Reconstruction of Water Supply and Sewerage Pipelines Using the Trenchless Method

Ecopolymer develops and manufactures the equipment for trenchless reconstruction of pipelines and performs reconstruction of technically worn water supply and sewerage pipelines.


img. 1
1 - initial trench
2 - polymer pipe
3 - old pipe
4 - polyethylene pipe headpiece
5 - cable
6 - winch


photo 1


photo 2


photo 3

Advantages:

  • Performing repairs and restoration work without pulling down the paving, disturbing engineering communications or cutting the greenery;
  • Possibility to restore severely damaged pipelines;
  • Short terms of work completion;
  • High resistance to abrasive wear;
  • Long-term operation - for over 50 years.

The method of pipelines restoration involves replacement of old technically worn-down pipes (metal, reinforced concrete, ceramic ones) with new
polymer PE or PVC pipes by driving them inside the restored pipes.

This method is recommended to be used for repairing technically worn-down pipelines in confined environments or in places with large concentration of engineering communications.

Before starting restoration work, the pipelines inner surfaces are investigated using small-size TV cameras to determine the state of the pipes to be repaired. (photo 1).

As a rule, we use polyethylene pipes connected into a stalk by means of butt welding using special equipment. (photo 2).

Polyethylene pipes can be welded both on daytime surfaces and directly in the initial trenches with further driving them by means of winches into the old trench prepared in advance. (photo 3).

When performing scheduled work replacing old pipelines with polyethylene ones using trenchless method, a section of 100 m length can be finished within 2 or 3 days, whereas the driving of the new pipe and its connection would take not more than 5 or 6 hours.

This method allows to substantially reduce the time for repairing water supply and sewage networks and increase their service life (up to 50 years).

When using polymer pipes for restoration of water supply networks no leakage is possible in repaired sections, less sediments are laid on the pipes inner surface, there is no chemical or electrochemical pipes corrosion.

Polymer pipes have the following advantages compared to ceramic or reinforced concrete ones when used to repair sewage systems: substantially reduced surface roughness; high resistance to abrasion; the pipes are not subject to gas (hydrogen sulfide) corrosion.

This method can be used to repair gravity conduits with 100 to 1200 mm diameter as well as pressure pipelines of 76 to 700 mm diameter. New polyethylene pipes have (outer) diameter Douter 50 to 1000 mm (if local-manufactured pipes are used).

Advantages of polyethylene pipes compared to cast iron or steel ones:

  • Polyethylene pipes have substantially longer service life compared to cast iron or steel ones. It should be noted that steel pipelines that are destroyed mostly as a result of corrosion serve for 10 to 15 years. Assembled cast iron conduits malfunction most often in the spring and autumn seasons because of ground shifting as well as a result of hydroblows. Polyethylene pipes are not subject to corrosion, nor their performance is affected by ground shifts. Their service life can be up to 50 years.
  • When driving pipes by pulling or pushing, polyethylene pipes can follow the bends of the old pipelines with the curvature radius of more than 120 polyethylene pipe diameters. It is absolutely impossible with steel pipes.
  • Polyethylene pipe weigh 2 to 3 times less than steel pipes; therefore, substantially less effort is necessary to drive them into place.
  • When steel pipes are welded, scars (flashes) are formed on the inner surfaces deteriorating the pipeline hydraulic characteristics and encouraging its clogging. Scars can be easily removed from polyethylene pipes inner surfaces if necessary.
  • Polyethylene pipes roughness (0.008 – 0.040 mm) is much less than that of steel pipes (0.1-1.5 mm) or cast iron pipes (1-3 μμ). As experience proves, roughness of old steel pipes can be up to 5-10 mm or more. Small roughness of polyethylene pipes will be a proper compensation for the lesser pipeline diameter when polyethylene pipes of smaller diameter are driven through steel pipes.
  • Higher price of polyethylene pipes comparing to steel ones pays back manifold due to long service life (up to 50 years) and no expenditures for emergency restoration work or pipeline re-laying.

In our work we use polyethylene pipes, GOST 18599-83, made of HDPE 273-79 (GOST 16338-85) that are allowed for usage in drinking water supply systems.

We can repair water supply and sewage systems using trenchless method and polymer pipes; supply polyethylene pipes; render assistance in welding polymer pipes.

For more detail information please contact us the way that is convenient for you
The ECOPOLYMER Group
• Moscow, phone/fax: +7(095) 981-98-80, phone: +7(095) 981-98-81
• Belgorod, phone/fax: +7(0722) 27-23-69
• Kiev, phone/fax: +38(044) 455-98-50
• Kharkov, phone/fax: +38(0572)28-23-19, +38(057)340-84-61, 719-97-97, 717-18-18
E-mail: sales@ecopolymer.com