HDPE vs PVC: Why HDPE Tubing Has Become the Gold Standard Within the Power Industry
The power industry has changed dramatically since the turn of the century. Rapidly developing technologies, stricter government regulations, and environmental concerns have caused industry leaders to rethink age-old standards. One key change was an industry-wide shift from using steel piping to transport the water that is needed to cool power plants. Due to serious issues with inevitable corrosion, steel piping was abandoned in favor of plastic pipe materials. The two main most common plastic materials being used in power plant pipework are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). For much of the last 40 years, PVC was the most popular steel replacement. However, PVC has proven to have corrosion and durability problems of its own. Because of the issues with PVC, HDPE tubing is slowly emerging as the gold standard within the power industry. Read on to find out why.
HDPE Tubing Has a Lower Failure Rate
Years of practical use have allowed data to be collected on the use and overall reliability of plastic tubing. PVC tubing has been shown to have a failure rating of roughly 1 in 48,650 events, while HDPE tubing has a failure rating of roughly 1 in 10,000,000. The term "events" refers to instances of flexing and stress on the pipe that can be caused by rain, snow, wind, and temperature changes.
HDPE Tubing Conserves Water
One major flaw with PVC pipes is that each piece of pipe is connected with a gasket or glue sealant, which creates a weak point. These weak points can be quickly worn down over time, resulting in a pipe failure. When pipes fail, it ultimately amounts to a water main break. In the United States, there is a water main break every two minutes, causing estimated background leakage of about 14% of the nation's drinking water every day. Unlike PVC pipes, HDPE pipe parts are heat-sealed together to create a permanent leak-proof bond. This bonding process eliminates the weak point issue, conserving massive amounts of water, enabling an efficient power plant cooling process, and preventing chemical byproducts from leaking into the environment.
HDPE Tubing is Longer Lasting
PVC tubing has a relatively shorter timeframe than HDPE tubing. Throughout this timeframe, PVC changes dramatically. The material becomes brittle and is vulnerable to cracking during routine system pressure changes. To be safe, it is recommended to change PVC piping every couple of years. HDPE tubing has a relatively longer lifespan than PVC and can show no sign of degradation. It will remain flexible and be able to withstand pressure changes throughout the entire lifespan. This also saves time on plant maintenance.
Conclusion
As you can see, HDPE tubing has significant advantages over its age-old counterparts. There's no doubt that HDPE will continue to ensure safety and reliability to the power plant industry for many years to come. If you want to learn more about HDPE tubing, you can find out more here.