Installation of a new Pexgol pipeline to provide hot water for a electro-thermal storage system.
The Challenge
RayGen is an Australian technology company with world-leading breakthroughs in solar power technology and renewable energy storage.
They required to provide cooling water to their concentrated solar towers. Then the water needed to return from the towers at 90°C to the thermal storage.
Pexgol Solution
The client decided to install a Pexgol system (pipe and fittings) for it’s operation, after considering the following benefits:
- Corrosion resistance at elevated temperature without the need for coatings (compared to metallic piping).
- Ease of installation due to long coil lengths reducing welding/connections and flexibility (compared to metallic and other rigid 6-12 m pipe lengths).
- Low thermal expansion forces allowing direct burying without the need for extra expansion allowance (compared to metallic piping) Pexgol natural bending radius – Using the natural bending capabilities allowed reducing connections, parts and pressure drop.
The pipes were installed under ground without special pipe protection and were insulated using PIR foam sprayed directly around the pipes, after pressure testing. Then backfilled directly on top.
Special Reinforced EF Couplers Series 2 (up to 90ºC) were welded.
Client
Raygen
Australia | 2021
Working Conditions:
Pressure: 4 bars
Temperature: up to 90°C / 194°F
Pexgol Pipes
Pexgol 200 (8″), Class 12
Application:
Hot water distribution
Length:
2160 m / 7086 ft
