Fri, 20 December, 2024
This year has seen the launch and progress of DIGIPIPEWELD, an Innovate UK SMART grant funded project aimed at achieving defect-free plastic pipes welding, by partners PinWeld Ltd, the Joining 4.0 Innovation Centre (J4IC), a partnership between Lancaster University and TWI, ATS Applied Tech Systems Ltd and Rainbow Engineering Ltd.
Premature failure of plastic pipelines can occur during both installation and service, resulting in the requirement to undertake non-destructive testing (NDT) on a percentage of operational pipe joints in-situ. However, while this is a means to address and resolve such issues, it can be a costly exercise for contractors and operators. DIGIPIPEWELD offers a solution to this, all-too-often experienced, scenario in the form of a novel system for the welding of defect-free, plastic pipes.
The technology at the core of DIGIPIPEWELD is based on Pinweld – a first-of-its-kind process for joining plastic pipes, termed dynamic plastic deformation welding’, that was invented by project partner PinWeld and uses a metal pin, travelling with out-of-plane oscillating movements between the two surfaces to be welded. The project partners will further develop the technology, using artificial intelligence (AI), to enable real-time monitoring and control of essential welding parameters, i.e., pin temperature, frequency of oscillation, weld speed and pressure, penetration depth of the pin and amplitude of the vibration (pin travelling distance). All parameters will be digitally monitored to avoid possible failures, as well as recorded allowing for post-process evaluation.
With the ability to join polymer pipes without defects, the more advanced Pinweld system will be controlled by digital intelligence using advanced sensing, data processing and machine learning algorithms. This will enable accurate monitoring, autonomous quality inspection after welding and real-time leakage detection of plastic pipes.
Darren Williams, Director of J4IC, explained “The DIGIPIPEWELD system will support the ‘right-first-time’ manufacture and self-testing of pipe welds, and its autonomous nature will help to eliminate some of the risks that can be associated with human error. Together, these will give pipeline operators and contractors greater control over their plastic pipe installation activities, and a quicker, more efficient means of deployment leading to lower energy consumption.” Adding “Initially, the project is targeting the reduction of leakages in water pipelines, however, the design and functionality of the DIGIPIPEWELD system means that is also suited to multiple applications and environments, and therefore other sectors.”
DIGIPIPEWELD has secured an Innovate UK Smart Grant under Grant Agreement no. 1005500.