Argweld PurgElite - Purge Bladders and Dams Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems

Inflatable Weld Purging Systems have been specifically designed for tubes, pipes and pipelines to achieve oxide free, porosity free, clean, safe welds.

Old fashioned pipe purge bladders and tandem purging gas bags usually burst. Therefore our systems are specifically engineered with anti-burst features to avoid any risk of bursting. Our Pipe Purge Systems can be used time and time again.

NEW for 1 inch (25 mm)ø Tubes and Pipes

After 40 years of manufacturing expertise in the field of tube and pipe purge bladders and dams, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques brings to the market yet another great innovation to help tube and pipe welders save time, money, gas and achieve better welds.

This 5th Generation Innovative Advanced Design in the Argweld® range introduces for the first time a 1 inch (25 mm) System for small diameter tubes and pipes!

The Argweld® PurgElite® purge bladder and purge dam systems are suitable for high quality pristine weld purging of tubes to tubes or fittings and pipes to pipes and fittings for 1 to 24" (25 to 610 mm) diameter.

These even more advanced tandem dam based systems, with many unique features keep Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® right at the forefront of technical innovation, by creating a simple, low cost solution to make high purity welds.

With the savings made due to this revolutionary new design, we have been able to reduce prices significantly whilst at the same time, manufacturing a technically superior product.

The volume to purge is kept small, resulting in savings in both time and cost of inert gas used.

Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems have two heavily protected purge bladders or dams connected by a new design inert gas purging tube.

The inert gas purges air as well as other unwanted gases and vapours out of the space between the dams with inert gas coming through a unique, much lower cost, simpler, more trouble free valve than used on other designs.

This `new` design low profile valve allows us to manufacture a 1" (25 mm) Inflatable Tube and Pipe Purging System, which has never been achieved previously.

In addition, these systems have no raised metal parts making them ideal for use in a wide range of industries that would normally use internally polished stainless steel tubing and piping.

Standard sizes of Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems are available for immediate delivery and special requirements can be produced in just a few days.

Don`t use old fashioned purge bladders or purge dams that burst and do not use homemade devices like cardboard, paper dams or foam bungs. They contain a lot of water, air and water vapour. Bad products put your weld at risk and end up costing you more money.

Use the proper tool for the job! An Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purge System.

Tandem Dam Based Systems in 1 to 24" (25 to 610 mm)

Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purge Systems simplify the process of inert gas purging and are quick and easy to install.

Quick and easy to install

Quick fit couplings complete with "o" ring for gas tight sealing and stainless steel collet to hold the tube mechanically tight. Now fitted with "Anti-Release" circlip to prevent parts accidentally separating inside the pipe. 

Innovative purge gas feed device

No complicated valve to set.

Inflation of purge dams & inert gas purging with one line

No chance of inflatable purge bladders bursting due to over pressurisation. One hose from the inert gas supply is all that is needed.

Specially developed purge dam connection hose

Maximum operating temperature 80ºC (179ºF).

Synthetic spinal connection hose gives complete flexibility to go around bends.

Low vapour pressure material.

No scratching of internally polished surfaces.

For all grades of stainless and duplex steels, with and without polished interiors, titanium, zirconium and any other exotic metals or alloys.

Centrepiece Glow Positioning Indicator

Argweld® PurgElite® cost saving systems can be positioned accurately.

The glow strip positioning band in the centre of each system gives ease of use when positioning the device underneath the weld.

Size range: 1 - 24" (25 to 610 mm) Ø

No restrictions in elbows or bends in pipe work.

First inflatable 1" (25 mm) system available.

Uses less inert gas

Special gas usage system significantly cuts the volume of gas used compared to all other methods.

Faster

The Argweld® PurgElite® System is very quick and easy to install. It can be positioned accurately and the purge dams inflate instantly.

No difficult valves to set, therefore saving time

Bladder purging time is a fraction of that required by conventional methodsleading to significant savings and waiting costs. Cost savings charts are available on request.

The volume to be purged is localised.

Low Price

Dramatic decrease in prices over all similar models.

Payback in less than one weld.

Repeatability

Highly reliable, giving regular, repeatable, controlled high quality results.

Gas pressure control ensures an even positive root bead with no notching.

Manufactured to Nuclear Quality Standards with Nuclear approved materials, these systems guarantee bright, shiny, coke and oxide-free welds.

Because Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems have no metal parts exposed, internally polished stainless steel tubes are protected.

Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems from 1" upwards are `State of the Art` newly evolved technology by Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®.

Heat Resistant Covers

Heat Resistant Covers are available for PurgElite® as an accessory. These covers are available in all sizes within the PurgElite® range 1 – 24” (25 – 610 mm).

Manufactured from a robust material, the Heat Resistant Covers protect the inflatable dams at each end of the system, with a temperature range of up to 300ºC (572ºF).

Ties on each Cover ensure they are held securely to the Inflatable Tube and Pipe Purging System. Holes are designed on each Cover for the PurgElite® fittings, such as inlet, exhaust and Weld Purge Monitor® connection.

The Heat Resistant Covers are sold as a pair, or can be manufactured as a single unit if required.

Ideal for `Clean in Place` or `Steam in Place` Welds

For many industries, such as food, semi-conductor, chemical, pharmacutical, bio-ethanol as well as any others where hygienic, aseptic, `Clean in Place` (CIP) or `Steam in Place` (SIP) welds have to be made.

