PE Pipe Finding Increased Use On Nuclear Power Sites, Other Industries

By Jim Craig, P.E.

Polyethylene (PE) pipe is not a new product in the United States, or even the rest of the world. In Europe, it is the piping material of choice for water, sewer and gas distribution systems. In the United States, about 90 percent of new gas distribution installations are made with PE pipe. The pipe's notoriety has been growing domestically in the sewer and potable water markets as well. In the last 50 years alone, PE pipe has been used extensively in industrial markets, for use in mining, dredging, landfills, chemical plants, bypass systems and other functions. The more demanding the application, the more PE pipe gets selected for the job.

The nuclear power industry has been using the pipe material in non-safety related service water applications for a few years. Some of the inherent features of PE pipe are paramount to the success of the nuclear plant's operation, including PE's resistance to chemicals, corrosion and its ability to create a leak-free system. Lately, a code case was submitted and published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Section (N755) for the use of PE piping systems in "safety-related" service water applications. One of America's power plants has already put in 45,000 feet of 36-inch DR17 non-safety related service water piping and has begun safety-related installations with 2,000 feet of 36-inch DR9 pipe. The plant is in the process of replacing most of their existing service water piping systems with PE. Another nuclear plant has 20,000 feet of non-safety related service water piping installed and is in process of adding safety-related water piping.