Big plug solutions for fast and safe sustainability

Fast, safe, and environmentally secure solutions to seal and test pipelines are becoming increasingly important to clamp down on leakage.
Made from high-quality fibre-reinforced elastomer, Pronal inflatable pipe stoppers from Air Springs Supply are used to test pipes for leaks under pressure (joint testing), isolate sections of pipelines pipes for maintenance (inspection stoppers), and to temporarily seal pipes to avoid runoff of toxic materials (pollution stoppers). Image: Air Supply, Pronal

Fast, safe, and environmentally secure solutions to seal and test pipelines are gaining new importance as Australia’s water and wastewater authorities clamp down on leakage and rise to the challenge of supplying burgeoning populations.

With about 93 per cent of Australia’s 27 million people connected to mains water supply and sewerage systems, operators have compelling reasons to ensure that new and existing infrastructure performs optimally.

Testing for leaks and isolating pipes for maintenance must be conducted with complete safety and environmental security against content spills while moving with considerable speed to maintain services.

One flexible and rapid method of sealing and testing employs tough fibre-reinforced elastomer inflatable pipe stoppers, which are actuated by standard compressors or bottled gas that can be rapidly deployed, easily transported and applied widely to pipelines of widely different diameters, construction materials and ages.

Pronal inflatable pipe stoppers from pneumatic actuation and isolation specialists Air Springs Supply Pty Ltd create an airtight seal within the pipe to effectively stop the content’s flow, enabling professionals in different industries to do their jobs and resolve issues. Where required, bypasses can be built in to enable some flow to be maintained while work is carried out. The range includes:

  • A wide variety of stoppers are used to seal off sections of pipe where leaks are occurring. They serve the dual role of enabling pressurisation of that section so leaks can be detected and protecting the men in the pipeline from any product flows while they work to fix problems.
  • Uni-Plug collapsible pipe stoppers from 20-3000mm, which compactly fit around obstacles, corners and into previously inaccessible areas of surface, underground and underwater pipelines.
  • OFR types to fit pipes from 45-2115 millimetre (mm) diameter in stock sizes (up to 3000 mm for customised and specialist types) to contain environmental spills. OFR stoppers are permanently located in pipelines for instant remote inflation with compressed air or other gas where there is a risk of toxic runoff in environmentally sensitive locations or where spillages occur.

*For more information about Air Springs Supply’s national distribution and technical support network, please contact Air Springs Supply Pty Ltd, Unit 18, 38-46 South St, Rydalmere, NSW, 2116, ph (02) 8877 5500, fax (02) 9807 6979, sales@airsprings.com.au

Related Articles:

Send this to a friend