Papers
Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 2016 Berlin
Ernest Lever, Karen Crippen
The objective of this project was to develop methods to be used by any plastic testing laboratory to quantify the effects of hydrocarbon permeation on: 1) the fusibility of plastic pipe; 2) the life expectancy of existing fused joints that have been subjected to hydrocarbon permeation; 3) the Hydrostatic Design Basis (strength) of plastic pipe, and 4) the impact on slow crack growth. A secondary objective was to determine and validate current practices of local distribution companies (LDC) in mitigating hydrocarbon permeation on their in-field pipe.
This paper is a follow on paper to the paper presented at PPXVII outlining the intended scope of work for project DTPH56-14-H-00001-554 [1] sponsored by DOT PHMSA to investigate the effects of heavy hydrocarbon permeation on polyethylene pipe used in the US gas distribution system. The project has been successfully completed and this paper will summarize the findings with regard to the long term strength of the impacted polyethylene pipes and their fusibility.
Hydrocarbon permeation into polyethylene plastic pipe was studied together with its effects on 1) the fusibility of plastic pipe; 2) the life expectancy of existing fused joints that have been subjected to hydrocarbon permeation; 3) the Hydrostatic Design Basis (strength) of plastic pipe, and 4) the impact on slow crack growth. The objective was to develop a validated method to be used by any plastic testing laboratory to quantify these effects. A secondary objective was to determine and validate current practices of local distribution companies (LDC) in mitigating hydrocarbon permeation in their in-field pipe. This information will be valuable in several ways. Knowing how hydrocarbon permeation in PE pipe material affects pipe strength and its ability to be fused will improve the integrity and safety of the PE pipeline infrastructure. Appropriate guidelines can be developed to provide regulators and engineers with a hydrostatic design basis to limit the pipeline operating pressure (stress). Operators would be aided by the establishment of go/no go levels of hydrocarbon contamination in PE for heat joining techniques. Clear fusibility guidelines would save utilities time by avoiding the necessity to cut out sections of pipe due to non-effective fusions performed on contaminated pipe.
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