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Urgent 12” Copper Wrap Freeze

In May of 2022 a local mechanical contractor called with an urgent freeze requirement.  The freeze was on the supply and return of a large chiller system.  The chiller water was treated with rust inhibitors and there was a sensitive waterway nearby.  A temporary pond would have to be built in the parking lot to hold close to 200,000 gallons of treated water.  With parking space already an issue and the time and effort needed to build such a pond freezing the 2- 12″ lines was the only option.  The contractor wanted 2 – 12″ Accu Jackets in 1 day but had to use copper coils due to time constraints. 

COB was able to assemble the double freeze equipment in a day and were able to be onsite to help get the setup done properly.  The freeze was started after working hours of the facility and went on thru the night and was completed early the next morning.  Valves were successfully replaced with only a small amount of water left between the ice plugs and the valves to deal with. 

Courtesy Meridian Mechanical Orlando, FL

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Chemical Plant Freeze breaks all the rules

October 2018

Accu-Freeze, Chemical Plant Freeze breaks all the rules

Recently a specialty chemical plant in Canada had an issue with a waste storage tank that contained some environmentally “unfriendly” contents.  The outflow valves from this holding tank were slowly decaying and even with redundant valving there appeared to be no way to replace the faulty valves without draining down the entire tank.   The contents of the tank were going to require very expensive  specialty hazardous  material  teams,  tankers, storage and disposal to drain and remove. The company contacted COB industries with their situation to see if it was possible to freeze the contents of the outflow line to allow for repair.  The conversation revealed that many of the general guidelines suggested by COB for freeze site selection were in question.

Accu-Freeze chemical_1

1) proximity to a potential heat source.  The outflow line was welded directly to the wall of the storage tank which would act like a heat sink when trying to attempt a freeze.  2) Distance to a closed valve.  A series of redundant valves were placed very close together going downstream from the storage tank wall. This included an encapsulated valve that had been leaking for quite some time.  3) Distance to a valve or fitting. In this case a flange connection was only 5” away from the only available freeze site.  The standard 2” Accu Jacket was just over 8” long.  All of these factors created what would typically be a “no go” situation for a freeze selection but with limited options it was agreed to attempt to freeze the line.  A COB freeze technician was dispatched to the site and after a walk through and series of discussions with plant staff the okay was given to attempt the freeze.  To make matters worse the area was experiencing a heat wave and the freeze location was in direct sunlight with no way to shade the area.

Accu-Freeze chemical_3

A custom 2” Accu Jacket had been built to fit precisely between the tank wall and the flange and the fit turned out to be nearly perfect.  Only a little trimming of one of the bolts was required to make a good connection.  Extra LN was bought in  and staged nearby as it was expected that more time and nitrogen would be required to freeze the 2” line due to the tank wicking temperature away from the freeze site, the ambient conditions.  Not to mention the unexpected placement of heat tracing on the outflow lines running year round(normally a 2” line would take approximately 30 minutes to freeze).  The leaky valving actually helped in this situation because it allowed for visual confirmation of the freeze when the constant dripped stopped after 50 minutes.  It was suggested that the freeze be held for another 10 minutes with all of the downstream valves held open and this confirmed the freeze integrity.  The flange was unbolted and the concerns of a freeze plug stretching across the 2 flange faces making separation difficult (or impossible) were unproven as the ambient conditions prevented more growth of the ice plug and only a little trimming with a quickly fashioned “ice plug trimming tool” (a hacksaw blade with  protective handle made by duct tape at one end) cleared away the ice and allowed for quick fitup of the new manifold by plant personnel.

 

 

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Oaks Pioneer Park pipe abandonment

July 2018
Recently a large northwest utility had a potential environmental issue with an abandoned pipeline that traversed a protected area in Oregon.  The US Army Corps of Engineers had chosen the area to replenish a natural salmon hatchery that had been cut off from the Willamette River many years ago when a train crossing was built.

Accu-Freeze Oaks Pioneer Park It was determined that the line would have to be removed in order to allow for the construction of the new river access.  The line had been filled with water when it was abandoned and the highly contaminated water now posed a considerable problem.  Removing and disposing of the water would be a logistical nightmare as the line was miles long and the site was a mile from the nearest accessible road.  It was determined that creating 2 ice plugs on either side of the access stream and removing only the water between the ice plugs so the lines could be capped and the cut off pipe removed would be the best option.  COB Industries was contacted about the feasibility of the idea and availability of the equipment required to conduct the project in an urgent fashion as the project was on going and time was imperative.
Within a week the equipment was available (including borrowing a 10” freeze jacket from another customer) and a COB representative was dispatched to the site to provide training and consulting while the project progressed.  Logistics at the site were quite formidable as no vehicles other than UTV’s were allowed to access the site via a pedestrian foot path(heavy equipment was bought in via rail).  This meant bringing the liquid nitrogen supply in 1 tank at a time from over a mile away.  (It was determined that over 16 liquid nitrogen dewars would be required to perform this double 10” freeze.)    Adding to the problems the area was experiencing record heat which would make any freeze even harder. Oaks Pioneer Park Accu-Freeze
Accu-Freeze Oaks Pioneer Park Two pits were excavated on either side of the creek access exposing the pipe and the anti corrosion coating was removed.  Once the pits were open and secured the freeze equipment was installed. Freezing commenced early the following morning. Due to the record high temperatures combined with little to no shade on the pipe (or freeze equipment) higher pressure nitrogen supply was required.  The freeze was begun and the added flow rate of nitrogen was able to overcome the heat load in the environment and the ice plugs were successfully completed.

