An Inspired Mod.

[Grizzly]

Hi Guys!
Attached are some pics of an Idea my colleague came up with this week.
As I have posted before We look after a large Cold Store, where the Defrost drainline design is "Cr*p!"!
Resulting in frequent ice build up which will creep along the s/steel pipes. Eventually blowing the
Rodding eye cap off through its retaining ring.
Such is the force of growing Ice!

After several failures the blanking cap is quite badly distorted.
"Lets make a plastic blank!" was the suggestion.
This is what Freddie came up with!

147971479814799



Brilliant.
Complete with Ice build up indicator!
Grizzly

[Rob White]

.

Sometimes the simple solution is the best

Rob

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[joe-ice]

Good engineers will always come up with the simplest solutions, Well done . Would not fancy defrosting that drain though haha .

[Grizzly]

Hi Guys!
Thanks for responding.
In answer Joe to your comment about defrosting that frozen drainline.
We have become quite good at clearing them using a £20.00 240v steam stripper.

If you remove the steam tray and use the flexible hose as a steam lance.
You can literally blast through the Ice.
It can still take the best part of a day to clear though.
Cheers Grizzly

[chemi-cool]

Hi Grizzly,
Drain lines are a pain.
I always insert a flexible heater inside them, connected to the main defrost heaters and it does wonders.

Check it here: http://www.flexelec.com/products/heating-tape-pvc-and-silicon-insulation-flextape/silicon-insulated-heating-tapes-rs-rs-t-rs-i.html

[Grizzly]

Sorry Chemi
We are removing the flexible Heater tapes that were specified by the consultant,
To run down the inside of the drainline's..
Because of the operating parameters and the poorly designed defrost system.
You end up with a Polo Mint down the drains at best.
At worst the heater tape fails and the sediment from the coolers builds up around them.

If I was allowed I would spiral wind the tapes around the outside of the pipes.
Plus move the vapour seal to just outside the pod , not at ground level outside the store approx. 40 metres away!
Trust Me! We have tried every option and in this scenario internal Heater tapes do not work!
Cheers Grizzly

[cadwaladr]

Me I always try to get the drain lines out of the room in the shortest way and in the largest bore tube,but I power the heaters on a permanent basis whether it's internal or external,on a large cold store where multiple evaporator are in action I find it the best way?