Inhoudsopgave
PE pipes are a very common type of plastic water supply pipe and are widely used in many pipeline engineering projects. Before using them, engineers usually conduct pressure tests to determine whether their pressure-bearing capacity meets the requirements.
During the pressure testing process, when a PE pipe bursts, most people will assume that it is caused by poor-quality PE pipes. Echter, the author would like to point out that there are actually many reasons why PE pipes may burst during pressure testing. In addition to quality issues, it may also be caused by improper operation or environmental factors.
Onderstaand, the author will share a real case to explain what factors can cause PE pipes to burst during pressure testing.
Real Case Sharing
One summer, a construction team was carrying out outdoor pipeline installation work in the mountains under the scorching sun. Before installing the PE pipes, they conducted a pressure test on them as usual. The nominal pressure of this batch of PE pipes was 1MPa. After filling the pipes with water, the construction team started pressurizing and maintained the pressure at 0.8MPa.
At the beginning, everything was normal. Echter, at around 11 o’clock in the morning, the construction team suddenly found that the surface of the pipe had bulged, and then the PE pipe burst. The nominal pressure of the pipe was 1MPa, but it burst at only 0.8MPa, which was obviously abnormal.
When many people see this, they may think that there must be a quality problem with the PE pipe. But is this really the case? Please do not jump to conclusions yet. Volgende, the author will share the real reason why the PE pipe burst in this case.
The Real Reasons Why PE Pipes Burst During Pressure Testing
Quality factors have always been a common topic, and there is not much more to say about them. Echter, if we assume that the quality of the PE pipe is not a problem, what other unknown reasons could there be? The above case perfectly demonstrates how improper operation and environmental factors can cause PE pipes to burst.
Elevation Difference
We all know that mountainous areas have very uneven terrain, with large differences in elevation. Daarom, when conducting pressure tests in such terrain, special attention must be paid to the height difference.
Over het algemeen, a 10-meter elevation difference can cause a pressure difference of approximately 0.1MPa. If the pressure test is carried out at a higher point, although the pressure gauge shows that the pressure is 0.8MPa, it is very possible that the pressure at the lower point of the pipeline has already exceeded 1MPa. This may cause the pipe to burst.
The correct method is to install pressure gauges at both ends of the pipeline when conducting pressure tests in mountainous areas and monitor pressure changes at all times.
High Temperature Environment
Conducting pressure tests under direct sunlight at noon in summer is not a wise choice. This is because the design pressure of PE pipes usually refers to the pressure at an ambient temperature of 20°C.
According to calculations, when the temperature reaches 30°C, the pressure-bearing capacity of PE pipes is only about 87%. If the temperature rises to 40°C, the pressure-bearing capacity of PE pipes will only be about 74%.
Especially after the pipe is filled with water, the black pipe easily absorbs heat under direct sunlight. The water temperature inside the pipe can even reach 50-70°C. Op dit moment, the pressure-bearing capacity of the pipe has already been greatly reduced. Daarom, even if the pressure during testing is lower than the nominal pressure, it can still easily cause the pipe to burst.
No Air Release
When PE pipes are exposed to sunlight, thermal expansion and contraction may occur. The water inside the pipe may evaporate, causing pressure to build up inside the pipeline. If an air release valve is not installed, excessive internal pressure may also cause the pipe to burst.
he above three reasons are the main causes of PE pipe bursting during pressure testing in this case after excluding quality issues.
In het algemeen, PE plastic pipes are not suitable for high-temperature environments, which is why PE pipes are not used for transporting hot water. When PE pipes are installed outdoors, they are usually buried underground. The main purpose is to prevent damage caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight.
In aanvulling, if we consider quality issues, PE pipe bursting is usually caused by manufacturers using LDPE recycled materials during production. Although this can reduce costs and prices, it also leads to lower pressure resistance of PE pipes.
Just imagine, even a normally produced PE pipe made from 100% new material may not withstand high temperatures, not to mention pipes made from recycled materials. Daarom, the author would also like to remind everyone not to choose low-quality PE pipes just because of a lower price. Although the initial cost may seem lower, the subsequent quality problems can cause greater losses, which is not worth it.
Okay, let’s make a complete summary of the main reasons why PE pipes burst during pressure testing:
- The elevation difference causes different pressures at both ends of the PE pipeline, so pressure testing should not be performed at a high point.
- High-temperature exposure to sunlight greatly reduces the pressure-bearing capacity of PE pipes.
- Failure to install an air release valve causes increased internal pressure in the PE pipeline.
- Quality problems caused by the use of recycled materials.
Written at the End
This post shares the main reasons why PE pipes burst during pressure testing. We hope it can be helpful to you!
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Auteur: Michael
Editor: Michael
Inhoudsrecensent: Michael
