TPi November 2021

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

November 2021

Tackle corrosion. With Super Duplex tubes. NORSOK approved Super Duplex tubes deliver greater corrosion resistance than standard Duplex grades which allows for lighter tube thicknesses without compromising on performance and quality. • Engineered for hostile high chloride environments • NORSOK-approved

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• Made to order in specialist non-standard sizes • Superior strength and corrosion resistance • Short lead times, small batch sizes

Contact: sales.finetubes@ametek.com

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Business & market news

Super duplex tubing from Fine Tubes now available with enhanced strength

Smaller batch capabilities ensure flexibility in the range of volumes we can produce. The ability to manufacture super duplex in non-standard sizes also enables us to meet the very precise requirements of our customers.” Hostile working environ- ments require optimum operating efficiency, excellent strength and corrosion resistant prop- erties and complete product reliability. Super duplex from Fine Tubes is ideal for use across multiple critical applica-

Fine Tubes has announced that specialist metal tubing product, super duplex, is now available. Demonstrated capabilities include high strength and corrosion resistance for demanding applications. The tubing is NORSOK M-650 approved and made to order in specialist non- standard sizes for bespoke orders in the oil and gas and chemical process sectors. This enables it to meet very precise customer specifications, as well as offer high-quality, extremely reliable product performance. The super duplex tubing can be produced with very short lead times and in small batch sizes for optimum versatility. It is available in straight lengths that can be seamless cold redrawn and annealed to suit customer specifications. Typical tubing sizes range from 3mm to 31mm outer diameter in seamless form. Nick Head, tube product manager at Fine Tubes, said: “We have a proven track record of supplying key tubing products like super duplex that meet the strict requirements of the oil & gas and chemical process sectors. PAO Severstal has completed a delivery of large-diameter pipes to Brazil for the first time. The products will be used for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project abroad, the construction of Barcarena LNG. The LDPs have a diameter of 508mm, wall thickness of 12.7mm and length of 11.5 to 11.8m. They were manufactured according to the API 5L PSL2 steel standard of strength category X65M at the Izhorsky Pipe Plant (ITZ, part of Severstal’s Russian Steel division), located at the company’s production site in the Kolpinsky district of St. Petersburg. This order contained additional requirements for offshore

Super duplex tubes meet the requirements of the oil & gas and chemical process sectors

tions in the oil & gas and chemical pro- cess sectors. These applications include heat exchangers, flow meters, down- hole pressure housings and smart wells, subsea Xmas trees and manifolds, injec- tion and ballast water, and other critical subsea, downhole and offshore oil & gas instrumentation. Operating out of Plymouth in the UK, Fine Tubes manufactures precision metal tubing products in a range of specialist alloys at its highly integrated tubing mill. As well as the chemical process and oil & gas and industrial sectors, tubes produced by Fine Tubes are used in numerous critical applications across many global sectors, including energy, medical, aerospace and defence. Fine Tubes www.finetubes.co.uk Severstal makes first delivery of large-diameter pipes to Brazil for use in liquefied natural gas project

in good stead to build strong, long- term relationships with our international customer base.” For pipe production, Severstal uses its own rolled metal produced at Mill 5000 at the company’s sheet rolling shop located on the same industrial site as ITZ, in the Kolpinsky district of St. Petersburg. Access to its own raw material base, steel making and rolling production facilities allows Severstal to have full control over product quality at each stage of production and offers flexibility in meeting customer requests. PAO Severstal www.severstal.com

pipelines, which the plant completed successfully. The order was shipped from the port of St. Petersburg to the Brazilian port of Vila do Conde. Maxim Starikov, deputy sales director for the energy sector (Export Markets) at Severstal, commented: “Our customer base is expanding, and Izhora Pipe Plant already has experience supplying large-diameter pipes to South America. Severstal’s vertically integrated structure allows us to quickly meet a customer’s orders, and with the Izhora Pipe Plant located so close to the port of St Petersburg, we are easily able to deliver our products all over the world. These competitive advantages set us

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Business & market news

Disruption-free repairs with pipe freezing plug Huntingdon Fusion Techniques has announced a new product from its Pipestoppers ® division to reduce pipe and valve repair and maintenance costs.

