Defective Welds In A Hydroelectric Dam’s Water System

HydraWrap® (Fiber Reinforced Polymer)

Market
Power

Challenge
Various pipes in a water system in a hydroelectric dam had begun leaking. Defective welds were discovered to be the source of these leaks. A permanent solution was needed that was flexible enough to fit pipes of different sizes and shapes.

Engineered Solution
To eliminate the leak quickly and avoid costly replacement, a composite repair was chosen, 6” HydraWrap fabric with the standard epoxy.

Scope
Mechanical surface preparation was used at each location to ensure proper adhesion. The length of the repair was then marked using tape. Primer epoxy then coated the pipe’s exterior. Carbon fiber fabric was wet out and then applied to the pipe. Some repairs required only 2 layers while other larger pipes or pipes with a higher operating pressure were wrapped with up to 4 layers. Nearly 100 points in this system were rehabilitated utilizing HydraWrap in roughly a month.

Solution
HydraWrap provided a long-term solution that was able to accommodate elbows, flanges, tee fittings, and straight portions of pipe. This repair was applied faster than replacement and at a fraction of the cost.