| 摘要 |
Methods are provided for strengthening (e.g., repairing, structurally reinforcing, etc.) a fluid-system component by installing, as a circumferential wrap or a patch, a radiation-curable composite laminate. Kits including composite repair materials and equipment for implementing the methods are also provided. Examples of fluid-system components that may be strengthened include pipework, pipelines, transmission pipelines, distribution pipelines, gathering lines, oil risers, gas risers, process piping, girth welds on pipelines or vessels, tanks, vessels, elbows, tees, flanges, and high-pressure injection lines. An approach where, prior to curing, the precursor to the composite laminate comprises a glass fabric, a carbon fabric, or any combination(s) thereof, pre-impregnated with an uncured epoxy resin, an uncured epoxy acrylate resin, or a mixture thereof, is used; curing is performed via electron beam irradiation; and the installation and curing procedures can be automated to the maximum extent possible, in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method for strengthening a component in a fluid system, the method comprising:
providing a composite laminate with a fabric carrier including a continuous reinforcing fiber, the fabric carrier being pre-impregnated with a reactive precursor chemically configured to activate upon exposure to artificial radiation, wherein the artificial radiation is selected from the group consisting of microwaves, an electron beam, x-rays, gamma-rays, or any combination thereof; providing an automated wrapping device configured to automatically apply the composite laminate on a layer-by-layer basis to the fluid-system component at a water depth between 1 foot and 20,000 feet; placing the composite laminate over a portion of the fluid-system component at a water depth between 1 foot and 20,000 feet via the automated wrapping device; and applying the artificial radiation to the fabric carrier at a water depth between 1 foot and 20,000 feet such that the reactive precursor is cured thereby creating a load-bearing repair implement from the composite laminate. |
