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Inflatable Pipeline
Spheres
by Girard
Industries


Girard Polyurethane Spheres
- Minimize product contamination when
used to separate fluids being transported through a pipeline.
- Purge air and dewater during
hydrostatic testing.
- Confirm accuracy of flow meters.
- Pass through out-of-round pipe.
- Navigate through tees, ells and
full-port valves.
- Are suitable for automatic
launching.
- Remove condensate and paraffin
build-up.
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Typical Uses of Girard
Polyurethane Spheres
- Liquid Batch
Separation. Girard spheres are used for separating various products such
as gasolines, fuel oils, crude oils, jet fuels, and other petroleum products transported
through a pipeline. Product integrity is maintained while navigating tees and ells.
- Line Testing.
Girard spheres purge air from the pipeline to insure accurate hydrostatic testing. This is
achieved by inserting a sphere ahead of the water column which displaces the air. Girard
spheres can remain in the line throughout all phases of testing. Once the test is
complete, the spheres are used to dewater the pipeline.
- Line
Maintenance. Girard spheres maintain pipeline integrity by removing
paraffin and condensate. During pipeline corrosion control maintenance, spheres are used
to batch corrosion inhibitors.
- Meter provers.
Girard spheres gauge volume displacement to confirm the accuracy of flow
meters.
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GSY - GSG - GSR
Girard spheres are manufactured in a range of durometers
for meter prover and pipeline applications. The GSY (yellow) is designed for meter prover
use and the GSG (green) and GSR (red) are designed for pipeline use. Girard spheres are
available in sizes from 2" to 36".
Maximum benefits are obtained when spheres are properly
filled and sized. Specific applications will determine the most effective sizing and
filler fluid to be used. In general, Girard spheres should be sized 1% larger than pipe
ID. Information on recommended use is available from Corrosion Control Products Company.
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Sphere Pump from Girard
A pump is recommended to properly inflate a Girard sphere.
The pump is easy to operate by placing the appropriate fluid in the filling cup, attaching
the hose to the valve body in the sphere, and manually pressing the handle. The pump and
attachments are available from Girard Industries.
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