WET News

TECHKNOW • Tube Tech has developed remote control systems and robotics for fouling removal • Polymer infused ultra-high pressure water created more impact against the concrete blockages and removed it quicker • A biodegradable chemical helped soften the set concrete NEED TO KNOW 1 Initial attempts to remove the concrete proved too slow 2 There were no drawings of the pipe network available 3 Four different technologies were required to achieve full removal of the concrete obstruction THE VERDICT "…this one threw several challenges at us that even we had not met before. It was the skill and tenacity of our crew that made this operation successful with very little damage to the pipes in question" Mike Watson, Tube Tech DECEMBER 2016 WET NEWS 15 WASTEWATER 2017 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION INFRASTRUCTURE | NETWORKS | TREATMENT | INNOVATION 31 JANUARY | BIRMINGHAM The only event with all WASCs represented A showcase of wastewater innovation, case studies and thought-leadership. Choose your focus: sponsored BY sUpporTed BY WasteWater Infrastructure & netWorks conference WasteWater treatment conference David Black Ofwat nevil muncaster Yorkshire Water steve Wilson Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water mark Worsfold South West Water nick mills Thames Water kate Zabatis United Utilities Luke de Vial Wessex Water Peter Vale Severn Trent Water eXperT speAKers InCLUde: eXperT speAKers InCLUde: ● Prepare your business for AMP7 and long-term investment priorities ● Build resilience to flooding and optimise existing wastewater assets ● Align investment decisions with Water 2020 and the evolving competitive landscape ● Implement innovative strategies to drive efficiencies in treatment works Book noW events.wwtonline.co.uk/ wastewater WWTwastewater17-HPHad.indd 1 22/11/2016 12:05 Facing a blower breakdown? Relax. We can have a value-added replacement on its way in 36 hours. Cut your energy bills by up to 50%. Reduce your plant's noise emissions. And best of all the turbocompressor HST will not wear mechanically. So it will provide trouble-free operation for years to come. Order now and you can have a replacement compressor on its way in 36 hours; start saving up to 50% energy. Visit sulzer.com/36hours. * Applicable for selected versions of turbocompressor type ABS HST20 and HST 2500, which are ready to be dispatched from our factory in less than 36 hours (on weekdays). A blower or compressor breakdown puts your wastewater treatment plant's operation at risk. Now, with our fast-track pro- cess, when you order today we can ship you a turbocompres- sor to replace your failed unit within 36 hours*. Available in sizes suitable for most treatment plants, the turbo- compressor HST will save your process, and save you signifi- cant amounts of energy. But why wait for your blower or compressor to fail? Replace your old machine with a brand new turbocompressor HST and start reaping benefits today. could be used to soen the set concrete in advance of any cleaning operation. This, alongside the use of various mechanical tooling and high pressure jetting, meant the use of four different technologies was required to achieve full removal of the concrete obstruction in the drainage pipe. The success of the fouling removal operation was eventually complete in just five working days. One of the more important aspects of the site work, as well as completing clearing of the concrete obstruction, was limiting any potential damage to the pipeline material. As with any situation where the obstructing material is harder than that from which the pipe is made, there is always the potential for damage to be incurred by the pipe fabric. This was the case on the recent project. Pipeline inspection When interchanging the various mechanical and jetting heads to remove the concrete from the pipe, Tube Tech's equipment occasionally became stuck in the pipe aer passing over the obstruction into clear pipe or as sections of concrete broke away from the main body of the obstruction. This meant that operations to remove the devices or jetting heads and even some of the ultra-high pressure water operations caused some minor damage to the inner surface of the pipe. As the concrete removal operation ended Tube Tech undertook a full pipeline inspection to highlight where any damage had occurred during the works. In the end, only 5% of the pipeline showed any damage, far less than might be expected of such a difficult cleaning operation. The extent of the damage that did occur within the pipe was considered minor leading the client to accept the outcome of the works completed and was subsequently more than happy to have the concrete cleared. Any sections that were damaged could be re-sleeved and remain in service into the future. However, due to time constraints on other affected parts of the construction project, some sections of pipe that were blocked by concrete were required to be bypassed by the installation of new pipe lengths Commenting on the concrete clearing operation, Tube Tech managing director Mike Watson says: "We have been concrete clearing on projects of this nature for many years although it is not usually the main thrust of our operations. But this one threw several challenges at us that even we had not met before. Working together and pooling the experience of our crew and technical team we were able to come up with a methodology that ultimately enabled us to complete the job to the full satisfaction of the client. On site, it was the skill and tenacity of our crew that made this operation successful with very little damage to the pipes in question. The whole team should be very proud of the work it completed." Cleaning equipment in one of the manholes

• Cover