Pipe Freezing
Save Money and Time Draining and Refilling
Qwik Freeze
The HFT® Pipestoppers® Qwik-Freezer™ Pipe Freezing Equipment uses liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) to freeze stationary water in any chosen sections of pipe or tubing. By producing very low 'dry ice' temperatures, Qwik- Freezer™ forms a secure in-line ice plug.
This temporarily isolates the water in the system and allows repairs or modification to be made without draining or shutting off systems.
The Qwik-Freezer™ kit is easy to use. A specially designed jacket is wrapped around the pipe at the point where the freeze is required. A nozzle on the jacket is then coupled to a cylinder of liquid CO2 by means of a high-pressure hose.
When liquid CO2 is injected into the space between the jacket and the pipe, it immediately expands to form a solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) at a temperature of -70ºC (-108ºF). This low temperature quickly freezes the water inside the pipe, forming a secure ice plug, which seals in the pipe.
The ice plug forms only in the section of the pipe covered by the jacket so the resulting rise in pressure is very small and there is no damage to the pipe. The technique can be used safely on iron, lead, stainless steel, copper, brass and plastic pipes.
The major advantages of using a Qwik-Freezer™ System:
✓ Saves valuable time normally lost draining and refilling a system.
✓ Avoids complete shutdown of systems and equipment (as in a sprinkler or water supply system).
✓ Prevents large amounts of water wastage.
✓ Safe and cost effective.
✓ Standard products to suit pipe and tubes sizes from 3/8" to 8" (10 to 200 mm ø).
✓ Long freeze length provides large plug size.
Accu-Freeze
Accu-Freeze™, the controlled liquid nitrogen (LN2) pipe freezing system is a method to freeze stationary liquids in a selected section of a pipe or tubing. It is the World's only patented, digitally controlled pipe freezing system thus allowing you to accurately and safety create an ice plug.
By controlling the surface temperature of the pipe, Accu-Freeze™ can safely and accurately form an in-line ice plug, capable of withstanding 138 bar (2000 Psi) in pipes up to 12" (300 mm diameter).
The Accu-Freeze™ temporary plug isolates the section of pipe or tube, allowing repairs or modifications to be made without shutting off or draining the entire system.
The ice plug only forms beneath the Accu-Freeze™ coil wrap, jacket or aluminium clam jacket which is used on a 6 - 12" (150 to 300 mm) pipe or tube and does not expand outside of the range of jacket or coil.
An ice plug is formed by wrapping copper tubing or specially designed insulated jacket around the section of pipe to be frozen. The LN2 is then injected through the patented control system.
The water or other liquid in the pipe or tube needs to be in a static condition (no flow). The Accu-Freeze™ wrap is placed around the pipe up stream from the section to be repaired.
Accu-Freeze™ takes over by automatically injecting the LN2 to a temperature set by the user through the system over the in-line ice plug. Once the plug is formed, maintenance and repair can take place without draining or shutting off the entire system.
The major advantages of an Accu-Freeze™ System are:
✓ Saves valuable time normally lost draining and refilling a system.
✓ Avoids complete shutdown of systems and equipment.
✓ Prevents waste of large amounts of water.
✓ Eliminates handling of contaminated water.
✓ Is safe and cost effective.
✓ Can be controlled from a remote location.
✓ LN2 delivery system is notably colder than other refrigerants.
✓ Standard products to suit pipe and tube sizes up to 12" (300 mm).
✓ Capability of automatically controlling the freeze temperature.
