GRP/FRP PIPES are now being accepted all over in Chemical,Petroleum, Gas, Water Transportation, Sea Water, Sewerage, etc. GRP/FRP pipes are competing with conventional material like Ductile Iron, Epoxy Coated MS, PVC, HDPE because of its major advantage of being non-corrosive in nature and long life with proper selection of resin. BALAJI FIBER REINFORCE PVT. LTD. pipes are ranging from 25 mm dia. up to 3000 mm dia. and capable of withstanding pressures upto 30 bars, are now being used commonly in the desalination industry. GRP/FRP pipes have an inherent advantage of high corrosion resistance to sea water, cold water for power plants, chlorine/acid and brine solutions. They can operate continuously at higher temperatures and installation can be done above-ground, at sub-sea level as well as underground for cover depths of 8 m.
Fiberglass reinforced piping systems are time tested because they have proven their durability and value in stony environments and brutal applications for decades. Following factors lead GRP/FRP pipes ahead from any other pipe.
- Long Life : It has a minimum life of 50 years. The smooth inside surface is maintained throughout the entire life of the pipe.
- Cost effective : 10%-15% cheaper than steel pipes & 20%-30% cheaper than pre-stressed cement concrete pipes.
- Light Weight : GRP/FRP pipes weights only 25% as much as similar steel pipe and 10% as much as similar concrete product. GRP/FRP pipes are light weighted, hence easier handling, faster installation and low transportation costs. The use of heavy equipment is practically eliminated.
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Lower Pumping cost :
The low friction factor results in lower pumping cost, thus saving huge energy cost during the life cycle of the pipe. -
Low Maintenance Cost :
No maintenance cost throughout the life because of absence of corrosion, zero replacement. -
Fire Resistance
GRP/FRP offers versatility in design and can be made fire resistant by proper selection of resin system. -
Excellent Fatigue resistance
Under cyclic loading GRP/FRP provides very high resistance to fatigue which enhances its performance for longer life. -
Strength to weight ratio
This system has excellent strength to weight properties. When the ratio of strength per unit of weight is considered, GRP/FRP composites surpass iron, carbon and stainless steel as shown in below table.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Tensile strength (Mpa) |
|---|---|---|
| GRP/FRP | 1.8 | 1400 |
| Ductile iron | 7.6 | 420 |
| Steel | 7.83 | 1034 |
Smooth inside surface : The smooth interior of GRP/FRP pipes results in low fluid resistance, which could lower horse power requirements for pumping systems. This characteristic could contribute to a substantial cost savings over the life of a typical piping system. The interior pipe surface remains smooth over time in most fluid services. Therefore fluid resistance does not increase with age. The smooth interior allows the pipe diameter to be reduced while maintaining the desired flow.
