For many businesses pipe replacement is the last thing they would choose to have carried out, not only from the point of inconvenience, but also from the point of view of expense. Having to pay for a team of contractors to bring heavy plant machinery on site to dig up a huge long trench which exposes the full length of existing pipe is hardly a convenient solution.

Opening up a large trench, replacing the pipe and then filling the trench back in takes a good deal of time, and time usually means money. But not only do such procedures cost a significant sum of money, but at the same time the business or factory often faces the prospect of losing money at the same time.

This is because frequently it will be necessary for the business to either close down completely whilst the work is carried out, or at least close down large sections of the business. Open trench pipe replacement can take several days to complete, and this all adds up to an unappealing solution.

It is for this reason that many businesses have accepted an alternative procedure referred to as pipe curing. This offers a temporary alternative to pipe replacement, but not a permanent one. Pipe curing can only provide pipes with a slightly extended lease of life, but depending on the nature of the substance being transported through the pipes, this may only last for a matter of weeks or months before the process will have to be completely repeated.

The good news, however, is that pipe curing costs much less than open trench pipe replacement, and as no trench is required, the process takes much less time, and causes much less disruption and inconvenience. It is easy to see why so many businesses and factories have chosen pipe curing over open trench pipe replacement for some time.

However, there are still issues, and it will eventually become obvious that no further pipe curing can be carried out, or that any further pipe curing will fail to deal effectively with the problems being experienced. This is because all that pipe curing does is to line the inside of the existing pipe with a thin coat of a polymer based material. This polymer will be able to seal small cracks within the pipe, helping to seal it in places, and smooth the interior of the pipe to aid flow.

But pipe curing is unable to solve all problems, specifically those where the pipe has either sagged, or has large cracks or punctures. Over time it is to be expected that pipes will sag a little as the ground moves slightly. This can cause a slight bend in the pipe which results in the substance pooling. This decreases flow and can increase pressure on the pipes, neither of which can be solved through any further use of pipe curing.

But there is a third alternative, and one which solves the problems of pipe curing, and also those relating to open trench replacement. Taking the convenience, speed and cost effectiveness of pipe lining, trenchless replacement manages to provide the ideal solution. This is achieved by combining those benefits of pipe lining with the advantage that open trench pipe replacement offers through installing a completely new section of pipe. This new section of pipe may have a life expectancy of 50-70 years, compared to the few months that pipe curing may offer.

Trenchless pipe replacement via pipe bursting requires no more time than a single pipe curing session, requires only two contractors, no heavy machinery, no open trench, and yet still manages to leave the business or factory with a new pipe that could easily last half a century or more.

The method used is both simple and ingenious, using sophisticated technology which carries out the majority of the task with only minimal input from the contractors. A small pit is dug at each end of the section of pipe to be replaced. A cable is then fed through from the receiving pit to the starting pit where it is attached to a bursting head. A compact pipe bursting machine such as the Warrior WR33 is then lowered into the receiving pit, and using powerful hydraulics pulls the bursting head through the existing pipe.

The bursting head is fitted with blades which slice through the pipe, bursting it apart and making way for the replacement pipe which is pulled into place behind the bursting head. With a pulling power of 30 tons the Warrior WR33 can carry out pipe replacement at a rate of 2 metres per minute, meaning that the business or factory can resume full operations the same day.

Source: ArticleMotron