Anti-pollution pipe stoppers

OFR anti-pollution stoppers from Pronal are permanently fitted in water and sewerage lines ready for rapid inflation by remote triggering to quickly stop the pipeline as soon as an emergency arises in industrial, civil and municipal applications.

Available in stock sizes to seal pipe diameters from 805-2115 mm — with larger sizes custom fabricated — the deflated stopper is designed to allow normal non-polluted effluents or water to pass through the pipe when the stopper is uninflated.

Positioned within the pipe on a central steel axis located by permanent frame, the stopper is connected by a gas supply line to either an all-weather control panel located outside the pipe or to a similar installation within nearby buildings. When an emergency arises, the OFR stoppers are triggered either by a manual striker or optional electrovalve-piloted control unit. Inflation can be provided in minutes by gas cylinder (typically using nitrogen) or alternatively by connection to industrial compressed air systems adapted to provide the low maximum inflation pressures in the pipe, which range from 0.2 to 0.5 bar, depending on the pipe diameter. Once inflated, the stopper will prevent toxic fluid spill or spreading of firefighting water into the pipeline.

Protected by a polyethylene cover when deflated, the extensive range of OFR stoppers is designed primarily for use with retaining pits but they have also been successfully employed to protect natural waterways from industrial spills.

Pronal’s OFR stoppers are available in standard cylindrical lengths of 950-2200 mm, with ovoid, elliptical and other shapes on request.