On-Site Weld Purge Monitor® for the Petrochemical Industry

Welding within the Petrochemical Industry involves working in refineries and plants that produce gasoline and a variety of other petroleum-based products as well as chemicals and oil-related products. Welded joints in these applications are often critical and the insides of pipework must be purged with expensive argon gas to reduce the oxygen levels around the joint below 100 ppm.

Due to the challenges of welding on-site in the Petrochemical Industry, Weld Purging Experts Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® have designed a virtually non-destructible Weld Purge Monitor® for on-site conditions. The PurgEye® Site is a guarded oxygen monitor in a secure, safe, waterproof and dustproof, very tough carry case.

Ron Sewell, Chairman for HFT® said: “The PurgEye® Site measures oxygen levels from 1,000 ppm, right down to 1 ppm (accurate to 10 ppm). It is portable, robust and has been specifically designed for site conditions. The housing case for the monitor is IP65 with the lid open and IP68 rated with the lid closed.”

“The PurgEye® Site has a new design, fast response, long life sensor and it is equipped with PurgeNet™ facility that allows it to connect to a variety of accessories. One of the accessories is a link to an automatic welding machine, which allows controls to be based upon the oxygen level, to prevent welding if that level is too high. Other accessories include a traffic light visual indication system and a temperature gauge.”

The large, bright, OLED display allows the data to be easily read and is mainly symbol based, rather than text. The display does not need a backlight and can be viewed from greater angles than LED screens.

Oxygen levels can be indicated by the PurgEye® Site gas analyser in parts per million (ppm) or percentage, depending on user preference. Flow detection ensures accurate reading of gas samples, along with a blocked filter icon and power on / off with a standby button for sensor warm up.

The small, low volume, almost indestructible case, can be carried anywhere and the PurgEye® Site used either with its internal battery, which lasts up to 10 hours or connected to mains electricity from 90 – 250 v, single phase A.C.

By using the PurgEye® Site, welders can ensure non-oxidised, zero colour welds are achieved regardless of conditions. Using a Weld Purge Monitor® also eliminates guesswork and saves considerable costs by preventing loss of argon.

The Weld Purge Monitor® was invented by HFT® in the 1970’s and with over 40 years of innovation, design and manufacturing experience, the company now has a Family of PurgEye® Weld Purge Monitors® to measure oxygen levels from atmospheric content (20.94%) down to 1 ppm (accurate to 10 ppm).

Ron Sewell continues by saying: “All of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®’s Weld Purge Monitors® and Inflatable Tube, Pipe and Pipeline Weld Purging Systems are manufactured in the UK. We do not sacrifice on quality. We guarantee to help you achieve zero colour welds, time and time again. The Company has immense technical collateral gathered and published, that the Welding and Engineering Fraternity can access, rely on and use to solve many of the difficulties experienced while purging welds.”