The Manibs Electrofusion Repair Sleeve: A Preliminary Test For The Repair Of Damaged Or Leaking PE Pipe

摘要

The Manibs Corporation of Germany manufactures a variety of Polyethylene (PE)rnfittings for European water and natural gas distribution and transmission systems. One of theirrnfittings is a split-sleeve PE electrofusion fitting for the repair of damaged PE pipe. NYSEGrntested ten of these fittings to determine if they held promise for the repair of bad butt-fusionrnjoints, 50% depth gouges and active leaks from 4” PE gas distribution pipe. The repair sleevernwas tested for proper fit on one American 4” PE pipe; then on a European 110 mm pipe overrnbutt-fusion with no leak, two butt-fusion with bubbling gas, three 8” long gouges at 50% depthrnof pipe thickness, a ?” inch hole at zero psi air and two ?” holes blowing 20 psi air.rnThe repair sleeve cannot be used as-is on American 4” PE pipe because American 4” pipernis 4 mm wider (114 mm) than European 110 mm pipe. This precludes a proper fit. The sleevernmust be re-cast 4 mm wider to fit American pipe. The sleeve successfully fit over butt-fusionrnbeads, including the repair of two actively leaking gas. The sleeve repaired leaks over 50%rndepth gouges and over ?” holes under no pressure but not ?” holes blowing 20 psi gas. Thernsleeve did not repair a 50% depth gouge when we neglected to tighten all bolts.rnThe Manibs repair sleeve shows significant promise for repair applications on thernNYSEG gas distribution system and it’s development for North American markets should bernpursued.