PROJECT
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Joints and elbows are where problems typically
occur, and this weakness is removed because it
is now a monolithic unit. The liner can come in
sections of 100m and be fused together up to an
infinite length.”
The elastic modulus requirement of pipes is usually
1 700 for a normal PVC pipe, but Nu Flow’s new
liner goes all the way to 4 000, “Because of the
unique weave in the patent of the liner,”
says Myburgh.
How it works:
• After the cleaning, the length of the pipe is
measured and the liner (which is a round hose
and calibrated to how thick it has to be) is cut
to size.
• When there is a pipe requiring repair, the first
step is to clean it with high-pressure water so
the liner and resin can adhere to the inside of
the pipe. It can be almost any type of pipe.
Damage in pipeline.
• The pre-impregnated liner is placed in the
Master Gun.
• The liner is pulled through and made airtight by
blowing it through the damaged pipe.
• It is inflated to adhere to the sides.
• As the lining is inserted a UV light train is
inserted at the same time through the entire
length of the pipe and once the UV light
is switched on it cures the entire length
simultaneously – explaining the time saving.
“The curing technology whereby ambient air cures
the resins is no longer competitive, as it takes on
average four hours.” It consequently has three
advantages: time-saving; the new system is also
slightly cheaper; as well as being safer. Pro-Kanal
is so quick because the resin has a UV activated
element which means it does not solidify like other
resins do because it is not affected by temperature.
“When working with underground pipes anything can
happen. The advantage of our system over others
is that if something does go wrong, we can pull the
pipe out easily because it cannot get hard inside the
pipe until the UV light is applied. Other systems do
not have this benefit, and it is impossible to simply
pull out the lining as it is already hardening.”
The Pro-Kanal cures at a maximum of 60°C over a
longer period because it is a permanent light. That
eliminates shrinking.
How Pro-Kanal differs from others, Pohorille
explains, is that other systems require expensive
cooling equipment, which steadily traverses the
length, curing as it goes. This takes longer and also
introduces both human danger and the risk of the
process failing, in which case the lining has to be
pulled back out at a considerable cost of time.
Damage in pipeline – collapsed area located (crown of pipe).
“The advantage of our system over
others is that if something does go
wrong, we can pull the pipe out easily
because it cannot get hard inside the
pipe until the UV light is applied."
“We’re in the small-diameter pipe space, 15mm
up to 450mm diameter – though we can and do
inspect pipes up to 1.8m in diameter,” concludes
Pohorille. PA
January 2020 Volume 25 I Number 11
www.plumbingafrica.co.za