Platelets and Piping

From:
<a href="http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=mg19225835.200&feedId=online-news_rss20">http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=mg19225835.200&feedId=online-news_\ rss20</a>

<<Artificial "platelets" could fix leaking pipes just as natural ones help blood clot in a cut.

Squishy blobs introduced upstream of a leak are carried along to the leak and clog it up as a temporary fix. The "scab" also shows where the leak is. Made by Brinker Technology of Aberdeen, UK, they have been tested in oil pipes owned by Shell and BP. The tests used polymer cubes between 0.3 and 50 millimetres across.

The type of fluid in the pipe and its pressure determine the size, shape and material used for the blobs: they must be neutrally buoyant in the fluid and squashable enough to clog the leak without being so soft that fluid pressure can push them through the hole.

The company is now seeking approval to use the platelets in water pipes.>>

Also:

<a href="http://www.brinker-technology.com/technology.html">http://www.brinker-technology.com/technology.html</a>

<<Overview

The most highly optimised and efficient systems in the world are those which occur in nature, as they have continuously evolved over millions of years; it is logical therefore for engineers to seek to extract these good ideas and implement them in other applications - this is the science of Biomimetics of which Platelet Technology™ is an excellent example.

Platelets in the blood stream are constantly patrolling your veins and initiate the mechanism for sealing cuts and wounds in the human body; Platelet Technology™ takes this concept and adapts it for use in industrial applications. The technology utilises the fluid flow inside a pipeline to deliver specially designed Platelets® to the leak site. When the Platelets® reach the vicinity of a leak, fluid forces entrain them into it and hold them against the pipe wall; this facilitates sealing, and also marks the position of the leak for subsequent detection.

Platelet Technology™ takes a radically different approach to pipeline integrity in that it seals and then locates leaks in a single integrated process. Whereas conventional leak sealing techniques require direct access to the leak site, the elegance of Platelet Technology™ lies in its ability to be implemented remotely, mimicking the human body to work with the pressure in the line and seal from the inside.

Crucially, Platelets® are best deployed when there is flow in the line, so they can be implemented as part of a routine pipeline operation causing minimal disturbance to production. When a leak is located, the Platelet™ has already provided a seal so that a decision to maintain flow or to shutdown can be made in the context of a known controlled leak.

The key features of Platelets® are that they:

• Seal and locate leaks in a single integrated process thus reducing leak lifetime and consequential environmental damage.
• Are implemented remotely so direct access to the leakage point is not necessary.
• Require no disturbance to pipeline operation meaning costly shutdowns may be avoided.
• Provide an alternative means of investigating suspected leaks.
• Buy additional time for the operator to determine an appropriate course of action in the case of sudden leakage.

Visit the section Video Clips to see footage of pipelines being sealed using Platelet Technology™.

Although the concept of Platelet Technology™ is elegant in its simplicity, underpinning the theory is an extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics in conjunction with Finite Element Analysis and over five years of rigorous physical testing.>> Received on Fri Dec 22 20:50:00 2006