connected to a dewar of liquid nitrogen. Within 50 minutes a solid ice plug had been formed, blocking the flow from the cylinder to enable the pipe section to be cut out and replaced. Following the repair work, the ice plug defrosted naturally, and the flow continued in the system. Minimum disruption, no system drains down, no air locks and an extremely quick process.” The ice plug only forms beneath the Accu-Freeze coil wrap, jacket or aluminium clam jacket. The system is effective on ½ to 12" (150 to 300mm) pipe or tube with specials available for larger diameters. The ice plug does not expand outside of the range of the jacket or coil. The LN 2 injections are automated, which reduces the operators’ workload and the amount of LN 2 consumed, keeping operating costs low. Accu-Freeze™ can also be operated remotely, which makes it ideal for use inside ‘hot’ nuclear areas where personal exposure must be kept below certain limits. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques www.huntingdonfusion.com

Accu-Freeze™ works by reducing the pipe fluid to a temperature below its freezing point and developing a freeze plug. This controlled method of pipe freezing uses liquid nitrogen to freeze stationary liquids in a section of pipe or tubing. The nitrogen is passed through a coil surrounding the pipe producing a frozen plug inside and hence preventing flow through the part to be removed. Luke Keane, technical support at HFT, said: “We carried out an installation of an Accu-Freeze System for a client who was contracted to repair pipework in large blocks of apartments. Working in the plant room, access was pretty tight as the pipes were only 6 to 8" from the ground. At one end of the pipe there was a pressure gauge and at the other, a 1,000-litre hot water cylinder. Ambient temperature in the pipe was approximately 38ºC.” “We used a copper coil on the 2" carbon steel pipe and had to wrap it about 10" along the pipe length, wound tight. We then performed a freeze using the Accu-Freeze System

Accu-Freeze™ works by reducing the pipe fluid to a temperature below its freezing point and developing a freeze plug

Valve World Expo 2022 receives positive support from the industry Since March 2021, registrations for the twelfth international valve trade fair and conference, Valve World Expo, have been underway in Düsseldorf, Germany. From 29 November to 1 December, 2022, many key players in the industry, as well as medium-sized companies, will showcase innovative valves and fittings at the event – from gigantic ball valves for use in the oil & gas industry to tiny, delicate valves used in microbiology or medical technology. They all have one thing in common – they regulate flow rates, separate different media from each other or stop liquid and gas spills. As a result, they play an indispensable role in almost every branch of industry. “The fact that many industry players have already committed to this leading Düsseldorf trade fair at this early stage is both an incentive and motivation for us to be able to successfully stage Valve World Expo 2022,” said Daniel Ryfisch, project director wire, tube and flow technologies at Messe Düsseldorf. Around one and a half years before the start of the trade fair, 170 companies from 21 countries have already registered.

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Valve World Expo 2022 www.valveworldexpo.com

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Business & market news

Express Engineering to work on carbon capture project UK-based oil & gas subsea equipment specialists Express Engineering has been specified for an initiative that has been designed to improve the decarbonisation of industrial emissions and ease the removal of harmful gases from the environment.

as Quickflange™ weldless connectors, for all its UKCS assets. Scott Byers, Technowrap key account manager at ICR, said: “This renewal win, especially with the addition of Quickflange™, demonstrates the relationship we have with Shell as well the internationally recognised quality of the products and services we offer. Both Technowrap and Quickflange™ are industry approved and qualified to several type standards and are proven in improving pipeline integrity and flow assurance, which is imperative to Shell.” ICR operates in global locations with operational bases in the UK, Norway, Abu Dhabi, USA and Australia as well as partners in over 25 countries worldwide. Technowrap www.icr-world.com being shipped to Aker Solutions’ plant in Curitiba, Brazil, where they will be installed on to the master valve block on a new sub-sea tree that will control the pipeline. When initial trials start in 2022, the actuators will form an integral part of the flow control system when injecting the CO 2 in to a redundant well – the subsea system has been specifically adapted to reverse the flow to lock in carbon gases below the sea floor rather than operate in their usual role supporting the extraction of oil & gas. Equinor, Shell and Total are all investors in Northern Lights, which is Norway’s first licenced operator for CO 2 storage on the Northern Continental Shelf and a major part of the Norwegian government’s ‘Longship’ carbon capture initiative. The project is part of Express Engineering’s move to position itself further in developing cost effective solutions for the global energy transition sector. Gary Thirlwell, managing director, said: “We are working in partnership with our customers to harness our subsea engineering capabilities on projects such as this one, where we can provide rapid turnaround solutions to help meet the

