density
and short material access times.
The store accommodates material
up to 1,500mm deep by either 3m or
4m wide. Both types are available with
a load capacity per station of either
1.2 or 3 tonnes. System height can be
specified by the customer, from 3.1
to 8m. The same applies to the level
at which loading and unloading takes
place, as users can select different
heights up to 950mm.
As well as being suitable for storing
sheet metal in a wide range of sizes,
KASTOecostore can hold Euro-pallets
and stillages, for applications involving
different materials in small businesses,
workshops and maintenance shops.
It can also be used as a buffer store
between production areas in factories,
close to machinery if necessary.
The lifting gear drive is equipped with
frequency converters fromSiemens, and
the motor is stationary to allow precise,
dynamic loading and unloading. Robust
roller chains ensure long service life
and low maintenance. The steel frame
consists of standardised rolled sections
and can be dimensioned in accordance
with the relevant standards for
earthquake resistance. Comprehensive
safety control measures prevent
malfunction and downtime.
KASTOecostore comes as stan-
dard with the manufacturer’s own
SmartControl, which has an intuitive
touchscreen user interface for error-free
data input. Loads can be on pallets or
special cassettes, which are stored and
retrieved automatically and brought to
an ergonomic height. Additional lifting
equipment such as a forklift is not
necessary, keeping access times short.
Kasto offers an extensive range of
accessories for adapting the store
to special requirements, including
a movable carriage for loading and
unloading material from the back of the
tower; and insert bolts for subdividing
pallets and cassettes. A storage aid
with lift-off bolts is available to assist in
the handling of sheet metal and other
materials using a stacker or crane.
Kasto Ltd – UK
Fax:
Email:
Website: The Kasto tower storage system