What is the best line blinding process?
Line blinding is the process of blocking off or completely isolating a pipeline, duct or process flow. Typical circumstances that require this type of absolute shut-off are:
- To Ensure the safety of maintenance personnel and operators
- To Avoid product contamination
- Control of products flowing through manifolds or common pipelines
- As a back-up to conventional valves that may leak due to age, misuse, erosion and distortion
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Traditional Line Blinding Process
There are several methods to blank a line. The most common include using Blanking flanges and spools or Spectacle plates and gaskets between flanges. Using either of these methods has several disadvantages:
- Time Consuming - removing a blank from a 10 inch process line can take up to 4 hours and requires up to 3 personnel to be present. Flange bolts have to be removed; the line has to be physically spread apart using cheater bars and only then the solid plate can be removed
- Given the weight of the blank plate a crane may be required
- The time taken to change blanks in this way has an additional cost - lost productivity
- Line spreading can cause damage to pipelines or buckle tank walls
In short the procedure of traditional blanking is time consuming, inconvenient, costly and can be dangerous.
Fast Acting Blind Valves - The Modern Alternative
The advent of fast acting line blinds such as the Cam-Set and Cam-Slide made it simple to blind a line quickly, from one side of the line by a single operator. They are sometimes referred to as fast acting line blinds, Hamer blinds or line blind valves.
At it's most simple level, the Cam-Set and Cam-slide is a mechanism that enables a spectacle plate to be changed from open to closed in less than 60 seconds.
The part that enables this is a Cam System which creates space for the plate to move and then to be securely locked in place. The cam system is actuated via a stem connected to a hand wheel. No bolts need to be removed; simply turn the hand wheel, and swing the plate to the new position. Then turn the hand wheel again to lock it back into place.
Safe, Fast and Convenient
Key Advantages
The Key advantages of this system are:
- Only One Operator
- No Line Spreading
- Cost Savings - reduced time to blind and reduced operations downtime
- No tools required
- Safe working is assured - 100% positive shut off
- Line blinds are solid, low maintenance products
