• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 2012

Welding and/or fusion in polyethylene(PE) system made on site is focused on the control of the welding or fusion process to follow proper procedure. The process control is important, but it is not sufficient for the long term reliability of a pipe system. To achieve the rate of failure close to zero, Non Destructive Testing(NDT) is necessary in addition to joining process control. For electrofusion joints several non-destructive testing methods are available. The ultrasonic phased array technique is possible to detect various defects including wire deviations and regions with lack of fusion. In this studies, testing was carried to detect the defect after electrofusion joining of polyethylene piping is utilized by the ultrasonic phased array technique. From testing data, ultrasonic phased array technique is recommended as a reliable non-destructive testing method.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.8
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• pp.1098-1103
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• 2014

This study deals with the development of an electrofusion welding machine that is capable of joining plastic pipes using a recently developed electrofusion fitting. This fitting has built-in conductive plastics that are used to weld the joint together as a heating element. In order to explain the mechanism of the new machine, 1) the resistance characteristics of the heating element were explained, 2) the method of electric welding that uses the electrofusion fitting was described, and 3) the method of power supply based on controlling the firing angle was explained. A control system for an intelligent electrofusion welding machine was proposed. This system has the ability to recognize the diameter of an electrofusion fitting using a lookup-table based on the difference of resistance curves according to fitting types, and it is able to weld the fittings regardless of the ambient temperature. A new algorithm was developed to control the power of electric welding through the recognition of feature points from the resistance curve of the heating element. In order to evaluate the performance of the developed welding machine, tests involving the welding of 16 mm- and 20 mm-type fittings were carried out. Examining the welding results, we concluded that the proposed welding machine will offer high productivity and reliability in the field of electrofusion welding.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.64-68
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• 2013

Non destructive testing(NDT) methods of electrofusion(EF) joints of thermoplastics pipes are required for fusion joint safety and for the long term reliability of a pipe system. Electrofusion joints, which are joined at the proper fusion process and procedures, may encounter defects due to the difference of ovality between pipes and coupling, improper fusion process or porosity result from electrofusion joining. These defects can cause the failure of pipeline and by extension, they can be caused the limit to expand the use of plastics pipes. This paper studies inspection results using ultrasonic imaging method for damaged polyethylene electrofusion joints. Gas was leaking from 250mm diameter polyethylene electrofusion joints at February 2004 which was electrofused at December 1994 and operation pressure was 2.45kPa. First, surface inspection was conducted and then in order to find the types of defects examination using ultrasonic imaging method was performed. Lack of fusion and inappropriate inserting for polyethylene pipes into electrofusion coupling were found and causes of the gas leak were judged that misalignment and insert defect. Cutting inspection was performed and each inspection results were compared to. Results of ultrasonic imaging method and cutting inspection were the same.