Page 33 - Gi_April2021

igem news – yppc

TABLE 1 GENERAL INSERTION PROCESS

1. squeeze to burst (squeeze) 2. mix evenly (mixing) 3. insert into annular space

4. foam will continue to expand 5. pack will burst 6. foam releases

to apply and expose the operative FIGURE 4 TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL
to harmful chemicals in a confined
space with other utilities within the
excavation. An example of a current
method is shown in Figure 2, involving
a two-part liquid application (resin
and hardener) which is mixed prior to
entering the main.
To appreciate the current operational
processes, I shadowed the operations
team on site to gain a better
understanding of the challenges faced
when it became clear a new solution
was required. This allowed me to create
a problem statement to develop an
alternative, economically viable method
that would be faster, safer and meet the
following objectives: problems facing these activities. From Development and testing
Quick and easy to use this, I was able to liaise closely with the Overview
User friendly project partner SVI and SGN’s internal Working closely with SVI, several
Usable within a small excavation departments to create an SGN working design options were created and
Suitable for use from inside (by hand) group which included operations, tested with regular input and steering
and outside (by long-handled tooling) health and safety and policy to develop provided by the SGN working group.
the excavation the Burstpack product. Following the phases of the Technology
Reduce the risk of road surface slump The Burstpack product consists Readiness Level scale (Figure 4), the kit
Reduce the risk of gas tracking of a pre-measured two-part sachet was taken from concept development
Have substantial cost-saving per unit containing the foam mixtures (resin and through to completed product,
Eliminate exposure of harmful hardener), separated by a dividing strip beginning with a Technology Readiness
chemicals (mixing point). Level of 4 and ending on Level 9.
The Burstpack product allows the
Delivery user to close the annular space by Development
By gathering information from multiple applying the product by hand inside During the development phase, a
sources, I was able to fully understand the excavation or outside using long- number of initial tests were carried out
the operation, current practices and handled tooling. to understand how the foam resin and

33

11/03/2021 08:19
IGEMNews_YPPC.indd 2
IGEMNews_YPPC.indd 2 11/03/2021 08:19