 

 

Oaks Pioneer Park Accu-Freeze
The pipe was cut on both sides and the remaining contaminated water drained to disposal containers that would have to be taken away.  Waiting welders quickly capped the open ends.   The freeze equipment was shut down and the ice plugs allowed to thaw naturally.  The proposed river access refurbishment was allowed to continue the following week bringing life back to a vital natural habitat.
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Accessories for any Inflatable Weld Purging Systems

Accessories for any Inflatable Weld Purging Systems

Our Accessories for Inflatable Weld Purging Systems are suitable for any make or model. Hoses with special fittings to provide leak tight connections, PurgeGate® to ensure that they cannot burst due to over-inflation and Heat Protective Covers for all sizes and temperatures

This week’s Product Feature is our Accessories for Inflatable Weld Purging Systems:

  • Argon Gas Feed Hose.
  • PurgeGate®
  • Heat Resistant Covers.

Argon-Feed-Hose-PHO-07C-Different-Sizes-Fittings

Argon Gas Feed Hose:

  • Leak tight from regulator to purge system.
  • 12 mm to 12 mm quick connect fitting as standard.
  • Special fittings on request.
  • Suitable for all TIG/GTAW/PAW welding
  • Stocked in standard lengths, 30 m, 25 m, 20 m, 15 m, 10 m and 5 m.
  • Special lengths made to order with our new high-pressure end fitting tooling.
  • Can also be used for transporting nitrogen gas.
  • Temperature range –30º up to 80ºC.
  • Safety factor of three times working pressure, 20 bar (300 psi).
  • Conforms to British Standard BS EWN 599 Quality Standard.

PurgeGate-APGV-PHO-01C-PurgeGate-fitted-with-PurgElite

PurgeGate®:

  • Regulates the gas flow during purging to prevent the Inflatable Pipe Purging Systems from over inflating.
  • Fitted as standard to QuickPurge® and HotPurge®.
  • An accessory to be purchased separately for PurgElite® and PurgExtra® as well as for other Inflatable Tube and Pipe Purging Systems.
  • Can be purchased individually.
  • Easy push fit connection.
  • Simply plug and play.
  • They fit all system sizes (1 to 88”).
  • Can be moved from system to system.
  • Not suitable for Inflatable Stoppers.

Argweld-Heat-Resistant-Covers-PHO-01C-on-PurgElite

Heat Resistant Covers:

  • Temperature endurance of up to 300ºC.
  • From 1 to 24” (25 to 600 mm).
  • Held on with ties.
  • Holes provided for the PurgElite® and PurgExtra® fittings, such as inlet, exhaust and crimped end.
  • Two sets of Heat Covers are provided.
  • Also available for Inflatable Stoppers.
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Inflatable Weld Purge Dams

Inflatable Weld Purge Dams

This weeks Product Feature is our Inflatable Weld Purge Dams, single ended for closure welds, right angle bends and T piece joints where a conventional Tandem Weld Purging System cannot be used. More importantly, they replace paper of foam dams which are inadequate for weld purging.

Purge-Dams-APD-PHO-12C-Size-14-Inch-Hand Purge-Dams-APD-PHO-06C-Weld-Purge-Dams-Pipe-Hand-Back

We are looking for some photos of our Weld Purge Dams in action. If you have any, please would you be kind enough to send them through.

Other features:
• Available from 6 to 88” (150 mm to 2,235 mm).
• Low cost.
• Lightweight.
• Very large sealing surface to ensure that there are no leaks.
• Heat resistant up to 90ºC (194ºF).
• All manufactured with a Weld Purge Monitor® connection.
• Inflation and purging hose, plus an extra purge gas hose for cooling requirements and extra gas for titanium welds.

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Featured Product: MultiStrike Tungsten

Featured Product: MultiStrike Tungsten

Multistrike Tungsten

Our Product Feature this week is our MultiStrike Tungsten Electrodes.

Switch to MultiStrike Tungsten for an improved tungsten electrode performance and reduction to health risks.

