Corrosion-free welding connection for reinforced thermoplastic pipes (RTP)
System and method for a connection system including a coupler disposed internally between a first pipe and a second pipe, a set of wedges positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of each of the first and second pipe, and a spacer positioned circumferentially around the coupler and disposed between the wedges on the first and second pipe. The system further includes an external ferrule disposed circumferentially around each set of wedges and a venting port connecting one connection chamber in a perimetric channel of the spacer to an outside environment. The venting port collects and canalizes any leaked fluid existing in an annulus between an inner thermoplastic liner and an external thermoplastic jacket of the first pipe and the second pipe or existing in an area between the first pipe, the spacer, and the second pipe. The venting port further includes an instrumentation port for sensing leaking fluid.
1 . A connection system comprising:
a coupler disposed internally between a first pipe and a second pipe;
a set of wedges positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of each of the first pipe and the second pipe;
a spacer positioned circumferentially around the coupler and disposed between the set of wedges on the first pipe and the set of wedges on the second pipe;
an external ferrule disposed circumferentially around each set of wedges,
wherein the spacer comprises a perimetric channel comprising a plurality of connection chambers; and
a venting port connecting one of the plurality of connection chambers to an outside environment and is configured to collect and canalize any leaked fluid existing in an annulus between an inner thermoplastic liner and an external thermoplastic jacket of the first pipe and the second pipe or existing in an area between the first pipe, the spacer, and the second pipe,
wherein the venting port defines an instrumentation port for sensing leaked fluid through the venting port.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pipe and the second pipe comprise reinforced thermoplastic polymer pipe layers or thermoplastic composite pipe layers.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the coupler comprises a first end and a second end weldable to the inner thermoplastic liner of the reinforced thermoplastic polymer pipe layers.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the inner thermoplastic liner comprises a thermoplastic tie layer deposited along a welding interface between the coupler and the inner thermoplastic liner.
5 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the spacer comprises a single ring or two or more segments connectable as a ring via a bolt or bond.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second venting port connecting another one of the plurality of connection chambers to the outside environment and is configured to collect and canalize the leaked fluid from the annulus through the second venting port.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the external ferrules comprises a first flange configured to connect to a second flange on another external ferrule via a connector.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal component disposed between the spacer and the set of wedges configured to seal the outer surface, the seal component comprising an O-ring.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of wedges, the external ferrules, and the spacer comprise a reinforced polymer material, a metallic material, or a non-metallic material.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a thermosetting resin and a non-metallic material.
11 . A method for connecting a first pipe to a second pipe, the method comprising:
positioning a coupler internally between the first pipe and the second pipe;
installing a set of wedges circumferentially around an outer surface of each of the first pipe and the second pipe;
installing a spacer circumferentially around the coupler and between the set of wedges on the first pipe and the set of wedges on the second pipe,
wherein the spacer comprises a perimetric channel comprising a plurality of connection chambers;
installing an external ferrule circumferentially around each of the set of wedges;
collecting and canalizing any leaked fluid existing in an annulus between an inner thermoplastic liner and an external thermoplastic jacket or existing in an area between the first pipe, the spacer, and the second pipe, via a venting port connecting one of the plurality of connection chambers to an outside environment; and
sensing leaked fluid via the venting port, wherein the venting port defines an instrumentation port.
12 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the first pipe and the second pipe comprise reinforced thermoplastic polymer pipe layers or thermoplastic composite pipe.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
welding a first end and a second end of the coupler to the inner thermoplastic liner of the reinforced thermoplastic polymer pipe layers.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
depositing a thermoplastic tie layer along a welding interface between the coupler and the inner thermoplastic liner.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein installing the spacer comprises installing a single ring or connecting two or more segments as a ring via a bolt or bond.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein collecting and canalizing the leaked fluid comprises connecting a second venting port to another one of the plurality of connection chambers to the outside environment.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein installing the set of wedges comprises connecting a first flange on one of the external ferrules to a second flange on another external ferrule via a connector.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
sealing the outer surface via a seal component between the spacer and the set of wedges comprising an O-ring.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of wedges, the external ferrules, and the spacer comprise a reinforced polymer material, a metallic material, or a non-metallic material.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the coupler comprises a thermosetting resin and a non-metallic material.