TPT January 2025

allowing them to be laid out fast and easily in different layouts. They can also be connected to pumps or other pipeline assets. Either way, no hot work such as welding or butt fusion is required for installation. In addition to this quick connection system the overall number of necessary joints for the pipeline infrastructure was reduced since fewer joints mean less weak points. “We therefore provide installation lengths of 3,300ft (1,000m) and more to reduce the number of necessary joints, especially when compared to HDPE pipe, thus making this solution particularly safe to use and operate,” explained Mr Manzke. Fully reusable pipe system When developing the design, great care was taken to keep operating costs as low as possible. This cost advantage of Primus Line ® Overland Piping results, in addition to the less complex laying, from its low storage requirements and reusability. Storage demand can be kept low because, depending on the diameter, up to 13,120ft (4,000m) of the flexible pipe can fit on one transport reel. In comparison, storing HDPE pipe requires up to ten times more space. “The reusability of Primus Line ® Overland Piping makes it not only a cost-effective solution, but also an environmentally friendly one since far less machinery is required during installation and transport. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint on site and allows installation through bushland, nature parks or waterways without damaging the environment,” Mr Manzke concluded. Rädlinger primus line GmbH Founded in 2001, Rädlinger primus line GmbH currently has around 100 employees at its headquarters and production site in Germany and branches in the USA, Canada, China and Australia, as well as a large, international and specially trained partner network. The core of the Primus Line ® technology is a flexible pipe consisting of a fabric-reinforced liner and specially developed connectors. Suitable for the transport of water and oil & gas, it has the necessary approvals from many countries around the world and meets the highest standards for use in the drinking water sector. Today, Primus Line ® is used worldwide as a safe, reliable and sustainable solution in the trenchless rehabilitation of pressurised pipelines (Primus Line ® Rehab) and in the construction of freely layable pipelines (Primus Line ® Overland Piping). To ensure the functionality of the pipe system under the most extreme conditions Rädlinger primus line GmbH sets high standards: the production process itself is subject to constant quality control using optoelectronic measuring devices. These record all process parameters and allow a continuous control of the consistency and wall thickness of each layer of the pipe. In addition, each production charge is given a batch ID for unambiguous traceability and undergoes a burst pressure test that reliably confirms the maximum operating pressure.

Installation lengths from 3,300ft are possible

The third and inner layer offers strong chemical resistance that even withstands contact with highly corrosive hydrocarbon compounds. “This design differentiates the solution from other systems resulting in a generally longer service life and ensuring a successful operation without leakage and environmental damage,” explained Mr Manzke. The choice of aramid as a core material was no coincidence: its strength is ten times higher than that of steel and twice that of glass fibre or nylon. The aramid fabric therefore makes Primus Line ® flexible and, in combination with the TPU layers, safe at the same time. “Based on the standard API 15LF, the burst pressure is at least two and a half times higher than the permissible operating pressure,” Mr Manzke added. In addition, this fabric gives the pipes an extremely high tensile strength that allows for a complete stand-alone absorption of even very high operating pressures. Easy installation One of its main advantages is the ease of installation, which does not require heavy equipment or high manpower. “The construction of 3.7 miles (6km) of pipeline only takes about one to two days with a crew of three to four people. In comparison, it takes about 25 to 30 days to lay the same distance with a crew of four to six people using HDPE pipes,” Mr Manzke said. The situation is similar when it comes to removing the pipeline. This time saving is made possible, among other things, by coiling them flat on special transport reels that are delivered to the customer. Once on site, installation requires only a mini-excavator or winch and

basic hand tools. This approach can minimise both logistical costs and the environmental impact associated with transportation. “Since no heavy trucks are needed to transport liquids, Primus Line ® Overland Piping actively contributes to minimising CO 2 emissions,” Mr Manzke added. However, flexibility does not only refer to the material of the pipes. Specially developed high pressure end fittings with flanges or quick couplers compatible with Victaulic notch are used to link various flexible pipelines,

Rädlinger primus line GmbH info@primusline.com www.primusline.com

The liner is simply uncoiled and recoiled flat on transport reels

52

TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL January 2025

www.read-tpi.com