Mechanized positive isolation solution for pipe
Mechanical piping equipment with quick irreversible action enabling a single person, without any tools, to blind a pipe, even very large in dimension, while guaranteeing perfect sealing and positive isolation for your systems. It thus avoids the traditional time-consuming, laborious and dangerous blinding operation.
Issue
In every industry, the protection of people, the environment, the assets or the production is of central importance. Product segregation and equipment isolation are the concern of operations and maintenance staffs, HSE managers, site managers and shareholders each and every day.
Pressurised pipes are made safe using a valve or simple shut-off system, for instance a steel plate inserted between 2 flanges. This plate using during "blinding operation" is called, depending on the country, spectacle blinds, blanks, spades, figure 8 blinds, etc.
However, these isolation solutions, currently in use, have multiple disadvantages:
- valves: the quality of their sealing and the open/closed positions are not guaranteed - they cannot serve as a positive isolation solution
- the traditional blinding operation: this traditional postive isolation solution is time-consuming and laborious, and requires significant technical ressources without guaranteeing a correct tighteness as it is dependent on workers' skills and working conditions.
Leaks due to faulty isolation techniques can lead to pollution, operating losses, and more importantly still, the production facility’s damages or destruction and even consequences for humans (injuries, poisoning, death).
Solution
We have developed mechanical piping equipment that can guarantee absolute tightness between upstream and downstream pipes, while reducing risks and costs. It is equipped with:
- a self-locking quick-action clamping mechanism resistant to overpressure and vibration
- 2 gaskets per position of use, accessible for inspection or replacement without disassembly
- drains to purge the lines before operation
This positive isolation equipment is set and tested in the factory, requiring no adjustment on site after installation or operation, and enabling perfect tightness for any and every operator. It can be operated by a single person without any tools or lifting accessories.
Simple and quick to use, this mechanized positive isolation system brings reliability to any positive isolation operation, thus averting any risk of leaks that could result in pollution, contamination or even more serious consequences such as poisoning or explosion.