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.
The Smart Pipe® Advantage
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
|
Viability Of Technology
- 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.
R & D Completed To Date
- 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.