What Does Hydraulic Flow Mean?
Hydraulic flow, in the context of trenchless rehabilitation, refers to the flow characteristics of a sewer or water pipe, such as:
- Flow velocity
- Slope
- Depth of flow
- Capacity
Determining these factors is important in selecting the correct rehabilitation method for the needs of the pipeline system. Sliplining, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) and pipe bursting are some of the rehabilitation techniques available for trenchless repair and renewal of deteriorated pipelines that have lost their hydraulic flow capacity.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Hydraulic Flow
Repair and maintenance are recommended for pipes that have lost their hydraulic flow characteristics. This loss can be caused by reasons such as:
- Reduction in cross-sectional area due to change in the slope of a pipe
- Deposition of sludge
- Leakage due to cracks and tree root ingress
- Corrosion
The use of trenchless rehabilitation techniques increases the hydraulic flow capacity and other related characteristics due to the superior quality of material used in these methods. The liners used in methods such as CIPP and thermoformed pipe have smooth interiors that increase the hydraulic flow considerably. Fiberglass sliplining material may reduce the internal diameter, but the increased flow capacity compensates for the reduction in size.