MultiStrike Tungsten MST

Key features:

  • Designed to address the growing concerns about the radio-toxic thoria that is present in standard red tipped tungsten electrodes.
  • Nonradio-toxic, non-thoriated, non-carcinogenic.
  • Will strike 10 times more arcs than a red tipped thoriated tungsten, when tested under identical conditions.
  • Each packet of MultiStrike® Tungsten Electrodes carries a total traceability identification.
  • Suitable for a wide variety of welding operations, particularly effective in the welding of titanium, stainless steel and aluminum AC and DC.
  • MultiStrike® Tungsten Electrodes provide savings through longer life, more strikes per electrode before grinding, less re-work, less wastage and lower power requirements.
  • Eliminate the thoriated dust in the atmosphere by changing to MultiStrike® Tungstens so that when there is tungsten grinding dust, it is not radio-toxic.
  • Our customers include major international organizations that standardize on MultiStrike® because of their consistency.
  • MultiStrike® are the only ones available that are supported by the science of electrode manufacture and performance.
MultiStrike Tungsten MST MultiStrike Tungsten MST
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Featured Product: Low Profile Stoppers

Low Profile Stoppers

Low Profile Stoppers featured-header

This weeks Product Feature is our Low Profile Stoppers, designed for applications where insufficient length of pipe is available for our regular Cylindrical or Spherical Stoppers.

Pancake-Stopper-PSIP-PHO-01C-Group

Other features are:

  • Low width from font to back.
  • Ideal for blocking pipe or duct ends.
  • Used in vertical mode, they will prevent machine swarf or tools falling into pipes and contain all material for easy retrieval.
  • Available in sizes 6 to 88” (150 to 2,235mm).
  • Fitted with a Schrader Valve for inflation and deflation.
  • Heat resistant up to 90ºC (194ºF).

Low Profile Stoppers

We have a version of these Stoppers, that are used for weld purging known as Weld Purging Dams, for replacing foam dams.

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Introducing the NEW PurgEye Desk Weld Purge Monitor

Introducing the NEW PurgEye Desk Weld Purge Monitor®

This month we are launching the PurgEye Desk to the Press. This is a heavily updated version of the old PurgEye® 500 Weld Purge Monitor®.

PurgEye Desk

The addition of PurgeNet™ makes it ideal for use with Welding Chambers and Enclosures as well as Orbital Welding Machines and other Automatic Welding Systems.

Other PurgEye Desk features include:

  • Measuring oxygen levels from 1,000ppm down to 1 ppm (accurate to 10 ppm).
  • OLED (organic light emitting diode) display giving brighter, sharper readings.
  • Heavier protection from high frequency interference.
  • Electro-mechanical pump for extracting gas samples, delivering a constant flow over the sensor.
  • Audible alarm indicates low and high oxygen levels.
  • Extra long life faster reaction sensor.
  • PurgeNet™ for connecting to NEW smart accessories.
  • PurgeLog™ data logging software.
  • Suitable for welds in ultra clean conditions in industries such as aerospace, semi-conductor, pharmaceutical, vacuum and petrochemical.

see our other Purge Monitors

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Pipe freeze training with our exclusive agents in Brazil “Senior Protecao”

Pipe freeze training with our exclusive agents in Brazil “Senior Protecao”

pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-2 pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-7 pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-1

In May of 2017 COB Industries President, Cletus O’Brien, traveled to San Paulo Brazil to conduct in depth pipe freeze training and demonstrations with their exclusive agent for the area, “Senior Protecao”. Senior is a fire suppression system sales and service provider who services everything from small buildings to major industrial plants.

COB traveled to Brazil for 4 days of visits with customers of Senior to conduct demonstrations on the viability of using the COB freeze systems to help with maintenance and repair of fire suppression systems.

pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-8 pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-6 pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-4 qwik-freezer-brazil-5

The demonstrations sites were at major steel producers who have extensive fire protection systems due to the hazardous environments that steel plants exist in. Senior was able to setup onsite demonstrations and even invited other potential customers to attend. Freezes were conducted on live lines but in non hazardous, outside areas where the freezes could be conducted with zero interference of operations and no risk to any critical systems. Customers were able to observe the ease of installation and proper procedure to conduct a freeze from start to finish.

pipe freeze training qwik-freezer-brazil-3

Pipe freezing is a relatively new procedure to the Brazilian market and all the attendees at each site were impressed at the usefulness of pipe freezing as a tool for maintenance and repairs.

Qwik-Freezer Kits

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Flexible Enclosures for the Aerospace Industry

Flexible Enclosures for the Aerospace Industry.

Flexible Enclosures have been designed for applications where a rigid chamber may not be economically viable or where space may be at a premium.

Flexible Enclosures Gloved Hand Flexible Enclosures Titanium-Car-Lower-Control-Arm-in-AFE

Flexible Enclosure Key features:

  • Any company considering the purchase of a rigid Enclosure might be paying ten times to 100 times more than is necessary. Flexible Welding Enclosures® can produce the same quality for a fraction of the price.
  • They provide a fast purging time down to a few parts per million (ppm) of oxygen.
  • We have manufactured a number of specials for Additive Manufacturing of parts in the Aerospace Industry.
  • Standard Enclosures are available for immediate delivery.
  • Ideal for small production quantities of items that need total gas coverage as well as single large items with critical joints.

Don’t forget, we have a miniature version of a Flexible Welding Enclosure® made specifically for demonstrations, which fits easily into an overnight bag. This enables you to show customers the concept of an Enclosure, what the fabric feels and looks like, how the arm ports are positioned, what the service panel looks like and how a transfer sleeve works. They can also be easily inflated with a hand pump.

Flexible Welding Enclosures