STUDY AND COMPARISON OF THE PROPOSED METHODS OF FORCE COOLING OF POLYETHYLEN PIPES (PE PIPES)

Abstract

The current study provides several cooling methods for rapid electrofusion welding, all of which have more optimal cooling compared to natural cooling. However, the criteria for selection of a proper fluid is, along with reduced cooling time and operability, is optimization of the process, improved quality of the final weld and minimizing the decrease in weld strength. Analyses on the fluid samples use for rapid cooling show that it is suitable for cooling to start after the end of crystallization step, or to first move past the crystallization step using air or dry ice and with a suitable rate, before starting rapid cooling to room temperature using a fluid such as water after the end of crystallization. The results obtained from rapi cooling under different conditions show the advantages of using water and air as a suitable fluid. Using air in the temperature range of 10 to 30℃ and water in the temperature range of 23 to 30℃ result in minimum change in physical properties comparted to natural cooling. Furthermore, using water as the fluid is more suitable than air when it comes to cooling time, with air resulting in less decrease in cooling time while also minimizing changes in physical properties compared to reference values.