The installation and maintenance of FRP pipes need to pay attention to the following issues:

Installation

Construction preparation:

Site cleaning: The installation site should be kept flat and solid, and obstacles such as debris, stones, tree roots, etc. that may affect the laying of pipes should be removed to ensure that the pipes can be placed stably and there will be no uneven force due to uneven foundation.

Pipe inspection: Before installation, the FRP pipes need to be inspected in detail to check whether there are cracks, damage, bubbles, stratification and other defects on the appearance of the pipes. At the same time, check whether the specifications, models, lengths, etc. of the pipes meet the design requirements. Unqualified pipes should be replaced in time to avoid affecting the overall installation quality and subsequent performance.

Tool preparation: Prepare appropriate installation tools, such as cranes (for lifting heavier pipes), manual hoists (for assisting pipe docking and other operations), rubber hammers (for adjusting the position of pipes and tapping them to make them fit), special pipe cutting tools (such as diamond saw blades, etc., to ensure that the cutting surface is flat), etc., to ensure that the installation work can proceed smoothly.

Pipeline cutting:

Choosing cutting tools: Since the FRP pipe material is brittle and has a certain toughness, appropriate cutting tools should be selected, such as diamond saw blade electric saws or special FRP cutting tools. Avoid using ordinary hacksaws and other tools that may cause uneven cutting surfaces, burrs, or even pipe ruptures.

Cutting operation specifications: When cutting, ensure that the pipe is firmly fixed and cut according to the length required by the design. The cutting speed is moderate to avoid excessive heat generated by too fast speed and affect the performance of the pipe material. At the same time, do a good job of protecting the operator, such as wearing goggles, dust masks, etc., to prevent the debris generated by cutting from splashing and injuring people and dust inhalation.

Pipeline connection:

Choice of connection method: Common connection methods include socket connection, flange connection, and adhesive connection. Socket connection is relatively simple to operate and has good sealing performance. It is suitable for general water supply and drainage pipes; flange connection is easy to disassemble and repair, and is often used for pipes that need frequent maintenance or are connected to equipment; adhesive connection can make the connection part have good sealing and strong integrity, but it has high requirements for the selection of adhesives and bonding process, and is often used in pipeline systems with high sealing requirements such as chemical industry. Choose the appropriate connection method according to the specific engineering requirements and the use environment.

Key points of socket connection: When making a socket connection, first clean the socket and the socket to ensure that there are no impurities such as oil, dust, etc., apply an appropriate amount of lubricant (such as vaseline, etc.), then slowly insert the socket into the socket, use a rubber hammer to tap the pipe to make the socket fully inserted into place, and ensure that the socket depth meets the design requirements. After insertion, check the sealing of the connection part. If there is a gap, use sealant to fill it.

Key points of flange connection: When installing the flange, ensure that the flange surface is flat and perpendicular to the pipeline axis, the bolt holes must correspond accurately, the bolt specifications and materials used must meet the requirements, and when tightening the bolts, apply force evenly in the diagonal direction, and tighten them step by step in multiple times to avoid excessive local force causing flange deformation or poor sealing. At the same time, place appropriate gaskets (such as rubber gaskets, polytetrafluoroethylene gaskets, etc.) between the flange sealing surfaces to enhance the sealing.

Key points of bonding: Choose an adhesive that matches the FRP material and has reliable quality, mix and apply it according to the instructions for use of the adhesive, apply it evenly and with moderate thickness, and after the connected pipe surfaces are tightly fitted, perform curing according to the curing time and curing conditions (such as temperature, humidity, etc.) required by the adhesive. During the curing period, avoid external disturbances to the pipe to ensure that the bonding is firm and the seal is good.

Pipeline laying:

Slope control: When laying FRP pipes with slope requirements such as drainage pipes, the construction must be carried out strictly in accordance with the designed slope. Measuring tools such as levels and theodolites can be used for measurement and calibration to ensure smooth drainage of the pipes and prevent water accumulation from affecting the normal use of the pipes and shortening their service life.

Buried depth control: If it is a buried pipe, the appropriate buried depth should be determined based on the use function of the pipe, ground load, soil conditions and other factors. Generally speaking, it is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient soil cover thickness above the pipe to avoid the pipe being crushed due to loads such as ground vehicles. However, the buried depth should not be too large to avoid increasing the difficulty and cost of construction. At the same time, it is also necessary to consider the problem of crossing and avoiding other underground pipelines to avoid mutual interference.

Support and fixation: For overhead pipelines, pipe supports or hangers should be reasonably set up. The spacing between supports should be determined according to the pipe diameter, weight, material and other factors of the pipeline to ensure that the pipeline can be stably stressed in the overhead state and will not sag or deform due to self-weight or medium weight. For buried pipelines, sand cushions can be appropriately filled around the pipeline for uniform support to enhance the stability of the pipeline.

Maintenance

Daily inspection:

Appearance inspection: Regularly inspect the appearance of FRP pipelines to check whether there are cracks, leakage, wear, discoloration, etc. on the surface of the pipeline. Pay special attention to the connection parts, elbows, tees and other parts of the pipeline that are prone to problems. If problems are found, record and analyze the causes in time, and take corresponding repair measures.

Support and fixation inspection: Check whether the support and fixing facilities such as the pipe supports, hangers, and the soil covering of the buried pipeline are intact, whether the supports are loose or deformed, and whether the soil covering the buried pipeline has collapsed. If there are any problems, repair and reinforce them in time to ensure that the pipeline is always in a stable support state.

Pressure and flow monitoring: For pipelines that transport pressurized media (such as chemical raw materials, water supply, etc.), the pressure and flow in the pipeline should be monitored regularly. Data should be collected through pressure instruments and flow meters installed on the pipeline, and compared with normal operating data. If abnormal pressure fluctuations or flow changes are found to be inconsistent with expectations, the pipeline should be checked in time for blockages, leaks, and other problems, and handled.

Cleaning and maintenance:

Internal cleaning: Depending on the medium transported by the pipeline, internal cleaning should be performed regularly. For example, for pipelines that transport drinking water, impurities that may be attached to the inner wall of the pipeline can be removed by regular water flushing. For pipelines that transport chemical raw materials, when replacing materials or stopping production for maintenance, appropriate chemical cleaning fluids can be used to clean the pipeline to remove residual chemicals, but it should be noted that the selected cleaning fluid should not cause corrosion to the pipeline material.

External cleaning: Clean dust, oil, debris, etc. on the surface of the pipeline to keep the pipeline clean. For pipelines exposed outdoors, dust and debris can also be accumulated to prevent the aging of the pipeline from being accelerated. Wiping and flushing can be used to clean the pipeline.

Anti-corrosion and anti-aging treatment: Although the FRP pipe itself has good corrosion resistance and anti-aging performance, it may still experience performance degradation in some special environments (such as long-term exposure to strong ultraviolet light, high temperature and high humidity, etc.). Appropriate protective measures can be taken for the pipe according to the actual situation, such as applying sunscreen paint and anti-corrosion paint on the surface of outdoor pipes to extend the service life of the pipe.

Repair and replacement:

Minor damage repair: For minor scratches, wear and tear on the surface of the pipe, resin repair materials can be used for repair. First, polish and clean the damaged part, then apply resin repair agent, and perform curing treatment according to the curing requirements of the repair agent to restore the integrity and protective performance of the pipe surface.

Severe damage treatment: If the pipe has large-area cracks, ruptures, severe deformation and other situations that cannot be repaired, it is necessary to replace the damaged part or the entire pipe in time. When replacing, it is necessary to strictly follow the installation requirements to ensure that the newly installed pipe is well connected and works in coordination with the original pipe system.