Pneumatic Flushing
Pneumatic Flushing
(OP)
Could anyone provide a link to a manufacturer of a Pneumatic flushing machine.
Thanks in Advance!
Thanks in Advance!
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS Come Join Us!Are you an
Engineering professional? Join Eng-Tips Forums!
*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail. Posting GuidelinesJobs |
|
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
I have seen the results of this method and it seems to provide a more thorough cleaning than the hydraulic method.
See NFPA 25 2008 Handbook, Section D.5.4
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
?????
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
http://www.dropmaster.co/
(Which by the way works great and has saved our bacon several times for tenant improvements and the Central recalls.)
However that is not what I am looking for, the unit we require injects water into the fire sprinkler system under air pressure creating a pressure surge that flushes debris (Mic) from the fire sprinkler branch lines pack to a discharge point usually the valve. I have seen a dry system installed in a mine that was flushed using this technique and it appeared to do a far superior job to just hydraulic flushing.
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
Must not be that many, or they do not use the machine
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
The machine was made from an air compressor with the compressor removed. A fitting were welded on the top of the tank for a compresor connection. Garden hose fittings were welded lower on the tank. The end of pipe fitting was removed from the pipe and a garden hose fitting and a shut off valve was installed. NFPA 25 2011 Edition, Fig D.5.4a shows the machine. Hydro testing the machine prior to use would be a good idea.
The main control valve was shut and the main drain was opened. The clapper was was removed or latched open. The end of line valve was opened and 100 PSI of air was pumped into the lower tank. The water under pressure removed the rust and scale from 10 pipes at a time. Amazing what one can learn by attending a class.
We have flushed a couple of systems using garden hoses, not backflushing. We ran the hoses outside. We have found 1", 1.25' and 1.5" pipes plugged solid with rust. We have also found you need to make the customer aware that when you remove the rust and scale, you may develope large enought leaks to soak through sheet rock and tile very quickly. Have plastic sheeting ready to cover equipment.
You should have pipe, fittings and the equipment ready to machine pipe as needed. Make sure your contract protects you against leaking pipe.
We paint the ends of the flushed and/or replaced pipe with white paint. We then use a magic marker to write the date,company name, and what we did on the fresh paint.
Google "Hydropneumatic Flushing"
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
Agree with fireguy too. Using compressed air can always be hazardous and close attention is needed with regard to the pressures used.
RE: Pneumatic Flushing
We tried the Hydraulic method but the accumulation is so compacted that it will not move from the bottom of the piping, 80 PSI was flow through the system utilizing 1.5" and 2.5" hoses and it is still showing approximately 25% blockage. Technicians managed to fill two burlap bags before getting "clean" water to discharge from the Hose Monsters!
This System was installed in 1953 and it seems that not much has changed since then, might be time for a new system as their are several other factors affecting this particular installation.
I do wish this issue was better addressed by the standard as this is the third dry system so far this year that we have found plugged! Why is this not identified as a system impairement in the 2011 edition of NFPA 25?