HI-TECH PIPES FOR HI-TECH SOLUTIONS
When we talk about large diameter pipes (> DN 1000), usually we think about “Obsolete” stone materials or fiberglass that in the past dominated the design scene of large infrastructure works.
Because of this belief , for many aspects and applications, these types of materials are still appreciated, but with the technological contribution from plastics, we can face new design challenges with large diameter pipes of the latest generation. Those combine high structural performance with high sealing performance, especially for complex infrastructure works.
For several years now, the HDPE Spiral pipe has become more and more popular on the design scene.
The most interesting case is certainly represented by the works of the hydraulic risk of Leonardo da Vinci Airport – Rome-Fiumicino which required the laying of 7,000 m of pipes between DN 1400 and DN 2000.
In the airport context, there are objective difficulties to design the work at a structural level (in this specific case there was also a high presence of groundwater even at surface levels), there are also economic difficulties. Those are represented by the need of the airport operator to reduce as much as possible the time required for tracks construction.
Especially when we talk about an international airport like Rome, this is a fundamental aspect of a strategic importance, because losing only a few hours of takeoffs or landings, means on one hand, compromising turnover, and on the other, the weaking reputation in the eyes of users of the airport.
Considering these multiple factors, the final decision focused on the DN 2000 Polyethylene Type (SGK) Spiral Pipes by CENTRALTUBI Spa for the following reasons:
SEALING SYSTEM
The particular sealing system with electro-welded gasket, was one of the crucial elements for the design choice. This is because with the polyfusion of the welding process, there are no points of potential hydraulic leakage or infiltration in the presence of groundwater.
CUSTOM DESIGN OF THE STRUCTURE WALL
The “Spiral” production technique allows to design the profile, the wall thickness and the ring stiffness of the pipe according to the type of application.
In this specific case, since the pipeline does not have to actively participate to the static resistance in the very high load areas, it was wrapped by a tailor-made designed reinforced concrete box. In this case it was possible to use a minimum ring stiffness of the PE pipe equal to SN 2 KN/m, which brings evident savings.
SPEED OF INSTALLATION
Thanks to the high lightness and flexibility of the SGK pipes, welds has been taken outside the excavation optimizing time and laying pre-assembled long bars inside the reinforcement. This was possible thanks to the monolithic property that the welding gave to the entire collector, which allowed them to move around 48mt trunks at a time.
This installation technique has significantly reduced the construction time required to cross the surface of the building.
On runway 1, 4 parallel bars of DN2000 were used, in order to minimize the impact on the ordinary operation of the port.
The versatility of this type of pipe also allows its use as a storage tank in several versions, for water treatment or lamination, in case of problems related to hydraulic inactivity.
But this is another chapter that we will have the opportunity to discuss in the near future.
For further information, please contact our technical area directly:
SYSTEM GROUP CONSULTING
Centraltubi S.p.A.
Via Foglia 11 – 61026 LUNANO (PU) – ITALIA
Tel. 0722/70011
This post is also available in: Italian
