By Denny Setzer, Territory Sales Manager for Krausz, a Mueller brand
The Client
A&B Irrigation is a co-op water irrigation district located near Rupert, Idaho that serves 82,000 acres of farmland, irrigating malt barley, sugar beets, potatoes, alfalfa, corn, and bean crops. The district diverts 210,000 acres-feet per year which is pulled from the Snake River and up a 140’-high canyon wall. The water continues through a 78” steel pipe over 1,400’ to an open canal trench to supply water to more than 200 farmers and ranchers. Irrigation operations run from March or April through September or October, depending on weather conditions.
The Situation
The A&B Irrigation 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. A&B Irrigation manager Dan Temple was seeking a solution that would effectively seal the leaks while minimizing installation time, manpower and costs.
The Challenge
To needed to find a solution that would quickly, and cost effectively seal leaks originating from the couplings connecting 40’ sections of 78” OD steel piping. A&B Irrigation would start by coupling two sections of the pipe with the intent to replace the rest of the dresser couplings if the HYMAX VERSA delivered as expected.
The Solution
The HYMAX VERSA wraparound coupling offered an ideal solution for replacing the dresser multi-bolt couplings. The coupling can open like a clamp but offers the durability, dynamic deflection, and seal of a Krausz coupling. Weighing in at 226 lb with only six bolts to tighten on each side, the HYMAX VERSA 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 provided, so Krausz created a customized version to meet this requirement and also have it fit on the pipe’s 78” OD (the HYMAX VERSA regular sizes are 1.5” to 70”).
Made from stainless steel, the HYMAX 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. The HYMAX VERSA 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 VERSA 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 success of using the HYMAX VERSA, A&B Irrigation has made plans to replace all the old connectors in October 2020 in a project that will be completed within two to three weeks.
Advantages the HYMAX VERSA offered
Highly versatile
The VERSA is a multi-purpose stainless steel coupling that can be used for either joining or repairing pipes, reducing and simplifying inventory. For this project, the fact that the coupling could open and close to become a permanent part of the pipe gave A&B Irrigation the flexibility to not remove pipes from their stands and make the repair in place. That meant that thousands of dollars could be saved in terms of labor and equipment with the wraparound coupling.
Exceptionally durable
The HYMAX VERSA is made from stainless steel with a weld-free construction. The coupling can withstand the wide range of Idaho weather conditions, including heavy rain and snowstorms. The VERSA’s innovative radial closing design and sealing systems also eliminate installation errors and can adapt to out-of-round pipe shapes (up to 0.31”) for optimum fit on both ends.
Flexible connection
During installation, the HYMAX VERSA allowed for up to 3° angular deflection on each end, as well as for misaligned pipes, meaning there was room for the pipes to not be perfectly aligned but ensuring a durable connection regardless. Post installation, the coupling’s dynamic pipe deflection on each end reduces the risk of damage and cracking due to ground shifts and temperature changes.
Conclusion
Without the HYMAX VERSA, A&B Irrigation predicted that the coupling replacement project would take two or three months to separate the pipes, take them off their stands, connect them, and then put them back in place. With the HYMAX VERSA, the test section of the pipes was repaired without removing pipe sections from their location. As a result, A&B Irrigation plans to save tens of thousands of dollars in labor costs and renting the necessary equipment to otherwise complete the project. “The HYMAX VERSA offers a unique solution to our repair needs that is both durable and could ensure that the repairs will be made in a matter of weeks rather than months,” said Temple. “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.”
