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PE technical guidance
HDPE Pipe technical guidance (High quality Polyethylene Pipes)
 

Host pipe cleaning & inspection

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Close-fit Lining Methods

Whilst restoring the internal diameter is not critical for slip lining, it is critical if a close fit or tight fit technique is to be used. The host pipe must be thoroughly cleaned before inserting the liner, and the cleaning process should remove all corrosion products and other debris to restore the original internal diameter, to maximise flow capacity and leave the surface as smooth as possible to reduce friction during insertion.

The most effective process for this purpose is dry mechanical scraping and swabbing, and this must be repeated until no more debris comes out. There will inevitably be a little loose debris left in the pipe joints, but this should not be a problem, as the liner pipe will not come into contact with this. Care must be taken not to groove the inside edges of the host pipe ends with the winch wire during this operation.

It is important to ensure that all the host pipe ends are cleanly cut, and without irregular steps, flaws, grooves or cracks, as these will act as stress raisers and could result in the host pipe cracking when the liner pipe becomes a tight fit. The inside circumference of all cut ends must have a generous smooth radius ground on them at exit ends of intermediate excavations, otherwise the liner pipe could become scored or scraped during insertion, possibly then requiring the liner to be removed and replaced.

Once cleaning is completed the host pipe should be subjected to a recorded inspection throughout its length using CCTV and ideally incorporating a laser light ring system. This inspection is not only looking for the cleanliness and surface finish achieved by the cleaning process, but for any areas of pipe wall loss, roughness or protrusion or discontinuity, such as a ferrule or plug, a displaced joint or unrecorded fittings, appurtenances or bends. The laser light ring measures any deformities so the data will also enable the internal diameter of the host pipe to be accurately measured over the entire length for the first time. This is essential for close-fit methods, especially concentric ones, in order that the installer can select the optimum diameter reduction parameters for the project.

For close-fit liners it is important that any sections of the host pipe with an internal diameter less than that assumed in the design process be identified, quantified, and accurately located, as these may compromise the installation by locally preventing full reversion which would result in the liner pipe being more susceptible to collapse under net external hydraulic pressure.

Also for close-fit liners it is particularly important that the host pipe internal diameter is reasonably constant through the entire length of the insertion, as otherwise the recovery process may be compromised. This is especially important in the die drawing method.

Host pipe cleaning & inspection
Image courtesy: Exova Utilities

As an example, this diagram illustrates a Die Draw reversion which has started at the die end to the right and is progressing in the direction of the arrow towards the pull end. When it encounters a section of host pipe of a smaller diameter, it becomes a tight fit in that section before recovery can be completed up to that point, and once locked tight in the smaller diameter section, no more longitudinal movement can take place and further diametrical recovery is impossible. The horizontal scale of this diagram is greatly reduced to illustrate the effect and this may make the consequence appear insignificant, however, depending upon the difference in diameters, the length of liner pipe that is not a tight fit and remains permanently under longitudinal stress may be considerable.

As a result of this the smaller diameter section will reduce the overall capacity, and the enhancement of collapse under external hydraulic pressure will be reduced. This can be overcome by creating a short insertion section of the smaller diameter if capacity is not a major constraint or alternatively by excavating and removing the small diameter section.

Last update Thursday 02 July 2015
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