TPI July 2022

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

July 2022

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Business & market news

Giovanni Spitale named as CEO of Davis-Standard as Jim Murphy joins board of directors

have in place – will enhance our position as a good stewards of responsible plastics usage in the community.” OCS is a joint programme from the Plastics Industry Association and the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council that is designed to strengthen efforts to educate and change behaviour in the plastics industry with a goal of zero plastic resin loss. vice-president, sustainability, Plastics, said: “Reaching the OCS blue programme level is a great achievement within the plastics industry. This accomplishment reflects a company’s commitment to eliminate plastic resin loss by conducting site audits, increasing employee awareness and improving processes and procedures at their facilities.” “We applaud Advanced Drainage Systems, and its numerous participating facilities, for making this commitment to keeping these materials out of the environment.” Advanced Drainage Systems Inc www.adspipe.com Plastics Industry Association Patrick Krieger, vice-chairman of the board of directors and look forward to collaborating with Giovanni alongside the broader Board of Directors in this next and very exciting phase of Davis-Standard’s history.” Mr Spitale was previously vice-president of commercial parts within Boeing Global Services. In this role, Spitale had full responsibility for the profit and loss management, and strategic direction of Boeing’s $4bn portfolio of commercial aircraft and engine parts businesses. Prior to his tenure at Boeing, Mr Spitale was president of customer service and support at Milacron. Davis-Standard www.davis-standard.com

I have long admired Davis-Standard’s leading position in the market, its unmatched engineering capability and the company’s reputation as a strong partner to its customers through both original equipment and aftermarket support. I look forward to working with Davis-Standard to continue to grow the business globally and support our world-class base of customers with differentiated product offerings and services.” Mr Murphy added: “I want to thank the entire Davis-Standard organisation for the many years of strong performance that we have collectively executed upon under my tenure as CEO. I am thrilled to continue to serve the company as

Giovanni Spitale has been named as the chief executive officer of Davis Standard, a portfolio company of Gamut Capital Management. Mr Spitale replaces Jim Murphy, who has been elected as vice-chairman of the board of directors. In addition, Davis Standard has elected several individuals as members of its board of directors, including Brian Marston, Bill Barker and John McGrath, each of whom have significant experience within Davis Standard’s markets. “I am extremely excited to join the Davis-Standard organisation,” said Mr Spitale. “Having spent considerable time in the polymer processing and broader capital equipment industries,

Advanced Drainage Systems adds Operation Clean Sweep to its range of sustainability tools

including responsible resin handling and pellet containment from raw material delivery to manufacturer of the finished product.” “During the past several years we have increased ADS’ commitment to sustainability. Our recently announced 10-year sustainability goals are built around our motto: “Our reason is water.” These goals include a commitment to increasing our use of recycled plastic to one billion pounds, doubling our consumption over the next ten years. Being part of Operation Clean Sweep, and following its procedures and

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc (ADS), a global manufacturer of water management products, has become a blue Level member of Operation Clean Sweep ® (OCS), the international programme to reduce plastic resin loss into the environment. Scott Barbour, president and CEO of ADS, said: “We are honoured to be part of this important effort to prevent plastic waste from entering the environment. This includes all the steps of our manufacturing process and underscores our commitment to best practices in facilities management and operations,

www.plasticsindustry.org Operation Clean Sweep www.opcleansweep.org

Scott Barbour, president and CEO of ADS, said that the company is honoured to be part of this important effort to prevent plastic waste from entering the environment

best management practices – many of which we already

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Business & market news

Erne Fittings succeeds following strategy adjustments Erne Fittings, a supplier of pipe fittings, has reported tangible successes again following some difficult times. The strategic turnaround initiated in 2020 is showing its first effects and Erne has reported an increase in productivity in the double-digit range and positive earnings once again.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and rising energy and labour costs, Erne Fittings, which is headquartered in Schlins, Austria, and active in piping technology, generated a preliminary consolidated group revenue of €61.6mn in 2021. Matthias Kaufmann, CEO of Erne Fittings Group, said: “As the new management team appointed in 2020, we had to start a comprehensive restructuring due to a lack of profitability: It was and is primarily a matter of putting the focus back on key competences, important customers and core markets. So we focused on our strengths and reduced the product portfolio. Today, we supply the specialised pipe trade primarily with our high-quality key products.” Erne Fittings’ mainmarkets are in Europe, the US and the Middle East. Almost 99 per cent of all pipe fittings – T-pieces, reducers and elbows – are exported and used in power plant construction, oil & gas plant construction, the chemical and petrochemical industries and refineries. The fact that the business paid off again last year is also a result of the production processes that were organised in a leaner way in the course of the turnaround. “Compared to the previous year, a double-digit increase in productivity was achieved,” added Mr Kaufmann.

