• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

In nuclear power plants, lined carbon steel pipes or PCCPs (pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipes) have been widely used for sea water transport systems. However, de-bonding of linings and oxidation of PCCP could make problems in aged NPPs (nuclear power plants). Recently at several NPPs in the United States, the PCCPs or lined carbon steel pipes of the sea water or raw water system have been replaced with HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipes, which have outstanding resistance to oxidation and seismic loading. ASME B&PV Code committee developed Code Case N-755, which describes rules for the construction of buried Safety Class 3 polyethylene pressure piping systems. Although US NRC permitted HDPE materials for Class 3 buried piping, their permission was limited to only 10-year operation because of several concerns including the quality of fusion zone of HDPE. In this study, various requirements for fusion qualification test of HDPE and some regulatory issues raised during HDPE application review in foreign NPPs are introduced.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2009

The current paper focuses on the analysis of transient cavitating flow in pressurised polyethylene pipes, which are characterized by viscoelastic rheological behaviour. A hydraulic transient solver that describes fluid transients in plastic pipes has been developed. This solver incorporates the description of dynamic effects related to the energy dissipation (unsteady friction), the rheological mechanical behaviour of the viscoelastic pipe and the cavitating pipe flow. The Discrete Vapour Cavity Model (DVCM) and the Discrete Gas Cavity Model (DGCM) have been used to describe transient cavitating flow. Such models assume that discrete air cavities are formed in fixed sections of the pipeline and consider a constant wave speed in pipe reaches between these cavities. The cavity dimension (and pressure) is allowed to grow and collapse according to the mass conservation principle. An extensive experimental programme has been carried out in an experimental set-up composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes, assembled at Instituto Superior T$\acute{e}$cnico of Lisbon, Portugal. The experimental facility is composed of a single pipeline with a total length of 203 m and inner diameter of 44 mm. The creep function of HDPE pipes was determined by using an inverse model based on transient pressure data collected during experimental runs without cavitating flow. Transient tests were carried out by the fast closure of the ball valves located at downstream end of the pipeline for the non-cavitating flow and at upstream for the cavitating flow. Once the rheological behaviour of HDPE pipes were known, computational simulations have been run in order to describe the hydraulic behaviour of the system for the cavitating pipe flow. The calibrated transient solver is capable of accurately describing the attenuation, dispersion and shape of observed transient pressures. The effects related to the viscoelasticity of HDPE pipes and to the occurrence of vapour pressures during the transient event are discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.1004-1012
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• 2021

High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe has many advantages over metallic pipe, and has been used in non-safety related application for years in some nuclear power plants (NPPs). Recently, HDPE pipe was introduced into safety related applications. The main difference between safety-related and non-safety-related pipes in NPPs is the design method of extra loadings such as gravity, temperature, and earthquake. In this paper, the mechanical behavior of HDPE pipe under various loads in pipe gallery was studied by finite element analysis (FEA). Stress concentrations were found at the fusion regions on inner surface of mitered elbows of HDPE pipe system. The effects of various factors were analyzed, and the influence of various loads on the damage of HDPE pipe system were evaluated. The results of this paper provide a reference for the design of nuclear safety-related Class 3 HDPE pipe. In addition, as the HDPE pipes analyzed in this paper were suspended in pipe gallery, it can also serve as a supplementary reference for current ASME standard on Class 3 HDPE pipe, which only covers the application for buried pipe application.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.517-524
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• 2022

Every year, millions of waste tires are discarded across the world. Storage of waste tires presents many problems such as fire threats, epidemics, and non-economic factors. Furthermore, the disintegration process of waste tires is not economical or practical due to its time-consuming, and disposal requirements. In this study, half-section waste tires (HSWTs) were integrated with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes under different relative density conditions. The main aim of the study was to reduce the deformation values of embedded HDPE pipes in sandy soil and to evaluate the soil-pipe interaction. In comprehensive laboratory tests, half-section waste tires were integrated in two different ways: in the middle of the pipeline and along the pipeline. Accordingly, it was concluded that the effectiveness of waste tires reduces the deformation and bending moment values in the critical regions of pipes. As a result of reinforcement in the mid-point of the pipe defined as the most critical region, 52% and 36% less deformation was observed in the crown and springlines of the pipe, respectively. In addition, the bending moment values for the same critical section were determined to be 40% less in the crown and 28% less in the springline regions of the pipe.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.561-566
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• 2017

