TPT May 2012

T echnology N ews

High precision buttweld fittings for line pipe installation THE construction of line pipes often require abrupt directional changes due to topographic changes in hilly terrain or any other unknown installation issues during the construction in populated areas and cities. Another challenge in line pipe maintenance are repairs where an elbow must be fitted to the existing pipeline segment in the shortest time possible. Thus, field segmentation of elbows is often necessary and part of normal field segmentation practice. In the case of typical segmentable elbows, common standards (eg MSS SP 75) refer to limitations regarding the out of roundness of an elbow with ±1 per cent. However, these limitations do not take into account the tolerances of the nominal diameter of the pipes and the fittings. Using a new high precision mandrel forming method, Erne Fittings provides elbows, guaranteeing optimum nominal diameters together with tightest tolerances via the whole body of the fittings after cutting with conventional methods in the field. This enables the field segmentation of elbows during the installation of line pipes with minimum misalignment between pipe and fitting and thus, a convenient way to carry out all welding operations without any adjustments of the bevel ends prior to welding. Moreover, the use of pups (small adapter pipes) which are usually used to enable back welding, is not necessary, since the root layer can be welded in high quality from outside only due to the small misalignment of the root face. The use of these segmentable elbows reduces the necessary number of such pups in line pipes and hence the number of circumferential welds as well as the time for adjustments prior to welding. This increases the efficiency during line pipe construction and substantially reduces

Schuler offers turn-key plants for efficient produc- tion of large pipes. Efficient, flexible and reliable. Making the Earth’s arteries. Production systems for large pipes.

construction time and costs. Erne Fittings GmbH – Austria Email: office@ernefittings.com Website: www.ernefittings.com

• Presses for longitudinal welded pipes  •  Presses for spiral welded pipe mills

With Schuler you have strong support in R&D, engineering, large-scale system construction, pro- ject management and global service. Forming the Future

Visit us at Metalloobrabotka 2012 Hall 2.2 / Stand D02 | May 28. –June 1,2012

Schuler Pressen GmbH  | Bahnhofstr. 41 | 73033 Göppingen Germany  | Phone +49 7161 66-307  | Fax +49 7161 66-729 largepipes@schulergroup.com  | www.schulergroup.com

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