SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR STRENGTHENING FLUID SYSTEM COMPONENTS USING RADIATION-CURABLE COMPOSITES
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.
1 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . A composite laminate for repairing a section of a pipeline assembly, the composite laminate comprising:
a fabric carrier including a continuous reinforcing fiber, the fabric carrier being pre-impregnated with a reactive precursor chemically configured to activate and harden upon exposure to artificial radiation but not water, the reactive precursor being further chemically configured to activate at water depths ranging from approximately 0.3 to 6,096 m (1 to 20,000 ft.), temperatures of approximately −15° C. (5° F.) and higher, or both,
wherein activating the reactive precursor creates a load-bearing repair implement from the composite laminate, the load-bearing repair implement exhibiting a tensile strength of at least approximately 86.2 MPa (12,500 psi) in at least one principal axis direction.