Pipelines can be improved by the use of strong, highly resistant alloys such as Super Duplex, but even so the cost of system breakdown remains quite high. So what are the causes of pipeline failures?
The most common cause of accident and failure is damage from outside forces, with corrosion coming a close second. This means the two biggest areas of concern i.e. corrosion and stress resistance, must be addressed together. This is why Duplex alloys are so superior – they do this job admirably. By combining the attributes of ferrous and arsenate compounds within the same metal, they convey the benefits of both.
This lengthens the life of flanges, and therefore of pipelines, but doesn’t solve the problem completely. The earth’s climate is becoming ever more unstable- with floods, high winds and temperature variations all playing their part. On top of this you have earth movements via earthquakes and heavy vehicular traffic, fire, explosion damage by a third party (like terrorists) and excavation damage.
The latter is a particular problem. Records show that, when it comes to damage to gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, a major amount of damage is caused by an accidental “hit” directly on the line by excavators working nearby.
This kind of problem looks set to stay, unfortunately. However, it’s not all bad news. Replacement of a fractured pipe or component gives you the opportunity to upgrade pipe fittings and other components at low cost. We at Chemipetro have high quality industrial pipe flanges and fittings in the very latest, impact and corrosion resistant alloys.