With the new management team of Matthias Kaufmann, CEO, and Bernd Klemisch, CFO, Erne Fittings Group and its 350 employees became profitable once again

Erne Fittings has also been affected by the pandemic-related difficult supply situation, however, the company was largely able to rely on proven delivery networks and thus score points with customers with its reliable and technically correct deliveries. Thanks to the developments in recent years, Erne’s products also contribute to the global energy transition – for example in plants for the generation and distribution of district heating and those for the production of electric vehicles. Today, the company can supply 100 per cent hydrogen compatible fittings. “The need to reduce CO 2 emissions is a major international issue and also of concern to us. That is why our development department has been working intensively for some time on

the definition of a hydrogen standard for the transport of H 2 . We will soon start the first trial production of fittings for hydrogen pipelines,” continued Mr Kaufmann. Bernd Klemisch, CFO of Erne Fittings Group, added: “In 2020, we still suffered a high loss in Schlins. Today, we are not only in calmer waters, but can even show a positive result. “We are very pleased about that and we owe this to the motivation and experience of our employees on the one hand, and to our loyal customers on the other. For this year, due to inflation, we expect a moderate, but again positive growth in revenue of 10 to 15 per cent.” Erne Fittings www.ernefittings.com

Collahuasi awards contract for water pipeline at its copper mine in Chile to Corinth Pipeworks

delivered to Chile in 2022 and 2023 for installation. The pipeline will provide infrastructure for upgrading and safeguarding the long-term output of the copper mine. Corinth Pipeworks www.cpw.gr Collahuasi www.collahuasi.cl

The contract covers approximately 201km of 44" longitudinally submerged arc-welded (LSAW) line pipe, which will also include external 3-layer polyethylene coating, and internal FBE coating. The LSAW pipes will be manufactured in Corinth’s state-of-the-art plant that is based in Greece and will then be transported to Saudi Arabia for internal and external coating, and then

Corinth Pipeworks, a steel pipe manufacturing segment of Cenergy Holdings, has announced that Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi has awarded a contract for the supply of 109,000 tons of steel pipes, application of external and internal coating, as well as the supply of induction bends for the P186 Fuente Hídrica Complementaria (FHC) pipeline project to CPW America Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Corinth Pipeworks.

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Business & market news

Technip Energies to provide FEED for Equinor floating offshore wind Firefly project in South Korea

key to accelerate the energy transition. Through the Firefly project, we are committed to support Equinor in its objective to reach an installed net renewables capacity of 12-16 gigawatts by 2030.” Firefly wind farm is planned for an area of 2 x 75km 2 off the coast of the city of Ulsan in South Korea and will serve to feed the Korean grid. It is planned to be in operation in 2027. Technip Energies www.technipenergies.com

three columns semi-submersible floater, which is well suited for fabrication in large series. The substructure design is in alignment with Equinor’s wind semi design principles. Willy Gauttier, VP offshore floating wind at Technip Energies, commented: “We are glad to have been awarded this FEED by our long-lasting client Equinor and that the INO15™ floater technology has been selected for the development of the offshore wind farm. It perfectly illustrates that engineering and technology will be

Technip Energies has been selected by Equinor South Korea Co Ltd to perform a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the offshore floating wind Firefly project, located 70km offshore the East Coast of South Korea. The FEED contract covers engineering of the floating wind turbine substructures for the proposed 800 megawatts offshore wind farm. The design of the substructures will include Technip Energies’ in-house floater technology INO15™. With a capacity of 15 megawatts, INO15™ technology is a

Genebre launches revamped valve product website Industrial valves company, Genebre, has announce that it is launching a new website, with an upgraded modern design. The company has incorporated elements to make the new site much more interactive and effective. tablets), and an exclusive private area for active Genebre customers. aesthetic that is bright, elegant and easy on the eye.

