Computerised simulation of composite pipe connections for hydrogen service

尽管SmartFlow在管道末端连接的利基行业拥有广泛的专业知识，并可以通过物理管道测试来支持这一点，但一些客户确实要求更科学的答案。当使用不同的材料将这些金属连接形成聚合物管道时，这些“原始”金属的特性可能会发生变化。这可能包括机械性能和耐腐蚀性能。随着氢气和碳捕获、利用和储存(CCUS)管道需求的增长，科学分析和物理材料测试相结合的项目将帮助我们吸引大量机会。SmartFlow端头接头包含一个锋利的锯齿形钢接头，该接头插入复合管中，然后向外‘旋压’以‘咬合’聚合物衬里，从而产生永久性连接。我们知道，这个系统的工作原理我们已经做过很多次了，但对于SmartFlow来说，要主动瞄准这些公司，而不是通过推荐，拥有一份独立的、与特定客户无关的技术支持文件将会带来巨大的好处。Smartflow相信，通过与Astute这样的研究机构独立开展一些分析工作，这将使我们能够分享我们客户想要的关键数据。每家管道制造商的组成略有不同，但将我们的锯齿形管件‘锻造’成复合管，然后进行计算测试的理论将给我们的设计能力带来信心。虽然我们总是需要为我们的客户设计一个定制的系统，但我们可以使用这种建模方法作为第一步，然后使用物理爆炸测试来验证结果。

Although Smartflow have extensive expertse in the niche industry of pipe end connections and can back it up with physical pipe testing, some clients do request more scientific answers. As different materials are used to form these metal connections into polymer pipes, the characteristics of these 'raw' metals can change. This could include mechanical and corrosion resistant properties. A combined scientific analysis and physical material testing project will help us attract large opportunities as Hydrogen and CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) pipeline demand grows the composite pipeline industry. Smartflow end connections incorporate a sharp serrated steel fitting that is inserted into the composite pipe, and then 'swaged' out to 'bite' into the polymer liner to produce a permanent connection. We know that this system works as we have done it a number of times, but for Smartflow to proactively target these companies rather than through referrals it would benefit hugely to have a technical supporting document that is independant and 'shareable' not associated with a specific client.Smartflow believe that by undertaking some analysis work independently with a Research Institute like Astute, this will allow us to share the critical data that our clients would want. Each pipe manufacturer has a slightly different composition, but the theory of modelling our serrated fittings 'swaged' into a composite pipe and then testing computationally would give confidence in our design capabilities. Whilst we would always need to design a system bespoke to our clients, we could use this modelling approach as a first step, before verifying the results with physical burst testing.