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Have you ever
wished you could pick up a gun and just shoot the problem?
Well, now you can and grow your bottom line at the same
time. Engineers from the land of James Bond have developed a
portable projectile purging system that does just that. The
best part is, this isn't rocket science, it's simple and
straightforward.
You may remember
having seen children playing with toy air guns that fire
from rubber Nerf balls. This concept is the same if you
replace the toy air gun with a heavy duty portable
industrial version. Next, trade the Nerd balls for open cell
controlled density urethane foam projectiles that displace,
wipe and squeegee the product of material or material from
the internal surfaces of piping, tubing, and hose networks.
The
portable cleaning system is inexpensive as a capital cost and
operational expense. However, the maintenance department will
try to borrow the launching gun and projectiles from the
manufacturing group.
Many older process line were placed into service prior to the
advent of process pigging, these networks are made up to screwed
piping, elbows, union, and partial throat plug valves rather
than full bore ball valves, semi-restrictive quick coupling
devices, “T”, “Y”, and “U” configurations and a host of
other partial restrictions. The projectiles can successfully
negotiate these kinds of networks, but don't expect to shoot
projectiles through most mattering devices, filters or gate type
valves.
Some of the more obvious production applications are these older
piping configurations, production spray booth where squeezing
out the different products from the booth's manifold tubing
saves product, limits turnaround time, and reduces the usage of
cleaning solvents. Another production application is the purging
of colored resins from feed lines to production molding
machines. Finally, there is the plant that would like to go
pigging, but would prefer not invest a significant amount of
money until they can actually see a pilot operation.
Launching systems are available to suit different size
application and can be used with an array of connecting
mechanism. Generally speaking, the launcher's size and
corresponding connecting mechanism are determined by the inside
diameter or diameters of the networks to be purged and the
condition and type of inlet. Systems are typically available for
applications ranging in size from 1/8-3 inches internal
diameter. Cam-Lock adaptors are commonly used to connect the
portable launching gun to the network inlet ranging 1-3 inches.
However, the adapters can be used on smaller size tubing
applications using a fabricated decrease. Smaller diameters
ranging
from ¼-2 inches networks use a set of pipe, hose, or tube
adaptor nozzles to allow the launching gun to interface with
these networks. The projectile-launching guns are fitted with a
pressure gage, pressure relief valve and an airflow control
trigger.
The
projectile themselves are constructed of open cell virgin or
reconstituted polyurethane foam and are available in various
densities. They have a cylindrical shape with a length
approximately 1.6 times the diameter, and range in diameter from
6 to 250mm. the rule of thumb is to select a projectile that is
120% of the process line. |
