The Problem
A&B Irrigation is a co-op water irrigation district located near Rupert, Idaho that serves 82,000 acres of farmland. They recently needed to find a solution that would quickly, and cost effectively seal leaks on couplings connecting 40’ sections of 78” OD steel piping used to transport water over 1,400 ft from the Snake River to an open canal trench.
The pipeline was originally installed in 1953, connecting steel pipe sections with multi-bolt dresser couplings. Over time, the gaskets were increasingly leaking, and the couplings needed to be replaced. With the large sections of pipe sitting on cement stands, however, installing new couplings would require dismantling the sections of pipe, connecting them, and then putting them back in place.
The Solution
A & B Irrigation chose the HYMAX Versa wraparound coupling for replacing the dresser multi-bolt couplings. The coupling can open like a clamp but offers the durability, dynamic deflection, and seal of a HYMAX coupling. Weighing in at 226 lb with only six bolts to tighten on each side, the HYMAX Versa coupling is relatively lightweight and quick to install compared to a multi-bolt dresser, which can weigh 500 to 600 lb with 24 to 30 bolts to tighten.
Dresser bolts also need to be removed and then tightened when the coupling is in place whereas the HYMAX bolts only need to be loosened to open the coupling and then tightened upon installation. Federal government engineers noted that the coupling required a higher-pressure value than what the HYMAX Versa coupling provided, so HYMAX created a customized version to meet this requirement and also have it fit on the pipe’s 78” OD (regular sizes are 1.5” to 70”).
Made from stainless steel, the Versa can withstand harsh Idaho winters and features a weld-free construction to make it resistant to corrosion. The elimination of welds is crucial since these areas are where corrosion often starts. It also has a patented hydraulic pressure-assisted gasket that inflates as the water pressure increases. This allows for dynamic deflection that provides a type of shock absorber to minimize damage due to shifts caused by extreme cold.
A&B Irrigation found that the sections between the pipes were sealed up with sediment, and the only way to separate the pipes was to tear them apart. The pipe ends were also severely corroded, and the pipe ends needed to be removed so the coupling could latch onto undisturbed steel. With the original connectors removed, the ends of the pipe standing at 2” apart were sandblasted and repainted to protect against corrosion. A crane was brought in to lift the huge HYMAX Versa coupling into place on the pipe. The coupling was closed around the pipe and then the 12 bolts were tightened to complete the installation. With the initial success of using the HYMAX Versa, A&B Irrigation has replaced all the old connectors.
“The HYMAX Versa coupling offered a unique solution that ensured the repairs were made in a matter of weeks rather than months,” said Dan Temple, Irrigation Manager for A&B Irrigation. “Our co-op members look forward to many years of secure water distribution that will ultimately lead to lower water costs over the long term.”
Editor's Note: Scranton Gillette Communications and the SGC Water Group are not liable for the accuracy, efficacy and validity of the claims made in this piece. The views expressed in this content do not reflect the position of the editorial teams of Water & Wastes Digest, Water Quality Products and Storm Water Solutions.