The development, which is backed by the Norwegian government, sees Express Engineering participating in a long-term environmental project that will allow liquefied CO 2 to be transported by undersea pipeline to a subsea storage facility located in the North Sea. Involving carbon storage specialists Northern Lights and carbon capture technology firm Aker Carbon Capture, the project is due to become fully operational in 2024 and will allow industrial sites in Norway and companies across Europe to capture and store their carbon emissions safely and permanently deep under the seabed off the Norwegian coast. Express Engineering, which recently opened a new 48,000ft 2 purpose-built test and assembly centre in Gateshead in the Northeast of England, is supplying subsea actuators, which are

many tough environmental challenges that we all face. “It’s great to be involved in the Northern Lights initiative, where we are utilising our capabilities and actuator technology. It takes Express Engineering further into the exciting carbon capture arena, allowing us to invest in securing a cleaner environment while opening up new green opportunities for our technologies in the global market for advanced engineering solutions.” Express Engineering www.express-engineering.co.uk Express Engineering’s actuators have been specified for a new subsea carbon capture initiative

ICR Integrity secures significant Technowrap and Quickflange contract with Shell UK

ICR Integrity, an industrial maintenance and integrity company, which provides solutions for the oil & gas, power generation, defence, utilities and renewables industries, has been awarded a three-year contract with Shell UK, with extension options, for the provision of Technowrap™ engineered composite repairs, as well

An ICR technician performing a permanent repair using Technowrap engineered composite solution

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Business & market news

BPF Pipes Group publishes guidance on choosing and installing plastic inspection chambers for sewers

There are significant benefits to be gained from using inspection chambers to access drains and sewers for cleaning, testing, inspection and maintenance. Prioritising the safety of the public and personnel working on the drain or sewer is paramount. With advancements in sewer inspection technology, including more compact cameras and inspection units, there is an ever-decreasing need for manholes to be installed. Above-ground working is now the default, with below-ground working and access to manholes limited to specific situations. In Water UK/OFWAT’s Code for Adoption, Annex C Design and Construction Guidance (Version 2.1 May 2021), inspection chambers are recommended for many points of access to the public sewerage network.

New guidance from the BPF Pipes Group on inspection chambers / Inspection chambers are a safe way for inspection and maintenance of drains and sewers to be carried out

Richard Eddy, chairman of the BPF Pipes Group Working Group on

is easily accessible to developers and designers. It has published a new guide that summarises where, what and how many access points are required for the construction of drains and sewers across all parts of the UK. In its guidance ‘Selection and installation of plastic inspection chambers for underground drain and sewer systems,’ the BPF Pipes Group emphasises the importance of product choice and correct specification for operational efficiency and asset longevity. BPF Pipes Group www.bpfpipesgroup.com

drains and sewers, recommends the publication to specifiers and installers. He said: “Our new guidance looks at the different aspects that should be considered when selecting access points and installing plastic inspection chambers and accompanying covers and frames. Correct specification ensures products are suitable for their intended application or loading situation, while facilitating ease of installation and a long service life.” The BPF Pipes Group is strongly committed to the provision of clear and consistent technical information, which

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The stop-start nature of economic and social activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic has affected oil prices and severely impacted the oil & gas industry. Several short-term projects have been cancelled or post- poned as operators look to minimise spending on uneco- nomic short-term ventures and focus on the long term. This has had a significant impact on the line pipe steel manufacturing industry supply chain. business intelligence company Rystad Energy has estimated global demand for oil country tubular goods (OCTG) will bottom out this year before edging up again in 2022. Despite the current chal- lenges, line pipe supply chain companies can maximise the present to prepare for a return to increased activity in future. Research and

Making the most of today to improve tomorrow in line pipe steel manufacture By Barry Rust, marketing manager energy & sustainability, Tata Steel

Incremental improvements Driving improvements, particularly in existing products, has been a key focus. This can vary from basic housekeeping to utilising mill time for trial works to support a better understandingof product capabilities or to extendperformance envelopes. For example, there is significant demand for thicker wall pipes for particular applications in mature markets such as the North Sea. However, the complete through supply chain assessment of capability, undertaking the trials in a socially distanced environment and optimising the manufacturing process to deliver a tight tolerance HFI welded solution in a pipe thicknesses 10 per cent greater than in the past – and then repeating this for a range of line pipe steel grades – is not a simple task. Despite these challenges, Tata Steel recently managed to manufacture and launch a high frequency induction (HFI) line pipe with an increased wall thickness for onshore applications and hollows for structural application. An offshore version of the line pipe is due to be launched later this year. An integrated supply chain One of the advantages of an integrated supply chain is the ability to mobilise and run trials quickly through complete steel, coil and pipe making operations. This allows the acceleration of product development.

Small-scale steel making capabilities (for example quantities as low as 10kg) enable fast and finely tuned alterations to the steel composition to achieve the required properties before quickly increasing to commercial scale through the use of integrated facilities. An increased focus on efficiency and whole life cost supports the use of HFI pipe over seamless, where possible. In the construction of the line pipe, for example, HFI’s improved fit up capabilities can lead to a faster and more efficient welding process with a resultant reduction in expenditure. For offshore applications, where the costs can be significantly higher than onshore, such benefits are extremely important. Superior tolerances allow for the purchase of thinner wall HFI welded solutions, compared to seamless, while still meeting minimum design thicknesses. This can provide both material and cost saving advantages for HFI against seamless pipe, which can be further enhanced by effective supply chain collaboration. New product development Another area of focus has been on developing new products, ensuring they are ‘future ready’ for whatever the industry’s long-term requirements might be. Such activity would include the increasing demands for lower temperature applications, the provision of sour service pipelines and an increase in the toughness of line pipe.

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temperature. The physical pressure generated on the material by rolling the coil from a thicker bar also increases toughness. However, waiting for the coil to cool takes time and, in the high cost environment of a steel or coil mill, that can represent a significant expense. Tata Steel’s transfer bar cooling facility cools the bar as it is transferred to the finishing mill. This allows the company to finish at the lower temperature and from an increased thickness to significantly improve body toughness in the final product. The continued commitment to through supply chain quality is critical, and ‘right first time’ has never been more important than in the current environment. Again, an integrated steel route can allow lessons in greater efficiency to be learned and shared to drive improvements and ensure ‘right first time’ is consistently achieved. Greater digitalisation and collaboration Increased digitalisation is another area that can improve the line pipe supply chain. One aspect of this is in the adoption of existing processes already used in other industry verticals. For example Tata Steel has been developing a tag and track system, supported by a cloud-based database, to locate products in its construction portfolio. Companies in the oil & gas industry are increasingly looking to adopt digital systems such as this to increase supply chain efficiency. The digital arena is another area where greater supply chain collaboration will be important. This will hopefully lead to a streamlining of solutions and avoid an excess of (expensive) system developments, which are unable to communicate with each other. As part of the enhanced digitalisation drive, Tata Steel has extended the number of laser end measurement devices into its finishing lines. The devices provide full geometry of the end of pipe to support lay contractors or fabricators and are particularly useful where enhanced requirements are required. Data from each system can be run through algorithms to help end match the pipes. It can also be used to understand incoming pipe geometry and the implications on efficiency and offshore welding times. Traditionally such data would be sent by the pipe manufacturer to the construction contractor, who would either process it in a given format or send it ‘as is’ to the welding contractor to establish a schedule. However, laser end measurement and associated algorithms mean pipe manufacturers can now feed the processed data live to the contractor, enabling offshore scheduling to be determined, pipe-by-pipe, and ending as

Some of these demands are driven by technical requirements, such as the decision to develop a sour hydrocarbon field, which had previously been put on hold, as other ‘easier’ hydrocarbons in the operator’s portfolio were possible to develop. It is important to support this portfolio rebalance and develop steels that can operate optimally in such conditions. Tata Steel is developing HFI products to replace seamless pipes initially for mild sour service but potentially also for full sour service, and the business decision has been well received by customers. Changing market/societal requirements and the energy transition are at the forefront of the key drivers for modern industry. It is therefore important for companies to develop products and services that can enable greater industrial decarbonisation, such as carbon capture infrastructure and the development of hydrogen networks. Another key demand driver is industry conservatism, which has been exacerbated due to the oil price and a resulting desire by operators to reduce their risk profile. This approach to acceptable risk profile (or conservatism) can be seen in the increased demand for additional, and not always essential, specification requirements. For example, for fields where there is a possibility of water ingress that may, in turn, lead to a sour reservoir, some operators are reducing the risk profile of their project by simply specifying sour service steels. A key to ensuring that the industry is not becoming inefficient is dialogue and technical exchange to ensure that specifications are being driven by valid technical requirements. Tougher, stronger, colder For lower temperature steels, a main consideration is welding excellence. Ensuring the optimum steel is key, but a considerable time has been spent on the welding process itself, particularly in enhancing edge preparation, the geometry of the weld and optimising weld heat treatment. Various big data techniques are used to drive capability through the analysis of thousands of parameters in steel, coil and pipe manufacture. This work has delivered significant increases in low temperature toughness in the weldline – a key requirement, particularly in higher-pressure pipelines. Another example of the benefits of an agile and integrated supply chain was Tata Steel’s investment in cooling equipment at its coil mill to provide a significant benefit to its pipe mill output. The cooling aspect is extremely important in generating body material toughness. It is possible to ‘roll in’ that toughness if the coil is rolled through the final finishing at a lower

