Ice Plug / Pipe Freeze Service To Help Pipe Maintenance

Cryonet has developed state of the art PipeFreeze services for your most challenging pipeline maintenance and repair.

Pipe freezing is a non-intrusive, cost-effective, and quick method to perform pipeline maintenance modifications without draining the system. Using liquid nitrogen, the problem area in the pipeline or vessel is frozen with the product inside the pipeline to form a solid plug. This allows for very little drain-down or refill and, in many cases, no system downtime. Once the work is complete, the plug or plugs are thawed and the line is restored to operation.

Pipe Freezing Technology

An effective means of system isolation, ice plugs are developed within the pipe system through the application of liquid nitrogen. The cryogenic process begins with heat being drawn from the product inside the pipe until it reaches a temperature below its freeze point. Once an established freeze plug is formed, the repairs can be carried out easily.

How it works

Pipe freezing involves the use of liquid nitrogen in the controlled formation of a solid ice plug inside the pipeline using cryogenic jacketing equipment and techniques. Once formed, the plug is able to withstand differential pressures and provide reliable and effective isolation of the line while modifications or repairs are carried out.

Pipe Freezing can be used to perform the following routine system modifications

• Valve Installations
• Pipe Section Replacement
• Equipment Isolation
• Pipe Branch Terminations
• Pipe Relocations

Advantages of Pipe Freezing

• No System Downtime
• Minimal Safety Hazard
• Cost Effective
• Quick Solution
• Environmentally Non-Polluting

Typical pipe materials:

• Carbon Steel
• Nickel Alloy
• Copper-based Alloys
• Aluminium Alloys
• Stainless Steel

Pictures of the Ice Plug Activity

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