Millennium
Project Number: M-2002-017
Project
Title: Robotic System for Live Gas
Repairs
Project Start Date: 2002
Projected End Date: 2004
Technical Details:
Gas distribution systems consist of cast iron,
steel and plastic main. All of these pipes experience
some leakage, especially cast iron at joints
and steel at corrosion areas. Leak pinpointing
to find the exact location of the leak, and
subsequent excavation and repair are typically
all done from above ground and to the outside
of the main.
The goal of this project is to design, develop
and deploy a visual and magnetic flux leakage
inspection tool set to internally mark the area
needing repair; then couple that with a pipe-wall
preparation and repair patch-setting robot inside
of a live cast iron or steel gas main. A coiled-tubing
delivery system will insert and remove the robotic
tool heads through a "no-blow" launch fitting.
GTI is managing this project under the advisory
direction of the cofunders. It is one of a list
of Research Collaboration projects. Maurer Technology,
Carnegie Mellon University, and LinkPipe all
are contributing to this effort.
This project has been completed with the successful demonstration of the system at a PSE&G test site.
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Funding for Millennium Project M-2002-017
