Pipe combines best of both worlds

applications

Pipe combines best of both worlds THE STRENGTH of high tensile steel and the corrosion resist-

lated between

two impervious

jackets of glass reinforced epoxy

and performwithout

digging up the pipe or use of

chemicals

In all cases, the pipe’s steel core

pressure,

resistant

and other forms of corrosion.

Ameron

The development is the result of Ameron’s five-year col-

high

operating

weight

ratio. The hybrid

laboration

weighs 75% less than a compa-

piping system International.

from

Bondstrand@

SSL’” (SSL stands for Steel Strip Laminate) is a patented

material

which

carbon dioxide attack

with

pressure-topipe

was found to be completely protected from corrosion. Ameron is also introducing a mechanical

that is said to make Bondstrand SSL faster and easier to install

steel pipe. Lower weight trans-

than other types of high pres-

lates

sure

rocket motor 30 years.

pipe that can

Ameron

casings for over says

Bondstrand

to lower

transportation

piping.

costs to remote sites and easier

LockTM system,

handle operating pressures over 300 bar, far higher than con-

SSL is a cost effective replace-

handling

required;

ment

This means

ventional

high chrome

materi-

als. The pipe is designed for a wide variety of demanding applications including gathering lines, subsea flow lines and water injection lines. Bondstrand SSL consists of a high strength steel strip core which is completely encapsu-

system

product and

a low

non-metallic

joining

60% less than duplex stainless

says can be used to

flow, lightweight

SSL offers a very

rable all-composite

produce

high

Aero-

Bondstrand

and carbon dioxide.

space, which has been using steel strip technology to make

Ameron

profile,

British

forced epoxy jackets to withstand a range of corrosive

‘smart pigs’.

that provide meation,

to per-

integrity

ance of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) are combined in a high corrosion

resistance

pipeline

ance can be checked

for coated carbon

steel,

steel and exotic

alloy piping materials and is ideal for most corrosive applications, such as carrying crude oil, salt water and sour salt water over long distances. The conductive steel core permits remote electrical monitoring of buried pipe so that

during

installation.

Bondstrand

SSL is

especially suited for weight sensitive applications, including

tions

the

Coil-

no welding

is

just a few pipe rota-

make

threaded

With

joint

up

a

tapered,

that

is then

deep water production. The product performed well in tests under a variety of loading conditions and at temperatures up to 93°C. Long term tests were also carried out to confirm the ability of the rein-

locked leak-tight with a ductile spiral locking key. Because the joints are also easy to disassemble, Bondstrand SSL piping can be installed as temporary line if needed and then taken apart and moved to a different site.

the shape of a conventional petrol tank, and will fit in a car boot. The technology offers the potential to deliver around 480 km range in a CNG-powered car without compromising storage space in the boot, says DaimlerChrysler. It reports that a demonstration Plymouth Breeze car is currently reaching over 500 km using this technology. The CNG Breeze has 80% of the boot space of the production car.

CNG tanks have traditionally been large, limiting their use to larger vehicles such as vans. The new technology could be suitable for all vehicle segments, perhaps even sports cars. The high cost of CNG tanks is another critical issue, although this is gradually coming down. Five years ago CNG tanks cost about $5000 to make; today they cost about $2500, compared with $50-100 for a conventional tank for a petrol engine.

Charger cleans up with CNG technology A COMPRESSED natural gas (CNG) storage tank system based on composites is bringing gas-powered passenger cars a step closer to reality. The storage system is showcased in DaimlerChrysler’s new Dodge Charger R/T concept car, which features a supercharged, CNG 4.7 litre V-8 engine. The car produces emissions low enough to meet the California Air Resources Board Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standard and would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25%. The tank technology has been developed by the US Department of Energy Office of Advanced Automotive Technol-

8

REINFORCEDplastics

ogy, DaimlerChrysler, Siemens Automotive and Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. The storage system consists of filament wound pressure cylinders, in which the gas is stored at 240 bar, encapsulated in impact-absorbing foam within a reinforced plastic shell. The cylinders have a gasimpermeable high density polyurethane (HDPE) liner which is wrapped with a mix of high strength carbon and glass fibres wound with epoxy resin. The outer container combined with the foam is designed to absorb impacts and provide protection from environmental damage. The system can be made flat, in

February

1999