From small plumbing tubes in residential setups to the huge piping included in refineries, metal pipes are susceptible from issues that may affect how it handles its purpose. It can be troublesome to deal with piping problems because most of the everyday routines depend on it, and it may affect health, even costing for big industrial companies. Pipes have been very crucial part of our day to day living, such as for hygiene or oil export among others. Here are some important knowledge about dealing with pipes.
Common Piping Troubles
Sediments depositing on tubes are among the common problems experienced by residential plumbing, in which some solid particles bypass filters and drains. Sometimes, instead of being pushed away by water, they build up in pipes and clog them. Other issues are pinhole leaks that may result to bursting or wearing of pipes. This is why it is important to consider the type of liquid, or in rare occasions, solids, that will be transported in the pipe and create a temperature and pressure capacity allowance. Furthermore, another very popular problem dealt by residential plumbers and industrial pipe engineers alike is corrosion of the pipes.
Pipe Corrosion
Corroding of pipes in either residential, industrial, or commercial settings is caused by many factors and can be very impactful in several negative ways. Corrosion is when the metal pipes react with the materials or surroundings either physically or chemically. The metal of the pipe dissolves due to the acidity or alkalinity of the water and increased oxygen content in the liquid. Oxygen is commonly the culprit of degrading metals, which might thicken the wall lining of pipes. This can restrict the flow and contaminate the liquid being transported. Some other factors that result to corrosion are temperature of the liquid, bacterial or microorganism build up in the pipes, and even flow velocity.
Corrosion Effects
Leaving the pipe corroded can create more problems such as contamination, pipe leakage, and even pipe failure. It may also be a health hazard for many instances, especially those related to household plumbing. That’s why it is important to regularly inspect the pipes or identify if corrosion begins, more importantly if there are no sand blasting Sydney applied on the piping coat. Some clues to determine corrosion are the odour of rusted steel and some coloured stains on the sink. That’s why it is important to address the issue once identified.
Preventive Measures
The measures that can be done to prevent corrosion may include modifying the liquid being transported. The flow velocity may be adjusted, or the temperature or pressure can be controlled using specialized instrumentation. The liquid may also be tested prior to its flow. However, most industrial applications utilize thermal arc spray which is a common protective coating for pipes to prevent corrosion. This can even improve pipe efficiency and lower maintenance cost.Pipes are an integral part of both the residential and industrial settings. It helps in accomplishing routine tasks such as water flow transport. But there are many instances pipes experience corrosion, however, modifying the liquid or applying special pipe coating may prevent this problem.