• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.1004-1012
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• 2021

High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe has many advantages over metallic pipe, and has been used in non-safety related application for years in some nuclear power plants (NPPs). Recently, HDPE pipe was introduced into safety related applications. The main difference between safety-related and non-safety-related pipes in NPPs is the design method of extra loadings such as gravity, temperature, and earthquake. In this paper, the mechanical behavior of HDPE pipe under various loads in pipe gallery was studied by finite element analysis (FEA). Stress concentrations were found at the fusion regions on inner surface of mitered elbows of HDPE pipe system. The effects of various factors were analyzed, and the influence of various loads on the damage of HDPE pipe system were evaluated. The results of this paper provide a reference for the design of nuclear safety-related Class 3 HDPE pipe. In addition, as the HDPE pipes analyzed in this paper were suspended in pipe gallery, it can also serve as a supplementary reference for current ASME standard on Class 3 HDPE pipe, which only covers the application for buried pipe application.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2015

In this study, structural stability of large diameter high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe during installation was numerically investigated in order to investigate the effect of concrete collar dimension, water depth and tension (pulling force). From the numerical simulation results, the total stress of HDPE pipe with designed concrete collar was within 2.5%, so the total weight of concrete collar for sinking of HDPE is important rather than concrete collar dimension. Furthermore, the tension area for possible installation is decreased as the air filling rate is increased. Therefore, it is important to calculate the reasonable tension range before actual installation for safe installation of HDPE pipe.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

In many cases, the field fracture mechanism of the thermoplastic pipe is considered as either brittle or environmental fractures. Thus the estimation of the lifetime by modeling slow crack growth considering such fracture mechanisms is required. In comparison of the some conventional and empirical equations to explain the slow crack growth rate such as the Paris' law, the crack layer theory can be used to simulate the crack and process zone growth behaviors precisely, so the lifetime of thermoplastic pipe can also be accurately estimated. In this study, the modified crack layer theory for the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of high density polyethylene is introduced with detailed algorithm. The oxidation induction time of the HDPE is also considered for the reduction of specific fracture energy during exposed to chemical environments. Furthermore, the parametric study for an important SCC parameter is conducted to understand the slow crack growth behavior of SCC.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.44-49
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• 2013

As the polyethylene of high strength and ductility stabilized chemically has been mass-produced, it is spreading widely as material of industrial piping and water service piping. Recently, High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe has been used even in water supply system of plant as buried pipe instead of cast iron pipe in domestic, but HDPE pipe has a probability of occurrence of damage if plant design and operating conditions are not considered. As a result of reviewing with respect of system design engineering based on operating conditions and verification test results, the specific design criteria for the use of HDPE piping in fire water supply system need to be established because of the possibility of crack damage due to water hammer.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

In nuclear power plants, lined carbon steel pipes or PCCPs (pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipes) have been widely used for sea water transport systems. However, de-bonding of linings and oxidation of PCCP could make problems in aged NPPs (nuclear power plants). Recently at several NPPs in the United States, the PCCPs or lined carbon steel pipes of the sea water or raw water system have been replaced with HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipes, which have outstanding resistance to oxidation and seismic loading. ASME B&PV Code committee developed Code Case N-755, which describes rules for the construction of buried Safety Class 3 polyethylene pressure piping systems. Although US NRC permitted HDPE materials for Class 3 buried piping, their permission was limited to only 10-year operation because of several concerns including the quality of fusion zone of HDPE. In this study, various requirements for fusion qualification test of HDPE and some regulatory issues raised during HDPE application review in foreign NPPs are introduced.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.405-413
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• 2015

