Proof of Market Study for Non Destructive Testing of Plastic Pipe welds

塑料管相对于其它材料如金属和混凝土提供了显著的优点用于流体或气体的输送（即，无腐蚀，使用寿命长，安装成本低）。然而，塑料管道的完整性在很大程度上取决于焊接接头的质量。典型的安装和测试指南仅涵盖“样品”接头的破坏性测试，以测试材料和程序的合规性。这显然不能测试实际的接头在服务中，所以目前没有路线来检查焊接接头的质量。如果在随后的压力测试中制造出不合格的接头，而又没有将其取出，则焊缝可能会在使用中失效，有时会造成灾难性的后果，或者最好的情况是流体排出。为了解决这个问题，已经开发了许多各种无损检测方法（NDT），但它们都涉及复杂和庞大的设备，成本非常高，并且需要“专家”解释。Impact实验室在斯特拉斯克莱德大学的支持下开发的专利技术是一种高度创新、低成本的产品，旨在用户操作，这将在焊接测试方面产生巨大的进步，开辟现有技术无法获得的市场。该设备是非常紧凑的比较（手持）和versimilar无损检测设备的钢焊缝。这项技术可以为焊工提供与钢焊缝测试相似的信息水平，并且简单便宜，足以用于每一个安装的电熔焊缝。该项目将对该技术在英国和国际上的商业可行性进行评估，因为公用事业放松管制和多样化的供应链不仅复杂，而且通过时间表分配。该技术将在现场向关键决策者介绍和演示，以了解市场。

Plastic pipes offer significant advantages over other materials such a metals and concrete forthe transportation of fluids or gases (i.e., no corrosion, longer service life and less expensiveto install). However, the integrity of plastic pipelines greatly depends on the quality of thewelded joints. Typical installation and testing guidelines only cover the destructive testing of'sample' joints to test material and procedure compliance. This obviously does not test theactual joint in service so currently there is no route to check the quality of a welded joint. Ifsubstandard joints are made and not picked up during subsequent pressure testing, welds canfail in service giving sometimes catastrophic consequences or at best a discharge of fluids.To counter this, a number of various non destructive test methods (NDT) have beendeveloped but they have all been very high cost involving complex and bulky equipment andrequire 'expert' interpretation. This makes them unsuitable for all but the highest risk joints.Impact Laboratories patented technology developed with the support of StrathclydeUniversity is a highly innovative, low cost product that is designed to be user operated whichwill produce a huge advance in weld testing, opening up markets that are not available toexisting technologies. The equipment is very compact in comparison (hand held) and verysimilar to NDT equipment for steel welds. This technology can give the welder a similar levelof information to the testing of steel welds and is simple and cheap enough to be used onevery electrofusion weld installed.The project is to produce an assessment of commercial viability of the technology both in theUK and internationally which because of utility deregulation and diverse supply chains is notonly complex but allocated through schedules. The technology will be introduced anddemonstrated in field to key decision makers in order to understand the market.