Experimental investigation on pressure–leakage relation for high-density polyethylene pipe

ABSTRACT

Leakage control decision-making analysis needs a deep recognition of the pressure–leakage relationship. In this study, leakage behavior in High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes is investigated by a semi-industrial pilot-scale. Accordingly, some experiments were conducted on circular, longitudinal and circumferential slits for studying the effect of diameter, thickness, and material of pipes, forms, and dimensions of the leak opening, the surrounding environment, and temperature. New equations are presented to estimate the discharge coefficient for orifices and longitudinal slits in HDPE pipes. Leakage value from a longitudinal slit depends on elastic or plastic behavior of the leak area, to distinguish this, a new criterion has been introduced between elastic and plastic behaviours of the longitudinal slit. Results show that, for same leakagel area and pressure, the leakage rate of circumferential slits is generally more than orifices and less than longitudinal slits. Results of this study can be utilized for estimating the leakage rate.

KEYWORDS:

• Water distribution network (WDN)
• leakage-pressure relation
• high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe
• orifice
• temperature
• elastic and plastic behavior

Acknowledgements

The experiments were carried out in Mana Polymer Alborz Company. The authors would like to thank this company for their technical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.