TCPL - Hot Tap Connections II

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Hot tap connections of pipelines enable a new pipeline to be connected to an operating pipelinewithout shutting down the operating pipeline. Since a pipeline can cost hundreds of millions of dollars or more,avoiding the lost income that would be incurred by a shut down is valuable to TcCPL. Although the technologydo this for connecting smaller diameter pipes to larger diameter pipes exists, this research will develop state ofthe art computer models to optimize this technology, to assess the robustness of their designs or to extend thistechnology to connect pipes of nearly equal diameter.Welding is a very complex process that involves the complete material processing from melting tosolidification and shaping the finished product in a weld pool of roughly 1 cm^3 in times of roughly 1 second.The microstructure controls the weld properties. The convection coefficient that controls the flow heat throughthe pipe wall from the weld on the external wall of the pipe and the gas temperature control the cooling rate ofthe weld and weld heat-affected zone microstructure in low-alloy steels. This is particularly important in olderpipe steels that have higher carbon levels and ferrite-pearalite microstructure. Weld defects such as porosityand cracks can be important. Optimizing the design and control of the process to produce the best welds is animportant challenge. Optimizing the design of a pipe line, including hot tap connections including the designand fabrication of the hot tap is an equally important challenge.