Efficient water and sewage management is a key need for effective urban development and smart city management.
Distribution network in many areas is very old leading to high physical losses mainly arising from corrosion thereby posing a challenge in providing uninterrupted water supply.
An establishment of equitable water management is required in the developing areas to identify and minimize water losses and promote sustainable development. GFRP pipes with their unique benefits listed below are a good solution to the government's initiatives in Smart Cities for access to citizens of 24*7 water supply.
A Smart Solution:
GFRP pipes have been serving successfully primarily for water and sewage applications across India and globally. The potential to incorporate smart IOT based accessories like smart flow meters supporting to identify pilferage complements well with the below enlisted inherent benefits of GFRP pipes.
- CORROSION RESISTANCE: A key advantage of GFRP pipes is that compared to conventional metal pipes, these pipes are non corrosive. This helps to eliminate the need of additional lining materials and surface protection coatings.
- LIGHT WEIGHT: Typically, GFRP Pipe weight is 10% of comparable concrete pipe and 25% of comparable steel pipe(1)
- COST EFFECTIVE: Generally, GFRP Pipes over life cycle and installed cost are cost effective. Typically, pipes in higher diameters (e.g. header pipes and cross country transportation pipes) are competitive in costs compared with conventional materials like Ductile Iron (DI), Concrete and HDPE.
- DURABILITY: GFRP pipes contribute to good service life. Coupled with low maintenance requirements, the longevity is a benefit when used in critical applications. After a half-century of use, many well-designed composite structures have yet to wear out.GFRP material is typically light weight compared to pipe making materials. It also provides long term resistance to severe chemical and temperature environments. Composites are the material choice for outdoor exposure, chemical handling and severe environment service
- HYDRAULIC EFFICIENCY: A key advantage of GFRP pipes is less frictional losses, since C value for the design does not deteriorate over time.
- VERSATILITY: In use for over ground and underground applications.
- SEVERAL JOINING MECHANISMS AVAILABLE: A few of them are enlisted below:
Coupling with Elastomeric Gaskets
Bell & Spigot Type with O ring sealing
Butt & Wrap Lamination Type
Flange End Type
Key Applications:
- Chemical / industry fluid transport
Typical Variants / Technical specifications
- Complies with major ISO and BIS Standards.
- Typically available from 25 mm to 4000 mm diameter
- Available to withstand pressure : 1 bar to 32 bar
- Major Design Standards (As Applicable) 2.: AWWA M45, BS 6464, BS 7159, ASTMD 3982, IS0 14692, API 15LR, ASMEB 31.3, DIN 16965 & 16966, AS 2634
- Fabrication Options available from all major resins (vinyl ester, polyester, epoxy)
- Stiffness Class available in AWWA and ISO Codes: 62, 124, 248, 496 Kpa (A,B,C & D ) & 630,1250,2500,5000,10000 N/m2 respectively2
GFRP BASED PROJECTS:
Several installations in India have been completed so far. Few of those include:
- M/S NTPC: Cross country pipelines by M/S L&T, M/S Jindal, M/S Zuberi
- M/S Tata Power Ltd:FRP Pipes by M/S Thyssen Krupp, Fire Hydrant Pipes for M/S Minimax India & M/S F. L. Smith respectively(2).
- Several renowned municipalities (e.g. BMC, Amreli, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and several others)(2)
- Government Departments / Water Boards
References:
(1) Technical bulletin of IFS
(2) M/S EPP Composites Pvt Ltd
Image courtesy: Future Pipe Industries_EP application. Image used in this article is for illustration purpose.