In the US, the number of cases of subterranean water contamination from tritium leaking through a damaged buried nuclear power plant pipe continues to increase, and the degradation of the buried metal piping is emerging as a major issue. A pipe blocked from corrosion and/or degradation can lead to loss of cooling capacity in safety-related piping resulting in critical issues related to the safety and integrity of nuclear power plant operation. The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes Committee (BPVC) has recently approved Code Case N-755 that describes the requirements for the use of polyethylene (PE) pipe for the construction of Section III, Division 1 Class 3 buried piping systems for service water applications in nuclear power plants. This paper contains tensile and slow crack growth (SCG) test results for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe welds under the environmental conditions of a nuclear power plant. Based on these tests, the fracture surface of the PENT specimen was analyzed, and the fracture mechanisms of each fracture area were determined. Finally, by using 3D finite element analysis, limit loads of HDPE related to premature failure were verified.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3342-3351
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• 2023

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines in nuclear power plants (NPPs) have to meet high requirements for seismic performance. HDPE pipes have been proved to have good seismic performance, but joints are the weak links in the pipelines, and pipeline failures usually initiate from the defects inside the joints. Limited data are available on the seismic performance of butt-fusion joints of HDPE pipelines in NPPs, especially in terms of defects changes inside the joints after earthquakes. In this paper, full-scale shaking table tests were performed on a test section of suspended HDPE pipelines in an NPP, which included straight pipes, elbows, and 10 butt-fusion joints. During the tests, the seismic load-induced strain of the joints was analyzed by strain gauges, and it was much smaller than the internal pressure and self-weight-induced strain. Before and after the shaking table tests, phased array ultrasonic testing (PA-UT) was conducted to detect defects inside the joints. The locations, numbers, and dimensions of the defects were analyzed. It was found that defects were more likely to occur in elbows joints. No new defect was observed after the shaking table tests, and the defects showed no significant growth, indicating the satisfactory seismic performance of the butt-fusion joints.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.517-524
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• 2022

Every year, millions of waste tires are discarded across the world. Storage of waste tires presents many problems such as fire threats, epidemics, and non-economic factors. Furthermore, the disintegration process of waste tires is not economical or practical due to its time-consuming, and disposal requirements. In this study, half-section waste tires (HSWTs) were integrated with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes under different relative density conditions. The main aim of the study was to reduce the deformation values of embedded HDPE pipes in sandy soil and to evaluate the soil-pipe interaction. In comprehensive laboratory tests, half-section waste tires were integrated in two different ways: in the middle of the pipeline and along the pipeline. Accordingly, it was concluded that the effectiveness of waste tires reduces the deformation and bending moment values in the critical regions of pipes. As a result of reinforcement in the mid-point of the pipe defined as the most critical region, 52% and 36% less deformation was observed in the crown and springlines of the pipe, respectively. In addition, the bending moment values for the same critical section were determined to be 40% less in the crown and 28% less in the springline regions of the pipe.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.33-39
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• 2016

A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system is recommended as a heating and cooling system to solve the pending energy problem in the field of air conditioning, because it has the highest efficiency. However, higher initial construction cost works as a barrier to the promotion and dissemination of GSHP system. In this study, numerical analysis on the characteristics of high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe with spiral inside was executed. The heat transfer and flow characteristics of it were compared with those of a conventional smooth HDPE pipe. The heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of the spiral HDPE pipe were higher than those of the smooth HDPE pipes at the same fluid flow rate. By decreasing the flow rate, the spiral HDPE pipe represented similar values of heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop to the smooth HDPE pipe. The lower flow rate of the spiral HDPE pipe comparing with it of the smooth HDPE pipe is estimated to reduce the length of the ground loop heat exchanger.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.32-56
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• 2007

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) aims to analyze possible impact upon manufacturing process and availability of products, and also study the environmental considerations and potential influence during entire life cycle ranging from procurement, production and utilization to treatment (namely, from cradle to tomb). Based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe manufacturing of company A, this case study would involve evaluation of environmental influence during the production process. When the manufacturing process has been improved during "production process" and "forming cooling" stage, it is found that capital input on "electric power" and "water supply" could be reduced, thus helping to sharpen the competitive power of company A, and also ensure sustainable economic and industrial development in accordance with national policies on environmental protection.