Butt-fusion welding process is used to join the polymeric pipes. Recently, some researchers suggest the curved surface to enhance a welding quality. We investigated how curved welding surface affects heat and flow behaviors of polymer melt during the process in 2D axisymmetric domain with finite element method, and discussed the effect to the welding quality. In this study, we considered HDPE pipes. In heat soak stage, curved phase interface between the melt and solid is shown along the shape of welding surface. In jointing stage, squeezing flow is generated between curved welding surface and phase interface. The low shear rate in fusion domain reduces the alignment of polymer to the perpendicular direction of pipes, and then this phenomenon is expected to help to enhance the welding quality.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3342-3351
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• 2023

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines in nuclear power plants (NPPs) have to meet high requirements for seismic performance. HDPE pipes have been proved to have good seismic performance, but joints are the weak links in the pipelines, and pipeline failures usually initiate from the defects inside the joints. Limited data are available on the seismic performance of butt-fusion joints of HDPE pipelines in NPPs, especially in terms of defects changes inside the joints after earthquakes. In this paper, full-scale shaking table tests were performed on a test section of suspended HDPE pipelines in an NPP, which included straight pipes, elbows, and 10 butt-fusion joints. During the tests, the seismic load-induced strain of the joints was analyzed by strain gauges, and it was much smaller than the internal pressure and self-weight-induced strain. Before and after the shaking table tests, phased array ultrasonic testing (PA-UT) was conducted to detect defects inside the joints. The locations, numbers, and dimensions of the defects were analyzed. It was found that defects were more likely to occur in elbows joints. No new defect was observed after the shaking table tests, and the defects showed no significant growth, indicating the satisfactory seismic performance of the butt-fusion joints.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.298-307
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• 2006

TEE Forming process for HDPE(High Density PolyEthylen) pipe has been analyzed by using rigid plastic finite element code, DEFORM-3D. TEE of HDPE pipes is necessary to connect main pipe with branch pipe and change the flow direction of hot water. A HDPE pipe is used as a insulator to maintain the temperature of hot water A butt welding process through TEE forming for a HDPE pipe is a updated process improving the strength of welding part compared to conventional extrusion welding process. The Experiment of Hot and Cold Forming have been performed. The design parameters such as a initial hole shape have been obtained through rigid-plastic finite element analysis, which is applied to the actual manufacturing process.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.33-39
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• 2016

A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system is recommended as a heating and cooling system to solve the pending energy problem in the field of air conditioning, because it has the highest efficiency. However, higher initial construction cost works as a barrier to the promotion and dissemination of GSHP system. In this study, numerical analysis on the characteristics of high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe with spiral inside was executed. The heat transfer and flow characteristics of it were compared with those of a conventional smooth HDPE pipe. The heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of the spiral HDPE pipe were higher than those of the smooth HDPE pipes at the same fluid flow rate. By decreasing the flow rate, the spiral HDPE pipe represented similar values of heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop to the smooth HDPE pipe. The lower flow rate of the spiral HDPE pipe comparing with it of the smooth HDPE pipe is estimated to reduce the length of the ground loop heat exchanger.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.234-238
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• 2018

The influence of reinforcing UHMWPE powder on the tribological and mechanical properties of HDPE was investigated. The circularizing of UHMWPE powder was improved by high-speed rotation to enhance particle distribution and flowability. HDPE composites reinforced with UHMWPE powder in the range of 0-50 wt% were prepared by co-rotating twin screw extrusion. The abrasion resistance, plane friction coefficient, tensile strengths, and impact strengths of the composites were investigated as a function of the UHMWPE content. An increasing UHMWPE content decreased the plane friction coefficient and increased the abrasion resistance and impact strength. It is expected that HDPE composites reinforced with spherical UHMWPE powder particles can be used to improve the durability of products such as pipes in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2013

This project investigated the use of two types of thermoplastic pipes, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Poly-vinyl Chloride (PVC), as cross-drains under highways. Pipes ranging from 0.3 m (12 in.) to 1.5 m (60 in.) in diameter were evaluated under deep fills, minimum cover, and construction loads. In addition to a comprehensive literature review, an analytical study into the allowable fill heights for thermoplastic pipes and a field study to observe the installation and performance of the pipe in service conditions were conducted. Based on the study findings, recommendations regarding how and when thermoplastic pipe should be installed are provided.