“We have created new functionalities that seek to improve interaction with customers and better display our products. We aim to make it easier for customers to search and to find our products. We have mirrored the elegance of our product range on our website, thus bringing our values, content, news and updates to the customer. “The website is designed in a way that allows the appearance of the website to adapt to the device being used, whether a computer, phone or tablet,” the company added. Genebre www.genebre.es

“Our main aim is to optimise the user’s experience. The result is a much more dynamic and attractive website, with a much more accessible and intuitive content structure. Thanks to the website’s different modules, users can easily consult the latest news, updates, projects, products and services that we offer,” a spokesperson from Genebre said. “The website has been upgraded to improve the user experience. We have carefully considered the fine details and a structure that is easy to navigate so that the user can find the information they need quickly, easily and intuitively. It has also been designed with a clean

Genebre’s main aim is to offer the best of its services to its customers and transmit the company values and range of services on offer. It has been working on a platform that emanates transparency, order and elegance, so that customers can find everything they wish to search for simply and effectively. The main features of the new website are the simple and intuitive structuring of content, responsive updated design (adapts to computers, phones and

Pipeline Technique acquires Global Project Services Pipeline Technique, the onshore and offshore infrastructure welding, coating and fabrication specialist, has acquired Global Project Services (GPS) from Global Energy Group (GEG). acquisition that immediately delivers on our diversification path and allows us to enter new markets straight away. fabrication services. This will, in time, become a vital energy source that improves the UK’s energy security and supplies the country with lower-carbon, cleaner energy.”

“GPS is an expert company with a 25-year history of delivering key services on complex but essential projects. It is known and trusted by all the relevant and big players in the sector, and we’re really looking forward to working closely with GPS management moving forward.” “GPS is also targeting significant growth on new-build renewables projects, supporting the development of the UK’s offshore wind strategy with technical partnerships to deliver bespoke in-yard

The acquisition will enable Pipeline Technique to fulfil some of its strategic growth goals and, through sector diversification and geographic expansion, provide a broader range of advanced field welding and coating solutions to clients in the UK and internationally. Pipeline Technique www.pipeline-technique.com

GPS is headquartered in Invergordon in Aberdeen and has a presence in Bergen, Norway. The company specialises in pre-fabrication, field specialist welding and mechanical works for the infrastructure, nuclear, LNG, hook-up, and decommissioning sectors. Frederic Castrec, CEO of Pipeline Technique, said: “Pipeline Technique is pleased to announce a strategic

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Business & market news

Danfoss Power Solutions renames leak-free, high bending tube fitting series to Waltech

Danfoss’ Waltech line represents a complete system solution for all tube fitting needs. Available for tube diameters of 6mm to 42mm, the fittings provide exceptional durability and stability as well as a 4-to-1 safety factor. Danfoss Power Solutions www.danfoss.com

conveyance, Danfoss Power Solutions, said: “The Waltech series is known for outstanding performance, robust design and leak-free operation. It offers a complete solution for any application requirement, while enabling simple, safe and repeatable assembly by hand or by machine. “Our brand refresh marks a new beginning. We’ll be applying the global

Danfoss Power Solutions has rebranded its Walterscheid series of tube fittings. Following its acquisition of Eaton’s hydraulics business, Danfoss plans to continue investing in the product line under the new name Waltech. The Waltech name better aligns with the three connection systems that are part of the series: Walpro ® , Walring™ and Walform ® . Danfoss’ Waltech tube-fitting series features a leak-free design, high bending and impulse resistance, and a variety of manual and machine assembly options. OEMs and end users rely on the system’s quick, simple assembly and dependable performance, as well as an array of services that help deliver successful project outcomes. The Waltech system is used in hydraulic and fluid conveyance applications across agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation and other industries. Christian Kuenstel, product man- agement leader, connectors, fluid

expertise of Danfoss to build on Waltech’s fantastic heritage engineering new advances that ensure it remains the clear choice for high-performance tube-fitting systems.” The rebrand from Walterscheid to Waltech marks a new era of engineering innovation under Danfoss ownership. The appearance of the Waltech series will also be brought in line with the familiar red-and white Danfoss branding.

