Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_WWU_029 | |
| Title | Rapid Steel Pipe Cutter | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 75%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 25%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Wales and West Utilities |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 December 2015 | |
| End Date | 01 October 2016 | |
| Duration | 10 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £73,333 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Technical Consultancy | |
| Region | Wales | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_WWU_029 |
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| Objectives | The objective of the project is to develop a tool that is able to cut a window in steel mains up to a thickness of 9mm. The tool must be: ; A simple tool that can be used effectively by trained staff and not require a specific licence to operate; ; A safe non-sparking technique;; A compact tool suitable for small, shallow excavations; and; Cost effective and able to move to commercial production The tool will be developed to deliver benefits such as cost savings when compared to current available techniques for replacement of steel mains, customer benefits through quicker, faster replacement of mains and environmental benefits with less digging up and wastage when this tool is used. To produce a hand held window cutting tool that has been tested in the field and that is at a stage to be transferred to business as usual for all networks advantage. | |
| Abstract | Wales & West Utilities (we/our) replace approximately 90% of their network with mains insertion techniques. By using this technique, we are able to replace old metal gas pipes faster, reducing the time our customers are off gas and helping to reduce travel disruption from roadworks. After the new main is inserted and laid we need to transfer our customer’s individual services from the old pipe to the new one. This requires us to expose and access the newly inserted plastic pipe. Tooling is available for us to expose and access the new pipe in cast iron and ductile iron pipelines however we do not have an approved tool for cutting a window that allows a connection, in steel pipes. Our stakeholders have told us that works that are completed as quickly as possible with the minimum of disruption are important to them, they particularly value our adoption of techniques to replace the gas main that allows us to limit the number and impact of holes we have to dig. The absence of a tool for cutting steel therefore reduces the ability to meet these stakeholder needs in steel replacement works. The replacement of steel pipelines using equipment currently available creates operational inefficiencies such as: ; Increased time taken to replace our old metal gas pipes;; Require larger/deeper excavations; and; Increased cost of delivery compared to the replacement of cast iron pipes where the main insertion technique can be usedTherefore, we have identified a need to develop a tool to effectively cut steel mains up to a thickness of 9mm. The project will be delivered through the Methods of development and demonstration. Stage 1 - Transfer Knowledge (Development)The completed project, NIA_WWU_013, developed a cutter for ductile iron mains. The first stage therefore is to establish the elements of this work which can be transferred in developing a tool suitable for steel cutting. Stage 2 - Prototype design (Development)Together with the elements transferred from NIA_WWU_013, a prototype cutter will be produced for undertaking trials in a controlled environment within a workshop environment (thus mitigating risk to the customer). Where weaknesses in design are identified the prototype will be modified accordingly. Stage 3 - Field Trials (Demonstration)Once proven in the controlled environment, the prototype will be used for a minimum of 10 field trials within our Network area.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 09/10/18 | |