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CO 2 reduction of more than 50 per cent and represents an important stage in Tata Steel’s carbon reduction ambitions in advance of scalable hydrogen-based steel production in the long term. Conclusion Steel and line pipe manufacturers are working hard to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the industry. We continue to invest, to drive ourselves technically and to expand capabilities. The short term will be difficult; an efficient and effective supply chain will be essential and the only way to achieve that will be through dialogue and collaboration. Whether the challenge is lower temperature toughness, sour service steels or sustainable steelmaking, the line pipe sector has used the current period to drive development in a range of solutions. References [1] https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/covid-19- and-oil-price-war-could-derail-two-thirds-of-the-worlds-oil-and-gas-project- sanctioning-in-2020/ [2] https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/covid-19- and-oil-price-war-could-derail-two-thirds-of-the-worlds-oil-and-gas-project- sanctioning-in-2020/ [3] EIB lending policy extract

soon as the last pipe is manufactured. This instant connection between both ends of the supply chain is a ‘leap area’, which is likely to become more developed in the coming years.

Sustainable steel production Debates on the future of our planet will only become ever more important for the oil & gas industry in the transition period to clean energy. As an example, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced last year that it would phase out support for energy projects related to unabated fossil fuels, including traditional gas infrastructure [3] . If we are to produce oil & gas pipelines which will assist in the transition to a low carbon economy, we need to ensure that we minimise their environmental impact. Tata Steel’s ambition is to become a carbon neutral producer of steel to the oil & gas industry from 2050 with up to a 40 per cent carbon reduction by 2030. The company is already one of the world’s most CO 2 -efficient steel companies. During the last 30 years it has reduced its CO 2 emissions per tonne by about 15 per cent but its ambition is to continuously improve its production processes and efficiencies. Tata Steel believes a portfolio of solutions including carbon capture and storage and usage, hydrogen converted from renewable energy and increasingly circular economic propositions are all key enablers to achieving its carbon neutral ambition. HIsarna, the company’s bespoke process for lower carbon steel making, has exceeded expectations in sustainable steel production. It provides the possibility of achieving a

Tata Steel – UK www.tatasteeleurope.com

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Selecting the right hydraulic tube-fitting system for marine applications By Gabriella Paranyi, EMEA marketing communication manager, Danfoss Power Solutions When it comes to specifying a hydraulic piping connection system for marine applications there are a number of critical factors to keep in mind. Firstly, the system must carry approval in accordance with the relevant agency specification. Only then can a design engineer begin to scrutinise system capabilities such as reliable, leak-free performance. There is also the issue of the corrosive marine environment, which demands a tubing connection system – and fittings – manufactured from stainless steel. For these reasons, the WALFORMplus ® tube connector system, from Danfoss Power Solutions, is proving increasingly popular across the industry as it answers many of the questions posed by design engineers seeking an optimised solution to their hydraulic piping requirements. provide third-party confirmation that the products meet a wide range of test requirements according to their defined operating pressure. Assuming the system carries the required approval, the design engineer can begin his or her assessment of other selection factors, such as pressure resistance, vibration resistance and safety. For defence applications, designers must also think about the potential for a hydraulic tube-fitting system to retain its functionality after a torpedo strike, for example. Ease-of- installation, soft sealing and resistance to pull-out forces are further considerations. Forming, not cutting A cold-forming technology system such as WALFORMplus is proving particularly popular in comparison with tube-cutting systems. There are many reasons for this trend. For instance, the cold forming of materials increases stress resistance at the most crucial points of the tube. Combined with no sharp ends, this effect creates outstanding vibration resistance. In addition, as a dry, non-cutting forming process, cold forming produces no waste or mess. WALFORMplus represents a reliable, easy-to-install forming system that uses minimal components. The system also provides ultra-high-pressure resistance and the option of a soft seal. Another key factor is process stability, which comes from the machine that forms the tube connection. Any cold tube-forming machine should produce assemblies with the same quality time-after-time, independent of the tolerance influences imparted by the tube or fitting.

