TPT September 2017

T E CHNOLOG Y

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. 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 (LN 2 ). Within

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 Fax: +44 1554 836 837 Email: pipefreezing@huntingdonfusion.com Website: www.huntingdonfusion.com

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

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 LN 2 in a controlled way to freeze stationary liquids in a

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.

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.

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

Kasto Ltd – UK Fax: +44 1908 566106 Email: sales@uk.kasto.com Website: www.kasto.com

The Kasto tower storage system

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SEPTEMBER 2017