Safety Storage

Efficiency • Safer product handling • Optimised production space • Improved storage capacity • Increased productivity & output • Enhanced profits

combilift.com

Business & market news

Rotork supplies flow control solutions to Wessex Water for multi-million upgrade project

building that treats wastewater from the process, and a chemical building where final processes (including ultraviolet treatment) are undergone. A small number of compact, electric ROM actuators were also installed to provide simple on/off control within the main treatment building. All the actuators operate on a Profibus control network, providing control and feedback data about the valve and actuator using DP-V0 cyclic communications. The scheme will be Wessex Water’s first that is delivered to BIM (Building Information Modelling) level two, with the aim to use digital technology to work in a faster, safer and more efficient way. It is anticipated that the new centre will have an output range of 5 and 30 megalitres per day. IQ3 actuators are ideally suited to water applications because of their water ingress protection; they are double sealed to IP66/68. Internal electrics are protected from the ambient environment for the full life of the actuator, even when the terminal cover is removed. Real time valve and actuator performance is viewable on the LCD display. Rotork application teams produced the designs and drawings for all the machined components that were required to carry out the valve automation. Rotork www.rotork.com

the water that is produced. Over 200 Rotork IQ multi-turn and part-turn operated actuated valves (some with IW Mk2 gearboxes) have been installed on almost all processes on the site. IQ3 actuators operate a wide range of valves, including butterfly valves that control the flow of raw water through a new main treatment building, inlet valves as the water enters from the reservoir and applications within the main treatment building such as Dissolved Air Flotation, Rapid Gravity Filters and Granular Activated Carbon Filters. They also operate valves within the second building on site (known as the “Low Lift Pumping Area”), a

Intelligent electric actuators have been ordered by Wessex Water to support a £50mn project to reconstruct the Durleigh Water Treatment Centre, which provides drinking water to over 40,000 UK residents. This is part of a framework agreement between Rotork and Wessex Water. Durleigh Water Treatment Centre in Somerset is Wessex Water’s second largest surface water treatment works. It treats raw water from the Durleigh reservoir and Bridgewater and Taunton canal, but in recent years the condition of the site has deteriorated. This prompted a renewal project that will improve the treatment process and

Rotork IQ3 actuators at Durleigh, Somerset, UK

Witt-Gasetechnik introduces new ‘smart’ dome pressure regulator with integrated sensors

on the regulator and is transmitted via a network connection. In this way, key people can be alerted quickly if action is required. This ensures maximum operational reliability and process precision. Witt dome-loaded pressure regulators offer accuracy of pressure control compared to competitor products which according to the company typically show pressure “droop” i.e. at higher flows the outlet pressure drops off. With Witt regulators, the pressure curve remains practically unchanged over the entire range of flows.

The newDome 747 and 767 LE/S SMART offer Kv values of 3.6 and 30; a Kv value of 15 was already previously offered by the 757 model. Both products also offer a choice of 1", 2" or 3" connection options, and these devices can easily be retrofitted into existing gas supply systems. The smart sensor technology of the dome-loaded pressure regulators measures the inlet and outlet pressures as well as the gas temperature without the need for external sensors and transmitters and the software in the controllers calculates the gas flow based on the recorded data. The data obtained from the SMART models is shown in real time on a small display

Manufacturer of manufacturer of gas related equipment, Witt-Gasetechnik has launched two more dome-loaded pressure regulators with integrated sensors. The 747 and 767 LE/S SMART have been designed to make the monitoring of pressures, temperatures and flows easier than ever before. Following the successful market launch of the 757 LE/S SMART, with which Witt opened the door to Industry 4.0 for pressure regulators, the company is now presenting two new models of “smart” dome pressure regulators, which ensure even more transparency and process reliability in gas supply systems.

Witt-Gasetechnik www.wittgas.com

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Flagship liquid level indicator launched

