Plugs keep pipes clear during maintenance

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques has extended its range of pipe stoppers, helping keep pipes clear during maintenance and protect staff and sensitive equipment.

The embarrassment and expense of dropping tools or leaving debris down holes or in pipes during maintenance can often be prevented by using inflatable plugs.

Conversely the same product can be used to prevent overhead debris falling on to operators or onto sensitive equipment.

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques has extended its range of pipe stoppers which are simply inserted and then inflated to seal a pipe or tube.

One of the earlier applications for this innovative product was a UK naval dockyard faced with the task of preventing debris weighing up to 1kg falling into the nuclear power plant during maintenance.

The stopper had to be fed through a 600mm aperture and then inflated to seal a 953mm diameter vessel.

HFT manufactured the stopper with safety ties so that in the event of the stopper collapsing and falling down the hole it could be retrieved.

Additionally a skirt was incorporated around the periphery so that any dust and debris would not fall into the crevice between the vessel wall and the edge of the stopper.

Power generating companies have standardised on inflatable stoppers to prevent dust and particulate material falling into the turbines when repairs are undertaken.

A number of pipeline companies use the stoppers to seal off pipelines at night or at the weekend to inhibit vermin and other animals crawling into the pipes and interfering with subsequent operations.

Huntingdon Fusion can manufacture these stoppers up to several metres in diameter and can also produce noncircular section devices to meet specific customer requirements.

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