High Purity

Food, Diary, Pharmaceutical, Beverages

All of the above mentioned industries use vast volumes of small diameter stainless steel tubing where Argweld® PurgElite® Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems will be valuable to help in providing optimum welding results when used in conjunction with the Company`s PurgEye® range of Weld Purging Monitors.

Biochemical processes

Bioprocessing operations have continued to grow for 20 years controlling the risk of contamination.

This has pushed the demand for high-purity system design even beyond the boundaries of the pharmaceutical industry and has cascaded into industries that are typically unfamiliar with the need for system cleanability.

Amongst other applications, Argweld® PurgElite® Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems are designed for pristine Tube and Pipe Purging, (CIP) and (SIP) techniques as well as the Bio applications.

If the proper steps are not taken throughout the process, a proliferation of unwanted bacteria can devastate colonies of the desired bacteria, ruining the process.

The only segments of this process that would require high purity piping design concepts are those that handle the enzymes.

Argweld® PurgElite® Weld Purging Systems are particularly valuable for use in these emerging areas of High Purity Processes such as Bioethanol Processors and Biofuels Production.

Nuclear

These new products from Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® will be valuable for use with Nuclear Power Pipework particularly for repairing the inconel steam tubes in aging nuclear reactors that has been highlighted in the press recently following the problem in Japan and discoveries of potential leak areas in nuclear steam pipes elsewhere around the world.

In addition to their application in full size Nuclear Power Stations, the PurgElite® systems will be valuable in construction and repair of the massive volumes of small diameter tube and pipework in Nuclear Submarines and Nuclear Fuel re-processing facilities.

Semi Conductor

Tubing and piping used throughout the semiconductor industry requires a degree of purity that is even higher even, than that required of the pharmaceutical, food-and-dairy industries

Semiconductor operations have a critical need to mitigate the potential for particulate contamination, which can be devastating to today`s highly miniaturised electronic components.

Microscopic particles in semiconductor facilities, whether coming from equipment, tubing, or the various fluids used during the manufacture of silicon chips, can render the chip useless, or at the very least, out of specification.

So achieving acceptable, repeatable welds is a key element during the fabrication of high-purity piping systems.

These high-purity welds are accomplished most efficiently by means of a certified welding operator using an orbital welder and PurgElite® Tube and Pipe Purging Systems together with the PurgEye® range of Weld Purge Monitoring instruments.

In addition, there is a myriad of other applications where stainless steel, titanium and nickel alloys require weld purging to this high degree of quality including offshore, aerospace, liquid natural gas and so on, where the PurgElite® Pipe Purging Systems will make a valuable contribution to saving time, saving gas and preventing errors, particularly when used in combination with the Company`s Weld Purge Monitoring instruments, some of which that have data acquisition software for quality control procedures.

For larger diameters, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® manufactures its rugged Argweld® QuickPurge® Systems to suit diameters from 6 to 88 inch (152 to 2,235 mm).

Technical Data and Specification

Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Purging Systems are available from 1" to 24" (25 to 610 mm).

High quality circumferential butt-welding of tubes or pipes with other tubes, pipes or fittings, requires inert gas to be used inside the bore to prevent oxidation and notching of the root penetration weld bead.

The tandem based Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging System has been designed specially for this work.

Each system has 2 protected inflatable dams connected by an armoured heatproof spinal tube.

Once ready to start purging, the system is inserted into the bore with one purge dam either side of the weld joint.

The spinal tube carries the gas to inflate the purge dams and the low profile valve to release the gas gently, to purge the interspace without turbulence.

When the gas connection is made and opened, the purge bladders inflate to form a seal, after which the pressure in the system opens the purge valve.

The inert gas is then fed into the space between the purge bladders expelling the air through the integral exhaust tubes.

Welding can then be carried out with the inert gas ensuring a clean even penetration bead.

Note: Welding will probably be started once the Argweld® PurgEye® Weld Purge Monitor® indicates the required low level of oxygen has been reached.

Afterwards, the purge dams are deflated simply by disconnecting the purge gas feed and the device easily removed. This uniquely designed system means that only one gas connection is required for both dam inflation and weld purging.

An equal number of outlets are provided. Unwanted connections are left closed with the blanking plugs provided.

This range of Argweld® PurgElite® Tube and Pipe Purge Systems are for pipes of nominal diameters from 1" (25 mm) to 24" (600 mm).

The connecting spinal tube can be shortened or lengthened to accommodate special requirements.

PurgElite® PURGE TIME (to 0.1% oxygen and less)

By using Argweld® PurgElite® Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems, the main savings, over any other system, are obtained in reduced
purging and waiting time, and in the much lower quantity of inert gas used.

Purging with old fashioned systems and homemade devices will require a flow rate of at least 24 L/min (50 cu ft/hr)
for longer periods.

The chart below shows a typical purge time to reduce the air space to less than 0.01% oxygen.

Purge time for PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purge System to less than 100 ppm oxygen.

Test Pipe Diameter 4" (102 mm)

Old fashioned or home made devices:

Purge time to 1,000 ppm.... 26 minutes
Flow rate 50 CFH (24 L/min).... inert gas usage 18 Cu ft (624 liters)

Argweld® PurgElite® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Weld Purging System:

Purge Time to 100 ppm.... 3 mins 6 secs
Flow rate 21 CFH (10 L/min).... inert gas usage 0.9 Cu ft (30 Liters)
Purge Time below 35 ppm.... 7 - 10 mins (with extra gas inlet and exhaust integrated)