Draining an entire section of a pipe can be an inconvenient and time-consuming process for gas or oil refineries. It will take too much time and effort to complete the process. On the other hand, Pipe freezing does not affect the entire cylinder that requires repair.
To perform the freezing process, the temperature of the pipelines should drop below the freezing point of the liquid it carries. It will result in the production of some refrigerants. This process uses cryogenic liquids like liquid nitrogen to jumpstart the cooling process.
However, not everyone knows the advantages of this method over the more complicated pipe draining option. Here are some of the perks you can get if you choose the freezing process.
Perk #1: Time Efficiency
System shutdowns are unavoidable when working with pipes. Since there are no other options to avoid this issue, you must find an option to reduce the time spent on shutdowns to continue production.
Traditionally, the pipe draining method may take at least 14 hours to complete. The process includes about four hours for draining the system, at least an hour to install the new valves, and another four hours to flush the contents of the system. It will also take another two hours to have the system refilled, two hours to get rid of all the air, and another hour to replace the corrosion-restraining chemicals. However, more time is needed if there are other issues during the process.
Meanwhile, freezing the pipes only take a fraction of the time spent in draining. This technique may allow you to save approximately 12 hours. For example, if you have a 1” diameter steel pipe, the service provider can freeze it in minutes then replace the valves before defrosting it.
The entire process may only take two hours at most. As a result, all the time you save from freezing the pipe can allow you to remain productive and continue doing business in no time.
Perk #2: Environment-Friendly
The pipe draining method requires workers to dump all remaining fluids in the city sewers. Most of the time, the contents of these pipes from gas and oil facilities contain anti-corrosion chemicals that may have toxic components. These chemicals may cause significant damage to the environment.
Some companies deal with thousands of litres of toxic chemicals needed to be drained. If you exhaust all these chemicals into the city sewer, you will not only have problems with the law.
For example, Australian states like New South Wales may charge a corporation a minimum of $15,000 on-the-spot fine for illegal dumping. Avoid these charges by opting to freeze the pipe to help you create a plug for locking toxic chemicals in one place. It will help prevent chemicals from reaching the city sewers.
Perk #3: Cost-Efficient
You will save a significant amount of money if you choose this process over pipe draining. For a usual pipe draining project, you may spend more or less $10,000 for the entire process.
But if you request to freeze the pipe, the most you will spend is at least $1,500. You may also factor in the amount you will save from other inconveniences like a prolonged work stoppage.
These perks will prove that freezing the pipe is the most convenient and reliable technique for pipeline maintenance. You only need to look for a trustworthy pipe freezing service provider to ensure that you will get the best services.
