Piping Orientation for Corrosion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piping systems face reduced life expectancy due to corrosion and erosion, particularly in areas with varying wall thicknesses, leading to potential failures and safety risks, especially when transporting hazardous fluids.
Innovation Solution
A method to enhance piping life expectancy by identifying and aligning the circumferential sections with the greatest wall thickness with positions experiencing the highest corrosion or erosion rates, utilizing historical trends and material/fluid characteristics to predict and mitigate wall thickness reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If piping is installed with random orientation, then installation is simple and quick, but wall thickness reduction occurs at critical locations reducing life expectancy
Solution Approach 1:
The method measures wall thickness at multiple circumferential positions before installation and determines the orientation that will maximize life expectancy. This preliminary characterization and planning allows the piping to be installed in the optimal orientation, achieving extended life expectancy without adding complexity to the actual installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the orientation parameter of the piping installation based on measured wall thickness variations. By determining the optimal radial orientation that aligns thicker wall sections with high corrosion/erosion risk areas, the method optimizes the life expectancy parameter without requiring physical modification of the piping itself.
2Reliability
If piping with uniform wall thickness is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but corrosion and erosion have greater impact on structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the existing local quality variations in wall thickness around the circumference of the piping. Rather than requiring uniform thickness, the method identifies and leverages the non-uniform thickness distribution by orienting the piping so that thicker sections are positioned at locations subject to highest corrosion and erosion rates, thereby improving structural integrity while accepting standard manufacturing practices.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If piping orientation is optimized for corrosion resistance, then life expectancy increases, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The piping itself provides the information needed for optimal orientation through its inherent wall thickness variations. By measuring the wall thickness at different circumferential positions, the piping's own characteristics guide the orientation decision, eliminating the need for external complex systems or procedures to determine the optimal installation angle.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of improving the life expectancy of piping has steps of determining a circumferential position in the piping having a highest expected rate of wall thickness reduction; determining a circumferential section of a pipe length having a greatest wall thickness; and installing the pipe length in the piping by rotating the pipe length to align the circumferential section of the pipe length having the greatest wall thickness with the circumferential position of the piping having the highest expected rate of wall thickness reduction.