Water Main Ultrasonic Pipe Wall Thickness Testing Allows Pipe to Remain in Service

By deploying JD7’s suite of live, under-pressure insertion technology, water systems remain operable with no disruption to service
Water Main Ultrasonic Pipe Wall Thickness Testing Allows Pipe to Remain in Service
The new nonintrusive, intrinsic evaluation gives engineers and corrosion specialists many accurate points of data from one single insertion, at many points over the course of the total insertion length. From this data, specialists can accurately determine the approximate useful life remaining in the area, all while allowing no extra time, costs and minimal impact to the public which will reduce the cost of analyzing America’s water infrastructure.

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A team of industry professionals successfully partnered to conduct pressurized water main testing in some of the most challenging pipe networks in the world last week in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, using a new technology that was acquired by Aquam.

The partnership between Ace Pipe Cleaning (an industrial, municipal and utility maintenance solutions provider), Providence Infrastructure Consultants (a professional civil and engineering services firm) and JD7 Technologies (a pressurized pipe assessment technology company), used closed-circuit televising, leak detection, line locating and ultrasonic pipe wall thickness testing by accessing mains via dry barrel fire hydrants.

Dry barrel fire hydrants are used to prevent residual water in the hydrant riser from freezing during cold weather. A valve stem from the top of the hydrant closes a valve, many feet below ground under the frost line, isolating the water from the riser pipe until there is a need to open the valve, either by the municipality for testing and flushing or the fire department for emergency use.

Providence Infrastructure Consultants managed the project to ensure proper conditions were maintained throughout. They were chosen as a team member for their knowledge of field engineering services and understanding of the dry barrel hydrant technology and mechanisms.

Ace Pipe Cleaning provided assistance to the municipality and the team in the removal and installation of all hydrant stems and valves, which they provide to various municipalities across the United States.

During the hydrant project, JD7 also provided on-site training to Ace Pipe Cleaning members for the proper use of pressurized pipe assessment and investigative technologies with access through the hydrants.

The partnership has led to the development of a plan to successfully assist the U.S. with locating and defining the buried pipelines. These technologies allow the water operators and respective engineers and consultants to develop a short- and long-term plan of when and where to invest the appropriate resources to either clean, repair, replace or renew the water infrastructure over a given timeline.

In the United States it is estimated that there are more than 1.8 million miles of water main distribution piping serving residents and properties.

The live visual inspection, leak detection and line locating using the Investigator+ allows a broad overview and baseline of the network to be developed and a general scale of the overall condition of that sector of the networks piping to be established. 

After this has been accomplished, ultrasonic scanning using the Pipescan+ from the inside of the pipeline can be performed based on the initial visual assessment as well as other factors, which may influence the corrosion of the pipeline (i.e. leak history, pipe age, internal/external water chemistry, internal water pressure, soil properties, groundwater, climate, usage, pipe class, manufacturer, etc.).

Interior and exterior corrosion measurements are taken at each half degree around the circumference of the pipe at various points throughout the section of the pipeline being evaluated.

Before this technology was available, crews would excavate through the street to expose the main and extract a 2-inch coupon or one single cut of the pipe. Once this coupon or piece was removed from the pipeline, the piece was then sent to the lab to have the pitting and corrosion measurements taken. This type of work only allows for one small part of the system to be analyzed and the remaining sections to be assumed similar.

The new nonintrusive, intrinsic evaluation gives engineers and corrosion specialists many accurate points of data from one single insertion, at many points over the course of the total insertion length. From this data, specialists can accurately determine the approximate useful life remaining in the area, all while allowing no extra time, costs and minimal impact to the public which will reduce the cost of analyzing America’s water infrastructure.

Using the proprietary Dry Barrel Hydrant Adaptor developed by JD7 Technologies, it is possible to launch different inspection tools through various brands of dry and wet barrel fire hydrants.

For more information visit, http://www.jd7usa.com.

About JD7
JD7 is a global technology provider focused on pipeline assessments and pipeline inspection solutions. JD7 provides condition assessment, leak inspection/detection and a large range of unique survey products. JD7 offers sales and or services with all their technology along with training on all no-dig technology. These solutions address problems to a sizeable market, including both water and gas utility companies across the globe. JD7 products can access and survey mains from as small as 2 inches to an unlimited size.



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