Expandable Liner Radial Expansion Pipe Reinforcement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reinforcing and strengthening pipes are labor-intensive and costly, as they require pre-manufactured liners or sheets that need to be hand-applied, lacking an efficient and cost-effective solution for using fiber materials like carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an expandable tube coated with a binder and fiber-laden material is delivered to the pipe, radially expanded to adhere to the interior, and cured in place, providing structural reinforcement without the need for initial interior wall preparation or extensive labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If pre-manufactured liners or sheets are used for pipe reinforcement, then structural strengthening is achieved, but installation becomes labor-intensive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement system is divided into separate components: a collapsible carrier tube that can be inserted through the pipe, and fiber-laden material that is applied to the carrier tube exterior. This segmentation allows the components to be transported and installed separately, then assembled in-situ, dramatically reducing installation labor while maintaining structural strengthening effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible carrier tube is designed to be inserted within the existing pipe structure, and the fiber-laden material is wrapped around the carrier tube. Once expanded, the carrier tube provides internal support while the fiber material adheres to the pipe interior. This nested arrangement allows compact transportation and simple installation without requiring external scaffolding or extensive preparation.
2Strength
If pre-manufactured liners are hand-applied to pipe interiors, then reinforcement is achieved, but installation time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber-laden material is pre-applied to the exterior of the collapsible carrier tube before insertion into the pipe. This preliminary action allows the reinforcement material to be positioned and secured in advance, so that when the carrier tube is expanded in-situ, the fiber material is already in place and simply adheres to the pipe interior upon expansion, eliminating time-consuming on-site application work.
3Strength
If fiber materials are used for pipe reinforcement, then structural capacity is improved, but application complexity increases without efficient delivery methods
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier tube transitions from a collapsed state during insertion to an expanded state during reinforcement application. This dynamic transformation allows the system to adapt to different phases of installation: compact for delivery through the pipe, then expanded for effective fiber material application and adhesion to the pipe interior, simplifying the overall application process.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible carrier tube serves as an intermediary device between the fiber-laden material and the pipe interior. It provides a convenient substrate for applying and securing the fiber material in advance, then transfers the reinforcement function to the pipe when expanded. This intermediary simplifies the application process by eliminating the need for complex direct application methods to the pipe interior.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method efficiently and cost-effectively reinforces pipes by adhering resin-coated fibers to the interior, enhancing structural integrity and extending pipe life without the need for extensive preparation or labor-intensive installation.
Implementation Method 1
coating the carrier tube with a binder (e.g., resin, epoxy, thermosetting binder or other material, etc.), securing one or more layers of a fiber-laden material (e.g., carbon fiber fabric, other type of fiber fabric, splayed fiber roving or bundles, etc.) along an exterior surface of the carrier tube with the assistance of the binder
Implementation Method 2
radially expanding the carrier tube from the first diameter to a second diameter, such that the one or more layers of the fiber-laden material and the binder at least partially contact and/or adhere to an interior wall of the pipe in need of repair when the carrier tube is radially expanded to the second diameter
Implementation Method 3
curing the binder so that a combination of the fiber-laden material and the cured binder remains immediately adjacent to the interior wall of the pipe in need of repair
Data Source
AI summary
A method of lining an interior of a pipe in need of repair comprises providing a carrier tube having one or more expandable materials, coating the carrier tube with a binder, securing one or more layers of a fiber-laden material along an exterior surface of the carrier tube with the assistance of the binder. The carrier tube is delivered, together with the at least one layer of the fiber-laden material and the binder, to a targeted location inside a pipe in need of repair. The carrier tube comprises a first diameter while the carrier tube is being delivered to the targeted located inside the pipe in need of repair. The method additionally comprises radially expanding the carrier tube from the first diameter to a second diameter, such that the one or more layers of the fiber-laden material and the binder at least partially contact and/or adhere to an interior wall of the pipe.