Page 22 - Gi flipbook April 2018

A revolution in buried pipe replacement
and challenges (technical, operational
and end user) to be addressed in to be processed each week without
order to get TORS ready for interrupting any customers, plus
operational field trials. STaRS was
critical to the extended field trial
development, providing a playground
22
TORS.indd 3 15/03/2018
for the robot, allowing offline services The commitment to provide an
end-to-end solution was challenged
on many fronts, but in May 2017 the
independent testing of the process by TORS robot left STaRS to undertake
ROSEN through every conceivable trials in a controlled operational site
weather condition. in Lancashire – a hard test for
anything designed and built in
Yorkshire! The team completed
four, remote, independently tested
and witnessed service to mains
connections without the need for
any interaction with the buried
pipe connection.
The focus moved from ‘is this
technically possible?’ to ‘how does it
work in practice from an operations
perspective?’ Namely, we needed to
know how TORS would fit with or
replace the traditional methods,
culture and behaviours.
Some of the operational
developments underway are
refinements of TORS with service
transfers through reduced dig,
through coring techniques, black PE
(rather than just yellow PE) and
complex service connections.
The current TORS process means a
remote service to mains connection is:
• Around one hour per service
connection
• Complementary with live mains
insertion
• Capable of 10 services mains
connections in three working days
The above will not only give a
financial benefit and reduce the
number of holes; it will see less
temporary traffic management, less
vehicles to remove earth and materials,
and less impact to customers.
Working closely with the gas
distribution networks to identify
suitable sites, it is believed that
robotic service to mains connection
will be coming to a street near you to
revolutionise the way assets are
managed. The concept is no longer
science fiction, but is now a reality. ■
■ Synthotech and Cadent openly
shared the NIA-funded TORS
development with all the UK gas
distribution networks and other
stakeholders (IGEM, Ofgem and
HSE) on two knowledge transfer
days on the 19 and 20 September
2017. You can view a video of these
at www.synthotech.com/knowledge-
base. For more information visit
www.synthotech.co.uk or email
wez.little@synthotech.co.uk
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