Optimising Pipelines

This product range has been developed for localised gas storage requirements of clients in the power station sector, primarily municipal utilities. The EUROPIPE Optimising Pipelines are suited for short-term gas storage of small to medium-size quantities in closer proximity to power stations.
In 2008 EUROPIPE received two orders totalling 24 km of pipes from RWE Power, the largest orders in this market segment so far. They constitute a new dimension of projects, as these are the first large orders from a non-municipal utility.

The first order was for the delivery of 15 km of large-diameter pipes for the extension of the RWE Emsland power station in Lingen. The gas and steam turbine powered station has a net capacity of 876 MW and is come into operation in 2009. The second order was a 9 km pipe system for the RWE Gerstein power station in Hamm-Werne. The total number of pipes produced for these orders was 1,400, and they have a diameter of 56" (1,422 mm) and a wall thickness of 24 mm.

The pipes were constructed in parallel lines with caps at each end of the line. The technical specifications were very demanding, as the pipes have to withstand at least one load cycle per day, with an operating pressure fluctuation between 30 and 100 bar. In addition, very high requirements regarding roundness and wall thickness tolerances had to be met.