Test of Pexgol pipes vs HDPE pipes for brine transportation

Objective

Establish the best behavior of Pexgol pipes to the formation of scale that produce the transport of brine. This will be done by obtaining less scale deposited on the internal surface of the Pexgol pipe compared to an HDPE pipeline operating both under the same conditions.

Measuring Variables

The above will be determined by evaluating the results of the following
measurement variables:

  • Thickness of the deposited incrustation, this will be measured with a flexometer. The unit of measurement will be in millimeters.
  • Amount of washing cycles required during the test period, the number of times it was necessary to wash the HDPE line and the Pexgol line during the 30 days of the test will be established.

Results

First 7 days of trial:

   
HDPE Pexgol
Incrustation With 3/4 of incrustation of the internal diameter of the pipe in all its length, as much in the suction as in the discharge. No incrustation along the pipe, both in the suction and in the discharge. There are only rings of inlays in the joints.
Washing Yes No
Wash-out time 3 hours N/A
Amount of incrustation in suction 43 kg 2,4 kg
Cavitation Yes No
Flow rate at the end of the test 21 m3/h 35 m3/h
Volume 5768 m3 7140 m3

Note: At the request of the YLB supervisors after 7 days, the pipes were repositioned.

Results after 14 days of testing:

   
HDPE Pexgol
Incrustation With 3/4 of incrustation of the internal diameter of the pipe in all its length, as much in the suction as in the discharge. No incrustation along the pipe, both in the suction and in the discharge. There are only rings of inlays in the joints.
Washing Yes No
Wash-out time 3 hours N/A
Cavitation Yes No

Pexgol Pipe:

HDPE Pipe:

Results in images

Discharge to the pools: Pexgol vs HDPE

Suction from the pumps: Pexgol vs HDPE

Discharge elbows: Pexgol vs HDPE

Discharge to the pools: Pexgol vs HDPE

Results in video

Discharge after 7 days: Pexgol vs HDPE

Cleaning process of an HDPE pipe

Cleaning process of a Pexgol pipe

Cavitation of a HDPE pipe

Economic Savings

CAPEX Costs

 
CAPEX Costs HDPE Pipe Pexgol Pipe
Pipe Cost 2000 USD 3000 USD
Washing System Cost 3850 USD 0 USD
Total 5850 USD 3000 USD
CAPEX Savings 49 %

Monthly OPEX Costs

   
HDPE pipe Pexgol Pipe
Monthly Maintenance Costs 1800 USD 20 USD
Frequency of maintenance 15 Monthly 1 Monthly
Maintenance Staff 4 People 4 People
Maintenance Time 3 h 0.5 h
HH Maintenance 180 h 2 h
Price HH 10 USD 10 USD
Monthly Water Consumption Cost 18 USD 1 USD
Water Cost per 1m3 1.5 USD 1.5 USD
Water consumption 0.8 m3 0.4 m3
Monthly washing time (1 hour per wash) 15 h 1 h
Total 1818 USD 21 usd
Montly OPEX Savings 99%

Economical Benefits

 
HDPE Pipe Pexgol Pipe
Price Monthly Brine Volume 23,072 USD 28,560 USD
Brine Price per m3 1 USD 1 USD
Transported Volume after 1 week 5,738 m3 7,140 m3
Transported Volume after 1 month 23,072 m3 28,560 m3
Pexgol Benefits 5,488 USD

Customer

YBL
Bolivia| 2017

Working conditions:

Concentration:
1.25 gr / ml of salts dissolved in brine

Bomb:
Gurman Rupp Series T4A

Tension:
380 V three-phase 50 HZ 1470 RPM

Average operating hours:
12 hours

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