join the best: worldwide www.tube.de

Coltraco Ultrasonics has announced the launch the Portalevel® MAX PLUS, an accurate, contents monitor for liquified gaseous extinguishing systems. Its latest innovation follows the co-location of Coltraco’s physicists and scientists at Durham University, a centre of teaching and research excellence. The Portalevel MAX PLUS advances Coltraco’s 35-year history in non-invasive, accurate and reliable level measurement of fire suppression agent cylinders, shared with its customers in 120 countries through the Portalevel MAX over the last 10 years. The Portalevel MAX PLUS features an upgraded user-interface displaying gas or liquid; three independent calibration modes, carefully configured to account for the differences observed in fire suppression cylinders while remaining accurate to +/-1.5mm. The Portalevel MAX PLUS offers improvements to the instru- ment’s functionality and display, all within a smart, ergonomic, portable, hand-held, durable enclosure. Three calibration modes offer users unprecedented control and flexibility by ensuring that the instrument is uniquely calibrated to the indi- vidual cylinder being tested for maximum accuracy, accounting for the diversity in geometry and condition of fire suppression cylinders and a large variety of fire suppression agents, such as: CO2, FM200™, NOVEC™ 1230, Halon agents, FE-13™, FE-25™, NAF S III™ and all core Clean Agent systems. The Portalevel MAX PLUS allows one person to monitor the contents of a fire suppression agent cylinder, such as a 45kg CO 2 cylinder, in under 30 seconds rather than 15 minutes (by weighing), minimising the risk of physical injury to personnel by eliminating heavy lifting or accidental discharges due to the need to dismantle cylinders when weighing and improving asset safety by enabling the fire suppression system to remain turned on, as cylinders can be kept in-situ. A new intuitive user interface on the Portalevel MAX PLUS indicates gas or liquid depending on which phase the sensor is placed in, while four power settings increase gain. Gain on the Portalevel MAX PLUS is the degree to which the returned ultrasound signal is amplified, which can be used and modified to enable the most accurate liquid level measurement possible on a variety of different agents, cylinder types and sizes. The Portalevel MAX PLUS facilitates better, faster, cheaper non-invasive liquid level location in single skinned cylinders, primarily as a replacement to weighing fire suppression cylinders during installation and servicing, or fitting internal, invasive, and less accurate liquid level ‘float’ devices. When using the Portalevel MAX PLUS a reading is displayed that represents the relative strength of ultrasound passing though the cylinder and back to the sensor. This reading is what enables the differentiation between liquid and gas, however, not all cylinders produce clear results. Cylinders that are perhaps older, or damaged, may produce results that make it difficult to find the liquid level. With the Portalevel MAX PLUS, this issue can be overcome by using the instrument’s three independent calibration modes. The ability to use different calibration modes despite the challenges associated with the diversity in fire suppression cylinders and agents greatly improves the ease of finding the liquid level. Coltraco Ultrasonics www.coltraco.com

International Tube and Pipe Trade Fair

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Business & market news

Parker extends its range of integrated cartridge solutions for low-pressure applications with Carstick+

housing without damaging the cavity. This means that the cavity is reusable and waste is reduced significantly. Because the insertion effort of Carstick+ is smaller than 20daN, the new cartridge also provides energy savings. Its integrated seal and ready-to-use packaging allow for quick installation, and compared to existing products on the market, the solution offers two to three times faster assembly. Rigid plastic tubes protect the Carstick+ from damages and component loss while also facilitating the insertion process. Moreover, with the choice of EPDM and FKM integrated O-Ring seals, the cartridge solution has a very compact design that offers space savings. The Carstick+ solution is RoHS and REACH compliant and it is lead free. The EPDM version of the Carstick+ cartridge complies with food certifications, including NSF, FDA and KTW.

Parker Hannifin, motion and control technologies company has introduced the new Parker Legris Carstick+ integrated cartridge solution to providing instant connection between housing and polymer tubes. Carstick+, which complements the Parker Legris Carstick ® product range, can be inserted in a variety of housing materials including amorphous, non elastic polymers. Within the food and beverage industry, Carstick+ is suitable for use with drinking water, steam and liquids, in applications including coffee machines, water dispensers and water treatment. The new cartridge solution is also designed for the handling of cooling liquids: industrial or deionised water, dielectric fluids, or glycols in relation to thermal management applications. Additionally, with a design adaptation, Carstick+ can be used in industrial and automation markets for compressed air and inert gas as well as for gas

Carstick+ has been extended for tubing with outside diameters of 4mm and 6mm

and medical fluid handling with the life science industry. Carstick+ has been extended for tubing with outside diameters of 4mm and 6mm. While the EPDM version can be used up to 120°C, the FKM version supports usage with temperatures up to 140°C. Among other benefits, the patented external gripping ring of the Carstick+ allows it to be removed easily from the

Parker Hannifin www.parker.com

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Effective gas purging needed to avoid porosity during tube welding process By Dr Michael J Fletcher, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques

The presence of oxygen and to a lesser extent nitrogen around the molten weld can lead to wide-ranging defects. Discoloration is unsightly and, in some instances, might indicate metallurgical imbalance, especially with many stainless steels. Gross oxidation inevitably results in a reduction of mechanical properties and can cause catastrophic loss of corrosion resistance. Nitrogen contamination can result in brittleness. Gases in the weld may give rise to cracking during or after cooling. It is clear that a reduction in weld section at the root, as evidenced by a concave geometry, will reduce the joint strength. Perhaps not so evident, but in many applications of crucial importance is the presence of notches or cracks, which tend to appear at the weld/base metal interface. These can propagate in service and cause failure. Basic principles Weld root quality when making tubular joints can be ensured by applying appropriate safeguards based on displacement of air from the fusion zone by inert gas. This is achieved by gas purging and the general principles are shown in figure 1.

Gases such as hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are soluble in many liquid metals. As the metal cools and eventually solidifies, the solubility decreases and the gas is then released causing porosity. To prevent porosity forming during fusion welding it is essential that hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are excluded from the weld environment. This is best achieved by displacing these gases by flushing with an inert gas such as argon which is far less soluble in liq uid metal than most other gases. [2, 3, 4, 5] The process is referred to as purging. [6] The production of defect-free welds is crucial if high strength is mandatory. The presence of porosity in particular can lead to a significant reduction in mechanical properties. [1] Joint failure inevitably leads at best to costly repair work but interruption of production can be even more expensive; the worst scenario is injury and loss of life.

Principal gases causing porosity

Material

Gas

C-Mn steel

Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen

Figure 1 : Schematic illustration showing seals between which air can be displaced and replaced with inert gas

Stainless steel Hydrogen Aluminium and alloys Hydrogen Copper and alloys

Hydrogen, Nitrogen

Purging gases The most commonly used purging gas in Europe is commercial quality argon; in the US, helium has been in more general use. The materials being joined and the welding process used are two main factors in the selection of the optimum inert gas or gas mixture. Purge gas flow rate and pressure also need to be established, and once selected, they should be included in the formal welding procedure. Variation in purge gas quality may arise during welding, and it may be desirable to apply continuous gas monitoring, especially to control oxygen and moisture content. For this purpose, dedicated Weld Purge Monitors ® and Dewpoint Monitors are available commercially. [7] Purging procedure The first requirement is to provide gas entry and exit points. Gas is fed through one end seal with an exit hole at the other end.

Nickel and alloys

Nitrogen

Courtesy: The Welding Institute

In circumstances where welds have to be designed to withstand stress in service, special consideration needs to be given to their metallurgy and profiles. The mechanical properties of welds, particularly their fatigue properties, can be influenced significantly by their shape and composition. In particular, at the weld root, a positive reinforcement combined with smooth transition from weld to base metal is a pre-requisite to achieve optimum mechanical strength. Good practice Joints of high quality between cylindrical sections such as tubes and pipes can only be made by ensuring that atmospheric gases are eliminated and positive, smooth weld reinforcement is provided.

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Argon has a greater density than air and the gas inlet should be at a lower elevation than the exhaust end so that air is expelled effectively from the pipe bore. The converse applies to helium which is less dense than air. Purging techniques On small pipes and tubes, where the internal volume is small, the cost of continuous flow purging may not be significant. However, problems can arise due to turbulence inside the tube, making air displacement difficult. The most effective purging systems are those which locate seals either side of the joint and displace air with an inert gas, at the same time monitoring potentially damaging residual gases such as oxygen and hydrogen to ensure that they meet the requirements in the welding schedule. The presence of oxygen can lead to oxidation and loss of corrosion resistance. Hydrogen is a major cause of porosity in the weld metal. It is also important that potential leak paths in the seals or delivery pipelines are eliminated. Water-soluble purge film Soluble barriers cut to pipe size and glued or taped to the internal diameter provide some degree of protection and the discs can be removed by flushing with water after use. The bond to the pipe can be prone to leakage however and the time and skill involved in preparation can be considerable. These are suitable for low volume weld production where time is not of the essence and access to joints is readily available. Paper and engineering plastic versions are available but paper versions may not be suitable for site work because of their fragility. Time, dexterity and patience are required during application and the film can only be inserted as far away from the pipe access as an engineer can reach.