Type approvals form the backbone of the marine industry. Originally a requirement of ship insurance companies, many different agencies (with different type approvals) operate in this sector, including DNV GL, Bureau Veritas and ABS, to name only a few. Although the relevant approval usually relates to geographic area, all agencies fall under the umbrella of International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). By fulfilling the type approvals, components used for marine projects are confirming a minimum performance level in terms of mechanical resistance and fatigue life. This performance is required to ensure the functionality of safety-critical systems, as well as behaviour in the event of fire or mechanical exposure. Of course, products that meet the marine sector’s rigorous type approvals can also serve other industries. These approvals

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With such a robust machine, the worker can do nothing wrong, thus providing a significant benefit over cutting-ring systems, which rely on operator skill. Having this process assurance also brings a level of safety with regard to creating a correct, leak-free connection. Some machines, such as the Danfoss Power Solutions M-WF385Xplus for WALFORMplus, provide advantages such as fast cycle times and quick set- ups thanks to easy changeovers with colour-coded tools. The M-WF385Xplus, which accommodates tube from 6-42mm diameter, also offers forming pressure control to minimise energy consumption, as well as quiet operation to reduce noise levels in the shop. Of particular note, there is no requirement to set-up any machine parameters, thus minimising the risk of failure. Due to the tube shape produced, WALFORMplus assemblies ensure extremely high resistance against pull-out forces, significantly more than a cutting-ring assembly. In fact, pull-out torque tests show that, depending on the system selected, a WALFORMplus assembly has circa 57 per cent more resistance to pull-out forces than a cutting-ring assembly of the same diameter and wall thickness. This impressive result is largely because the locked-in retaining tube removes any risk of disconnection, thus enabling its use in safety-critical applications. It is also worth noting that a large investment in a forming machine is not necessarily required for those looking to adopt the WALFORMplus system. Some suppliers offer a rental service that enables an OEM or subcontractor to hire a machine for the duration of the project. Ultimately, not selecting the optimum tube-fitting system can lead to a number of issues, including failure. In most marine applications, failures are traceable to a lack of worker assembly skills. Of course, this issue presents a challenge for manufacturers of tube-fitting systems, who must ensure their systems allow the creation of easy and reliable tube connections, without compromising the necessary resistance to pressure peaks and vibration. These objectives are exactly what the Danfoss Power Solutions team has achieved with WALFORMplus. The failure of a hydraulic piping system can prove costly in both downtime and repairs, and possibly present a safety hazard. Above-deck hydraulic systems for vessels include those supporting cranes, lifting gear and winches, so the danger is clear, while below deck, hydraulics serve equally critical systems such as propulsion and steering. For military or defence vessels, hydraulics is also present on the turret machinery that manoeuvres the guns, for example.

Today, almost all vessel types take advantage of WALFORMplus, everything from military aircraft carriers, frigates, corvettes and exploration ships to cruise liners, ferries and superyachts. Among the many factors at work here is Danfoss Power Solutions’ ability to provide both the piping connection system and the fittings. Moreover, the company can offer the system and fittings in stainless steel for above-deck applications, which are subject to saltwater spray. Carbon steel is suitable for below-deck applications. As a further point of note, WALFORMplus is also proving popular in the marine sector for water-mist fire extinguisher solutions, particularly for large cruise liners where a lot of piping is required. Water-mist systems operate at high pressure, typically 140-160 bar, which makes WALFORMplus ideal for this application, even though the media is water rather than hydraulic oil. Often, the preference is to use the system in conjunction with a welded stainless-steel tube, which is more cost-effective than the seamless tubes used for hydraulics. Fundamentally, test results identify the leading contenders when it comes to selecting a hydraulic piping connection system. Alongside tests in accordance with DIN EN ISO 19879 and IACS, special tests under extreme loads will confirm the safety and leak-proof capabilities of a tube-fitting system. For WALFORMplus, results are available (according to appropriate test institutes) for tests that include combined pressure-impulse and reverse bending tests, as well as tensile and fire resistance tests, to list but a few. WALFORMplus has also proven it is resistant to shock loads equivalent to 700g-force in tests that simulate the effects of a torpedo strike. This outstanding result highlights the system’s impressive resilience. Of course, achieving these approvals and test results demands enormous effort and input from the Danfoss Power Solutions engineering department. However, the outcome is an extremely attractive offer for sectors such as marine, namely a reliable, easy-to-use, fully certified hydraulic tube-fitting system that adds genuine value.

Danfoss Power Solutions www.danfoss.com

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