Saturday, February 8, 2025

MEETING CHALLENGES OF MODERN WATER INDUSTRY

Picote is a CIPP lining contractor in Finland, as well as an innovator and manufacturer of trenchless tools, machines and solutions for the global market, with over 250 patents to date. Picote’s well-known, high-speed Millers and tools are deployed on worksites worldwide in sewer networks ranging from DN32 to DN300 (¼ in to 12 in).

It is widely acknowledged that the global need for renovating water and sewer pipes is growing. Access to water is becoming an issue in a growing number of areas. For Picote, the question was how to develop a solution to decrease the time and money needed to renovate aging and leaking water pipelines around the world? Also, how to help rehabilitate pipes over longer distances where linings have failed? It was clear that a multi-solution machine was needed, utilising NoDig technologies and allowing a faster, more cost-efficient rehabilitation process which also offers a lower carbon footprint and a reduced use of water during the rehabilitation process.

Picote’s expert international technical team, working closely with its Finland-based R&D team have come up with a unique solution. Based on industry needs, Picote Team’s own experience and a commissioned market research report, the Picote Mega Miller is designed to provide new opportunities in rehabilitating both wastewater and clean water pipes over long distances, up to about 100 m (328 ft) from a single access point, with the option of doubling the distance with the second shaft. A large range of tools allow the machine to be used for many types of work, including cleaning and descaling heavy tuberculation, as
well as removing failed liners and concrete in DN70- DN300 (3 to 12 in diameter) pipes.

- Advertisement -

The Mega Miller features a new, hollow 49 mm (1.9 in) diameter shaft for DN150 to 300 (6 to 12 in diameter) pipes, fabricated from a line of couplers, a complete change from current Miller setups. This pioneering flexible shaft design transmits 1,000 Nm of torque and rotates between 150 and 300 rpm. A two-directional pressure plate allows the shaft to
also be rotated in either direction, with the same output. The hollow shaft weighs around 750 kg (1,653 lb) compared with around 3,000 kg (6,613 lb) for 120 m (393 ft) of the traditional shaft, offering significant material and weight savings. The hollow shaft comes with a cooling channel, allowing self-cooling with pressurised air during works. Water is added to the air stream after which the air and water are mixed in the channel. Reduced amounts of water are required during the cooling process due to the new technology. The water and air mixture are also used during the cleaning process and as a shaft lubricant.

The team decided it would be highly advantageous to add a second, smaller shaft to Mega Miller (27 mm or 1.06 in diameter), allowing higher rpm, as well as access to smaller pipe sizes down to DN70 or 3 in diameter (straight pipes only in 70 mm/3 in diameter). This would effectively mean doubling the potential working range, as the shafts could be operated simultaneously, in opposite directions from the same access point, making it possible to work on 200 m (656 ft) at any one time. The 27 mm (1.06 in) diameter shaft is designed for DN70 to DN150 (3in to 6 in diameter) pipes.

A Mega Miller prototype has been developed and is ready for testing at live worksites. Based on field testing, the prototype will be re-designed and updated as required, until all testing has been finalised. After this, the prototype will be approved and transferred to the production phase.

Picote Mega Miller is designed to provide improved capabilities and make a substantial impact in the current Trenchless rehabilitation market, made possible by new innovation, which is necessary to make the maintenance and rehabilitation of the world’s sewer and water networks meet the challenges of rehabilitation, leakage reduction and net zero targets, through faster and more efficient No-Dig techniques, while decreasing costs and increasing safety.

Come along to the presentation on Wednesday 5 October, 2022 to learn more about this cutting-edge R&D project and visit us at stand 48 at the Helsinki event to see the prototype. Also, there is a Picote Open House at Porvoo on 6 and 7 October.

- Advertisement -
spot_img
Newsdesk
Newsdesk
Trenchless Works bringing you balanced journalism, accuracy, news and features for all involved in the business of trenchless and no-dig from around the world

Related Articles

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -