Swel Plug Hydrostatic Pressure Tester
Advantages of Tube Turns Mechanical Pipe Plugs
Advantages of Tube Turns Mechanical Pipe Plugs
Advantages of Tube Turns Mechanical Pipe Plugs
TUBE TURNS® Swel-Plug® Pressure Tester is a rugged, positive-grip end closure that speeds up and simplifies hydrostatic testing of pipelines and piping assemblies. The Swel-Plug® was developed scientifically as a time and money saver.
Performance and dependability have been proven at numerous field installations and the SWEL-PLUG Pressure Tester is being used more and more frequently by pipeline contractors and piping fabricators, by mechanical contractors and maintenance departments, by gas utilities and petroleum refineries, by pipe and tube mills, etc.
Easy To Use (Pipeline Pressure Tester)
Advantages of Tube Turns Mechanical Pipe Plugs
Advantages of Tube Turns Mechanical Pipe Plugs
A principal advantage of the SWELPLUG Pressure Tester is the ease with which it can be used. There are no caps to weld on and then cut off, no clamps to tighten and re-tighten, no gaskets to position and no threads to align. The pipe need not be end beveled, either; it can even have torch-cut square ends.
And when the test is finished, the SWELPLUG Pressure Tester can be removed with a minimum of effort because its grip to the pipe walls slackens automatically as internal pressure is relieved.
Unmatched Versatility
Does Not Damage The Pipe ID
Does Not Damage The Pipe ID
Unlike some designs, the SWEL-Plug Pressure Tester can handle more than one pipe I.D. or wall thickness. For instance, a 4” Model 4032 Pressure Tester can be used for testing pipe with Standard through Extra Strong wall thicknesses and 4” tubing of the various gauges falling within this I.D. range.
SWEL-PLUG Pressure Testers have been used with forged, cast, rolled and welded, and extruded pipe, and with such piping materials as carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels, aluminum, fiberglass, polyethylene and other plastics-even with rubber and canvas hose.
Contained media have included ordinary tap, demineralized and salt water; air; natural gas; oil sludge and municipal sewage; and operating temperatures have ranged from 20F to 150F.
Does Not Damage The Pipe ID
Does Not Damage The Pipe ID
Does Not Damage The Pipe ID
Since the SWEL-PLUG Pressure Tester provides full-length gripping, there is no single-point gouging of the pipe walls as is often associated with screw- or clamptype testing devices. There are no deep scratches or sharp notches that could serve as stress raisers and potential weak spots.
Significantly, too, welding bevels are not dented or chipped during the test, and costly, time-consuming re-machining of pipe ends is not necessary.
Mechanical Pipe Plugs How to use-storage-size SELECTION
INSTALLING PRESSURE TESTERS
1. Attach shut-off valve or other desired fittings and connections to plug via coupling in plug cap. It is recommended that any auxiliary hardware be light and compact.
2. Remove any accumulated dirt, rust particles, scale, etc. from inside surface of pipe end. Special cleaning or grinding of pipe is not necessary. Remove burrs or sharp edges that could damage seal cup.
3. Holding plug in slightly angular position, place lower edge of seal cup on lip of pipe. While exerting slight forward pressure, compress seal up to permit insertion in pipe end, raising plug into alignment with pipe at same time.
4. Push plug forward until stop ring is butted against pipe end. Rotating plug counterclockwise will facilitate insertion. If fit is extremely tight, moisten outer surface of seal cup with water for easier insertion.
FILLING TEST ASSEMBLY WITH TEST PLUGS
1. After plug is properly positioned, connect to pressure source.
2. Fill assembly with testing medium and vent or bleed as required. (In Hydrostatic Testing do not close vent until water flows out in a steady stream, indicating all trapped air has been bled off.) Filling or venting operations can be accomplished through the plug. Therefore SWEL-PLUG Pressure Test Plugs often are used in pairs or series to close all openings of test assembly.
3. Close all valves, ports, vents, etc.
4. Pressurize and begin testing.
REMOVING TEST PLUGS
1. Release pressure.
2. Completely drain or vent assembly.
3. Pull plug out of pipe.
CAUTION: It is important to relieve all pressure from assembly before attempting to extract plug. Any residual pressure imposed on plug during removal may he harmful to seal cup and may result in injury to operator or others.
STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE
Service life of a SWEL-PLUG Pressure Test Plug closely parallels the degree of care during storage and it is recommended that plugs be:
1. Stored in racks and suspended from stop ring.
2. Placed in upright position, standing on seal cup end.
3. Or, in larger sizes, nestled in support cradle of shipping crate Swel Plug Tester
Size Selection
SWEL-PLUG Pressure Tester should be based on the I.D. - not outside diameter - of the pipe to be tested. A 12” Part No. 4032, for example, is good for pipe ID’s ranging from 11.608 to 12.024. A convenient reference table is provided below for the determination of the appropriate Pressure Tester size and part number.
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