Posted to News on 27th Apr 2015, 00:00
DNV certified pipe repair system extends pipe life by 20 years
The Henkel Loctite Composite Pipe Repair System is certified by DNV GL, the leading certification body serving the oil, gas and marine engineering sectors. This all-in-one repair system has completed a rigorous test programme by DNV GL that spanned over two years, to ensure the products' conformity with global quality standard ISO/TS 24817.
>This standard defines the design, installation, test and inspection criteria for the use of composite repair systems for oil and gas pipelines and pipework carrying petrochemicals. Compliance of the Loctite Composite Pipe Repair System with this standard gives industry a time-served system with the added assurance of certified safety and performance.
>One of the first companies to take advantage of this unique combination in the UK is Bilfinger Industrial Services, a leading supplier to the UK process, petrochemical, oil and gas and power industries. The company prides itself on delivering long term engineering and maintenance solutions for its customers' business and considers the Loctite Composite Pipe Repair System an ideal addition to its armoury.
>As specified in the ISO certification and required by DNV GL, Bilfinger engineers have completed the specially developed, certified training programme for pipe repair at Henkel's Technical Applications Centre in Hemel Hempstead.
>All the components involved in certification, from the effectiveness of the product and process to the way the system is applied and managed in the field, are designed to give the customer an unprecedented level of confidence.
>Steel pipelines are costly to install and effective maintenance is therefore essential to maximise their service life. The structures are exposed, both internally and externally, to the combined corrosive effect of the climate, mechanical stress and chemical attack. As the renewal of damaged and ageing sections stops production, maintenance and repair organisations are therefore increasingly choosing to repair rather replace pipework.
>Central to the Loctite Pipe Repair System is a resin-based composite material reinforced with fibres. It is similar to materials developed by Henkel that are successfully serving manufacturers of rotor blades for wind power generation or lightweight components for the automotive industry. When used for steel pipelines, the composite reinforces the damaged pipe sections while also protecting them against renewed corrosion.
>The ISO/TS 24817 certified Loctite Composite Repair System is suitable to repair both Type A (non-through wall) and Type B (through wall) defects, covering all repair classes 1 - 3. In addition to straight pipes, the system can be used to repair other structures and components such as bends, tees, reducers and flanges.
>The first step in the repair procedure is to clean and sandblast the surface of the damaged area. As this treatment makes the substrates extremely susceptible to flash rust, Henkel recommends applying the corrosion inhibitor, Loctite SF 7515, to provide immediate, temporary protection.
>For Type A defects, the original outer pipe diameters needs to be restored by filling the cavities with Loctite EA 3478, a proven ferro-silicone filled epoxy compound that provides outstanding compression strength. This product was specifically developed for renewing surfaces subject to compression, thrust, impact and harsh environments.
>The pipe is then wrapped with high-strength, glass-carbon fibre tape, Loctite 5085, that has been impregnated with temperature-resistant, two-part epoxy resin Loctite PC 7210; this product is designed for bonding steel substrates and exhibits exceptionally high adhesion.
>The repaired section is finally sealed with the sprayable ceramic topcoat, Loctite PC 7255, a two-part epoxy which is WRAS approved. The resultant composite repair effectively reinforces steel pipes for continued duty under high pressure and thermal cycling while increasing their chemical resistance.
>In addition to certified safety, the Loctite Composite Repair System offers substantial cost savings as it eliminates the need to replace pipe components. Corroded pipes can be repaired in situ, without any interruption to operations and even with high internal pressure. Also, the quality achieved by the repair can increase the lifetime of steel pipelines by up to 20 years.
>A part of the solution package, Henkel is also offering to provide calculations of the project-specific repair designs. These differ from project to project depending on the range of parameters such as the forces acting on the pipeline, temperature, pressure and the extent of damage. And to maximise the safety and efficiency of this process, Henkel has developed a software tool to determine how the repair should be executed; this is also covered by DNV GL certification.
