International Flow received a call from Rancho Water Company, in Temecula, CA about their pipeline that had no pipe to perform a Linestop, except a 24” 90-degree elbow. It was a fabricated sectional elbow as well!
The 24” Plug valve was seized in the closed position, with no way to isolate, and the only option was to bypass the operational sewage plant.
Seeing the importance of this valve replacement, International Flow laid out the easiest way to isolate the 24” pressurized sewage elbow without building specialized machinery. Another concern of IFT was to check the inside of the pipe for the possibility of it being filled with solids, which would make it hard to install a linestop mechanism. The condition of the pipe was checked by sending a measuring probe through a test hot tap and the line seemed to be full of sewage, but only 20% solids were resting on the bottom of the pipe. So the operation was full steam ahead!
Being that the 24” elbow was .375 thick carbon steel, fabricated from pipe sections, the Linestop fitting was installed by welding in a position not normal for hot tapping. Once the 16” hot tap was performed it allowed access for IFT’s folding head to open up, to seal the 24” sewage main, bubble tight, allowing for the valve to be replaced in a clean manner.
After the project was complete, the operation looked simple to most onlookers. Few understand all the preparations and testing that goes into projects like these prior to being “on stage”.
Much thanks to the International Flow Engineering Division for making these preparations for our field crews, who onsite, looked like we perform elbow Linestops every day.
Design features in this valve installation:
The features of the DeZURIK Eccentric Plug Valves' design include eccentric action and resilient plug facings, which assure lasting dead-tight shutoff. The clean interior design and straight-through flow, of the valve, allows high maximum flow capacity with minimum pressure drop. Heavy-duty stainless steel bearings, choice of resilient plug facings, welded-in, corrosion-resistant nickel seat and a variety of end styles are available. Eccentric Plug Valves are capable of handling clean and dirty liquids, gases, sludges, and slurries.
Eccentric Plug Valves (PEC)
Size Range: .5 - 72" (15 - 1800mm)
Temperature Range: to 300°F (150°C)
Pressure Rating: 125 - 450 psi (860 - 3100 kPa) CWP Shutoff pressure to 275 psi (1980 kPa)
Shutoff Class: Resilient plug facing: drip tight to rating up to 275 psi (1890 kPa)
Body Material: Cast iron, bronze, aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, Alloy 20, monel and ductile iron
"We were impressed with Jason, he represented your company very well on the job in Yuma. We’ve had vendors/workers in the past who show up, fumble around and are not totally familiar with their equipment. Not the case with Jason, he was professional, prepared and jumped right in and got started."
- Craig Hochheimer,
City of Yuma, AZ
"I just wanted to take a minute to thank and commend you on your team selection and the gentleman who performed the work out here at NIH for us last week. Tom and his partner were on time, and performed their work with the utmost professionalism. This is a very high profile project for my firm and for NIH and your technicians made us look very good and in fact helped us solve a big testing problem."
- Michael McReady,
JCM Associates, Inc.
"City broke off a 2" air relief valve on a 16" ductile sewage pipeline with 45psi. Before the valve could be replaced we had to rush out and complete a 16" linestop. The linestop was successful with a 100% plug. On the left is the thank you letter from the City ."
- James W. Pinkerton,
Manager, City of Kingston, Tennessee