Pipeline Liner Assembly Curing With Steam-Inflated Bladder
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for installing liners in pipelines, such as excavation and 'cure-in-place' technologies, face challenges like high costs, time consumption, and difficulties with navigating transitional areas like bends and fittings, necessitating a more efficient and effective pipeline repair or reinforcement method.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a liner assembly with an outer tubular liner and an inner inflatable bladder, where the bladder is expanded with a steam-air mixture to ensure firm contact with the pipeline surface, allowing for continuous curing and easy retrieval, along with a portable steam generator to control the curing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If excavation methods are used to install liners, then the liner can be properly installed and cured, but the process becomes expensive, time consuming and disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liner installation process from traditional excavation methods by using a delivery catheter that can navigate through the pipeline's existing structure, including bends and fittings, to deliver the liner directly to the target location without requiring the pipeline to be exposed or excavated
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a delivery catheter as an intermediary device that facilitates liner transport through complex pipeline geometries. The catheter acts as a mediator between the liner and the pipeline, enabling the liner to be delivered through bends and fittings that would otherwise be impassable
2Ease of operation
If push-rods are used to move the liner, then the liner can be positioned, but transitional areas like bends and fittings create significant delivery problems
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery catheter is designed as a flexible, steerable device that can navigate through complex pipeline geometries including bends and fittings. The catheter's flexibility allows it to conform to the pipeline's shape while maintaining the ability to push the liner forward through transitional areas that rigid push-rods cannot penetrate
3Productivity
If a winch and cable system is used to pull the liner, then the liner can be delivered to the desired location, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the delivery and positioning functions into a single integrated delivery catheter system. The catheter integrates the push mechanism, navigation capability, and liner delivery function into one device, eliminating the need for separate winch and cable systems while maintaining efficient liner delivery to the desired location
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 reduces installation time, increases efficiency, and allows for consistent curing conditions, enabling faster pipeline repair and reinforcement with improved handling of complex pipeline geometries.
Implementation Method 1
introducing fluid into the inflatable bladder so that the inflatable bladder expands to bring the tubular liner into firm contact with an interior surface of the pipeline
Implementation Method 2
a steam generator configured to introduce the steam into the inflatable bladder
Implementation Method 3
flowing the fluid continuously through the bladder and discharging the fluid into the pipeline, while maintaining the liner assembly in an inflated condition for a time period sufficient for the tubular liner to cure
Data Source
AI summary
A method of installing a liner assembly for pipeline repair or reinforcement includes: pulling a prepared liner assembly into position in the pipeline, the liner assembly including a tubular liner wetted with a curable compound; introducing fluid into the inflatable bladder to bring the tubular liner into firm contact with an interior surface of the pipeline; flowing the fluid continuously through the bladder and discharging the fluid into the pipeline, while maintaining the liner assembly in an inflated condition; measuring a flow rate and a temperature of the fluid entering the bladder; calculating a time period sufficient for the tubular liner to cure based on: an amount of heat required for curing, based on dimensional information of the liner, and the measured flow rate and temperature of the fluid; and maintaining the liner assembly in an inflated condition for the time period sufficient for the tubular liner to cure.