Pipe bursting

Pipe bursting

Pipe bursting is a trenchless method of replacing buried pipelines (such as sewer, water, or natural gas pipes) without the need for a traditional construction trench. "Launching and receiving pits" replace the trench needed by conventional pipe-laying. "'

Methodology

An expanding device called an expander head, which may be either pneumatic or hydraulic, is introduced into the defective pipeline through a launching pit. As it travels through the pipeline toward the receiving pit it breaks the pipe into many small pieces, pushing the pieces into the surrounding soil. New pipe is attached to the back of the expander head, replacing the line immediately.

Equipment

There are five key pieces of equipment used in a pipebursting operation: the expander head, pulling rods, a pulling machine, a retaining device, and a hydraulic power pack.

Today's expander heads have a leading end much smaller in diameter than the trailing (bursting) end, small enough to fit through the pipe that will be replaced. The smaller leading end is designed to guide the expander head through the existing pipe; earlier models did not have this feature and lost course at times, resulting in incomplete pipe bursts and project failures.

The transition from the leading end to the trailing end can include "fins" that make first contact with the existing pipe. Using these fins as the primary breaking point is a very effective way to ensure that the pipe is broken along the entire circumference.

A machine is set in the receiving pit to pull the expander head and new pipe into the line. The head is pulled by heavy, interlocking links that form a chain. Each link weighs several hundred pounds.

All of the equipment used in a pipebursting operation is powered by one or multiple hydraulic power generators.

Other Applications

Pipebursting may also be used to expand pipeline carrying capacity by replacing smaller pipes with larger ones, or "upsizing." Extensive proving work by the gas and water industries has demonstrated the feasibility of upsizing gas mains, water mains and sewers. Upsizing from 100mm to 225mm diameter is now well established, and pipes of up to 600mm diameter and greater have been replaced.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bursting strength — noun : the capacity of a material (as a paper or textile) or object (as a metal pipe) to maintain in continuity when subjected to pressure; broadly : the pressure often expressed in pounds per square inch required to rupture such a material or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Trenchless technology — Trenchless technology, as the name implies, stands for subsurface construction works where less trenches or no continuous trenches are required to be dug. It is a rapidly growing sector of the construction and civil engineering industry. It can… …   Wikipedia

  • Michels Corporation — is an international utility, engineering, design and construction contractor based in Brownsville, Wisconsin. With more than 4,500 employees in its 15 divisions and subsidiaries, Michels is the largest construction company in Wisconsin. It… …   Wikipedia

  • Trenchless technology — Este artículo o sección sobre tecnología necesita ser wikificado con un formato acorde a las convenciones de estilo. Por favor, edítalo para que las cumpla. Mientras tanto, no elimines este aviso puesto el 11 de junio de 2008. También puedes… …   Wikipedia Español

  • WEDO — Infobox Radio station name = WEDO city = McKeesport, Pennsylvania area = Pittsburgh metropolitan area branding = WEDO AM 810 slogan = Your Station of Nations airdate = 1947 frequency = 810 (kHz) format = Multicultural programming power = 1,000… …   Wikipedia

  • Asleep in the Deep (Dad's Army episode) — Infobox Dad s Army episode number episode name=041 Asleep in the Deep script=Jimmy Perry and David Croft director=David Croft producer=David Croft recorded=Friday 2/6/72 original transmission=13/10/72 6.50pm series=Five length=30 minutes viewing… …   Wikipedia

  • Spud gun — For the child s toy which fires small pieces of potato, see spud gun (toy). A pneumatic potato cannon A potato cannon (also known as a spud gun or spudzooka ) is a pipe based cannon which uses air pressure (pneumatic), Propellant, or… …   Wikipedia

  • Spud gun (cannon) — This article is about pipe based cannons and similar which use air pressure, or combustion of a gaseous fuel, or both, to launch large projectiles at low speed. They are in two types: * To fire whole potatoes. These launchers are built and fired… …   Wikipedia

  • burst — burst1 [bə:st US bə:rst] v past tense and past participle burst ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(break open)¦ 2 be bursting with something 3¦(move suddenly)¦ 4 burst open 5 be bursting to do something 6 be bursting 7 burst somebody s bubble 8 burst its banks Phrasal… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • History of private equity and venture capital — The history of private equity and venture capital and the development of these asset classes has occurred through a series of boom and bust cycles since the middle of the 20th century. Within the broader private equity industry, two distinct sub… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”