Figure 3 : Examples of expandable nylon plugs used for inert gas weld purging

Inflatable systems The only totally reliable purging systems are those based on inflatable seals. Contemporary equipment has been designed to provide fully integrated control of gas flow and purge pressure. Inert gas use is minimal and they are compatible with site use where multiple welds of the same diameter need to be made quickly and efficiently. Equipment was introduced from 2004 to meet a growing global demand for fully integrated inflatable weld purge systems. Commercially available systems cover the range between 25 and 2,400mm (1" and 100") diameter and are designed for repeat use under site conditions. Inflatable tandem products exploit the latest engineering developments in abrasion resistant fabrics and low-profile gas control valves. They are compatible with standards laid down by the nuclear industry More recent developments have led to the introduction of several further advances in equipment production. A control valve can prevent over-inflation even when the operator attempts to increase purge gas pressure. Pre-calibrated gas release valves replace alternative expensive valves that need pre-setting prior to each weld procedure.

Figure 2 : Soluble weld purge film being applied to pipe end

Expandable plugs Expandable pipe plugs can be very effective and cheap. These are widely used for pipe pressure testing and volume production means that cost is low. The sealing area is large and the time involved in preparation is relatively small. Plugs are available covering diameters up to 1,000mm (40") and while the smaller plugs are available with nylon bodies, aluminium and steel are used above 150mm (6"). The larger and therefore heavier versions may thus be difficult to insert and remove if the joint line is more than 500mm (20") from the access point.

Figure 4 : QuickPurge reduces inert gas use by minimising the purge volume

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Purge dams Much larger pipe sizes can be purged effectively using inflatable dams. These can be placed either side of the joint or used as single units for welding flanges/fittings and inflated with inert gas or air. Once inflated, inert gas is passed into the space between the dams to flush out air.

Figure 7 : Water vapour can be detected by using a dew point monitor

The free hydrogen liberated is known to give rise to porosity in the weld. Detection and removal of water vapour in the purge gas is therefore crucial if hydrogen porosity is to be avoided.

Conclusions Detection of oxygen and water vapour within the purge zone is essential if oxidation and porosity are to be avoided. Effective seals placed either side of the joint coupled with the use of instruments to continuously monitor oxygen and water vapour content in the purge gas are necessary. References 1. Porosity in Welding – Defects/Imperfections in Welds. The Welding Institute. Job Knowledge 1999 2. The solubility of gases in liquid metals and alloys. Austin, Chang, Fitzner, Min-Xian, Zhang. Progress in Materials Science. Volume 32, Issues 2–3, 1988 3. Sieverts Law. The absorption of gases by metals. Zeitschrift für Metallkunde. 21:37–46. Sieverts A (1929) 5. John C Cox, Digital Refining, Processing, Operations and Maintenance. March 2008. https://worldwidescience.org/topicpages/a/ argon+leak+detector.html 6. Ofem U, Effect of Back Purging Oxygen Content on Weld Discolouration and Corrosion Resistance …. Industrial Member Report. The Welding Institute Core Research Programme. Member report 1092/2017 4. Henry’s Law. https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/1599

Figure 5 : Large pipe dams are available up to 3m diameter to accommodate large diameter tubes and pipes or large pressure vessels

Weld purge gas monitors Oxygen

In order to ensure compliance with the required oxygen level within the weld purge zone it is desirable to measure the oxygen content continuously during the welding operation. Sensitive instruments have been developed specifically for weld purging applications. These purge monitors, of which a range to meet differing requirements is available, are robust devices capable of measuring oxygen levels as low as 10ppm.

7.

www.huntingdonfusion.com

Figure 6 : Purge monitor in use during pipe welding

Dr M J Fletcher is a qualified Metallurgist with extensive experience in welding and nondestructive testing. He works as an independent consultant, providing support to a wide range of manufacturing industry on a global basis.

Water and water vapour Dew point monitors have been designed to satisfy the requirement of the weld purge industry. Temperatures in the arc zone during welding are high enough to cause breakdown of water into its constituents.

