|
The
Smart Pipe ® Advantage |
Smart Pipe ® is a high strength, light weight, monitored
reinforced thermoplastic
pipe that can be used for the rehabilitation of an existing pipeline, or as a stand alone replacement. The key feature of the technology that underlies
Smart Pipe ® is the use of ultra high strength fibers that are wrapped onto a high density polyethylene core pipe. Through the selection of the fibers, the lay angles, and their sizes,
Smart Pipe ® can be specially tailored for any given condition in terms of design pressure, pull-in length (for a rehabilitation), and safe operating duration. The exceptional strength/weight properties of various ultra high strength fibers are provided in the following tabulation for illustrative purposes.
As an example of the
Smart Pipe ® Advantage, an analysis for the rehabilitation
of an aging steel pipe in a class 3 location using each of three
different fiber types is summarized in the next tabulation. In this
example the rehabilitation is made to restore a 10 mile length of
a 16 inch diameter pipe to an operating pressure of 1000 psi. As
a comparison, the strength to density ratio of a steel replacement
line is shown below, which demonstrates the massive weight reduction
achieved with high strength fibers.
Fiber
Type |
Measured
Mechanical Properties |
Calculated
Strength Density Ratio (inch) |
|
Modulus
(ksi ) |
Strength
(ksi) |
Spectra® |
.035 |
15,000 |
435 |
12,400 |
Carbon |
.065 |
34,000 |
700 |
10,800 |
Kevlar® |
.052 |
18,000 |
525 |
10,100 |
Vectran® |
.050 |
9,000 |
412 |
8,200 |
E-Glass
|
.092 |
12,000 |
500 |
5,400 |
X40
Steel |
.283 |
29,000 |
50 |
180 |
- The flexible pipe technology that is the basis of
Smart Pipe ® is currently being successfully utilized by several companies. RTP is used in many places of the world for high pressure applications.
- Fold / unfold technology for pipeline rehabilitation is now in worldwide use for low pressure applications.
- The Smartec monitoring system used by
Smart Pipe ® has been field tested successfully in Europe and has recently performed reliably in
Smart Pipe ® testing procedures.
- The mechanical design and installation procedure has been perfected over a two year period using combinations of engineering models, finite element analyses, and scale model testing.
- The vacuum system has been tested by Shell, BP and others with favorable results. Their findings have been published by NACE.
- The portable factory and installation system has performed well in its start up mode and initial operations began on April 3, 2005.
- Full scale testing of
Smart Pipe ® with Spectra, Kevlar and E-Glass reinforcement was initiated on April 4, 2005, and is currently in progress.
|
e-webstyle.com