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques www.huntingdonfusion.com

58

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL July 2022

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wiredIn USA

2011

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries VOL 33 NO 5 US$33 SEPTEMBER 2020

www.wiredinusa.com

wire Düsseldorf, Tube Düsseldorf, wire and Tube China, wire and Tube India, wire South America, Tubotech, wire and Tube Southeast Asia, wire Russia, Tube Russia, Wire & Cable Guangzhou, IWCS, FAbTECh, ValveWorld Expo, Steelfab, MACh, EurobLECh, TOLexpo, Made in Steel, Lamiera, Interwire, Saw Expo, boru, TEL, EMO and FAbTECh Canada.

Although an independent publisher, we have strong ties with the many leading international exhibitions worldwide, and our staff attend or our magazines can regularly be seen at:

Embracing the digital world, wiredInUSA – Now a vibrant and informative website, has now become a well-respected resource aimed at the Americas.

Here to serve the industries we helped to shape

social media sites.

technological awareness.

1988

Tube & Pipe Technology (TPT) was first published in 1988. Covering technological developments concerning tube and pipe manufacturing methods, production machinery and processing equipment, it is now published six times per year. www.read-tpt.com

A commitment to the future

client base. Through its range of publications and industry services, Intras provides clients with unrivalled support in terms of corporate and

Intras Ltd employs a dedicated team of staff, who

Like many publishers, we also embrace the use of digital and web-based technology and actively encourage engagement with us through our Twitter and Facebook

2020

Euro Fasteners & Fasteners ASIA first published in 2020. In-depth feature sections dedicated to the fasteners industry within our wire magazines. www.read-eurofasteners.com www.read-fastenersasia.com

individually serve the company’s growing international

promotional marketing, enhancing sales and promoting

1984

Intras Ltd was founded by John hogg as a management company to administrate the

activities of IWMA and ITA trade associations. Intras begins to create a worldwide database of companies and products involved in the wire, cable, tube and pipe industries.

2008

1970s

1992

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technical articles.

organised by Messe Düsseldorf.

produced as a section within TPT.

www.read-wca.com

including the founding of ‘wire’ – the leading international wire and cable exhibition, now

John hogg, founder of Intras Ltd, was also a co-founder of the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA) and the International Tube Association (ITA). he played an instrumental role in the negotiation and establishment of international wire and cable shows,

1998

Tube Products INTERNATIONAL, reporting on specialist areas of tube and pipe products for applications such as aerospace, automotive, civil, energy, OCTG, structural and mechanical, published for the first time. Currently

Wire & Cable ASIA – aimed at the increasing Asian market – was published for the first time. Now issued four times per year, it includes industry news, technology news, informative columns on telecom news and a glance at the American market, as well as

the Americas.

WWW.IDEAgency.it

January 2008

ARO STEEL s.r.l. Via Cavour, 39 - 43100 Parma (Italia) - Tel.: +39 0521 391411 - Fax: +39 0521 285747 - www.arosteel.com

(dimensions up to 500X500x20mm)

Pipes made of hot galvanised strips

Black, pickled, galvanised sheet steel

naturally

Steel,

EN 10219 - EN 10210 round, square and rectangular structural pipes, produced to S355J2H quality level and 3.1 certified

Black welded gas and water pipes, hot galvanised with smooth end 235 quality pipes, round, square and rectangular, black, hot galvanised

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Published for the first time in 1998, EuroWire (EOW) is the leading international magazine for the wire and cable industries. Covering corporate and technology news, technical articles, and informative news from

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Maschinenfabrik NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG Walter-Niehoff-Str.2, 91126 Schwabach, Germany Phone +49 9122 977-0 / Fax +49 9122 977-155 info@niehoff.de www.niehoff.de Innovative • Reliable • Smart The new generation of

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Telephone: +44 1926 334137 Email: intras@intras.co.uk

Intras Ltd - independent publishers of Tube & Pipe Technology, Wire & Cable ASIA, EuroWire, Tube Products INTERNATIONAL magazines and wiredInUSAwebsite – has a proud tradition of supporting the wire, cable, tube and pipe industries since the 1980s. At the heart of the wire and tube industries for 40 years With an unrivalled global distribution in both print and digital formats, we have a firm belief in supporting businesses through combining editorial excellence and targeted advertising to reach the far corners of the globe. Our magazines and staff can be seen at numerous exhibitions worldwide every year, ensuring our clients receive the maximum publicity. Our readership is from the boardroom to the shop floor, with many companies retaining copies of our magazines for many years as technical journals.