This iX offers an opportunity to collaborate with a major UK water company in developing technologies to assess and estimate the remaining lifespan of ferrous (Cl, Sl, Steel and ductile iron) rising mains, with minimal operational disruption. 

The challenge holder is a major UK water company with a substantial network of underground pipes. Certain of these are ferrous pipes (cast iron, spun iron, steel and ductile iron) and often quite old and used to pump effluent (Rising Mains). &nbsp;
Many are suffering from degradation due to corrosion (both external and biogenic) and ground movements, exacerbated by fatigue/shock transients from pump operation, with severe implications of failure. &nbsp;Corrosion arises from the aggressive nature of the line contents, breakdowns in protective linings, and failures of external protective wraps allowing exposure to saturated soil.
The challenge seeks to find more efficient methods of reliably assessing these pipes so that maintenance and replacement can be planned to reduce disruption and the carbon cost associated with emergency repairs.
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Background

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The challenge holder is a large UK water company with a large number of underground pipe assets, some of which are old and in a deteriorating condition with an increasing risk of failure. &nbsp;
Failure is highly deleterious, usually requiring emergency pumping, tankers and disruption to services with an associated financial, environmental and carbon cost as well as the costs of mobilising for an unscheduled repair and cleaning up any bursts.
Efficient inspection of buried pipes is difficult, &ldquo;No Dig&rsquo; approaches are highly desirable due to the disruption caused by any excavation.
The pipes of concern are socket and spigot jointed ductile iron (DI) that convey pumped effluent (Rising Main). &nbsp;The pipes deteriorate through several mechanisms:
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ground settlement stressing the pipes
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ground settlement reducing the joint integrity
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Internal corrosion
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;External corrosion
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Accidental damage (excavator bucket strikes and the like)
The current best technology to assess the pipe condition is a SmartPIG (Pipeline Integrity Gauge) that detects misaligned joints and measures the pipe wall thickness to a good degree of fidelity using ultrasonic techniques. &nbsp;However, this is difficult to deploy into the pipe, requires temporary removal of substantial hardware such as valves and pumps, requires the pipe to out of operation with associated temporary pumping or tankers, can be limited by tight bend radii near pumping stations and is very costly.
Technologies are sought that offer more efficient methods of identifying movement of pipe joints, internal corrosion and external corrosion, such that the asset condition can be periodically &nbsp;assessed, and service works planned and budgeted in controlled manner.
The primary need is to address Ductile Iron pipes with higher TRL technologies, transferred from use in other sectors. &nbsp;There is also interest in understanding emergent technologies (TRL4-6) that could provide superior long-term solutions, albeit, requiring a longer and more costly development phase.
Whilst focussed upon DI pipes, the challenge holder is also interested in technologies that could fulfil a similar mission for pipes in PVC and other non-metallic materials such as Asbestos-cement or MDPE. &nbsp;Largely non-metallic pipes do not corrode in this use and do not suffer from joint settlement so it is thought that inspection would need to address early indicators of failure such as bulging and bending due to soil movements.

The Challenge

The challenge holder&rsquo;s network includes a significant length of ferrous rising mains.
The pipes of interest are:
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In the range of circa DN150 to DN600, capability to assess pipes larger than this is desirable
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Pipe runs from pump to discharge can be in the order of kms with very limited access points along them at washout valves and air valves
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Between 10 and 50 years old and of different schedule/manufacturer
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ductile Iron
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;A mixture of spigot and socket joints with thrust blocks at directional changes and also bolted mechanical joints including flanges and flange adaptors
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Be installed in trenches backfilled with various soil types
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Be installed on the trench formation or a more controlled bedding layer (sand/gravel)
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Cement lined and plain (unlined)
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Wrapped externally with protective tape and plain
The challenge holder is open to solutions that are equipment that they would buy/hire and operate to more turnkey specialist services and all points between.

Functional Requirements 

The solution should ideally be able to:
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Discern wall loss and pitting from 1mm to an accuracy of ideally +/-1mm and wall loss extents of at least dia 50mm.
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Measure overall wall thickness to an accuracy of +/-1mm.
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Locate measurement points to an accuracy of 500mm along the pipe length and to 20degrees around circumference.
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Identify joints that have rotated or displaced by more than 5degrees or 10mm
&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Output in csv or other easily manipulated format.
The challenge holder is also interested to understand lower TRL solutions (TRL4-6) that could demonstrate substantial benefits within a 5 year horizon. &nbsp;

Technical Requirements 

The technology is to be suitable for use in the outdoors environment and readily transportable in both urban areas and the wider countryside.
Pipes can be situated at depths up to 3m to crown in all UK soil types (clay, sand, gravels, saturated and dry) and under various surfaces (topsoil, vegetation, roads, footways, car parks). A small number of pipes also pass through tunnels at up to 15m depth.
Pipes may be relatively close (less than 500mm and sometimes crossing) to other utilities such as power, gas and communications.
For more invasive technologies the interior of pipes can be flushed out; but will remain a difficult and aggressive environment with residual effluent, and flow management costs will be high.
Solutions should be minimal noise, ideally avoid generator fumes and not be wasteful of clean water.
Mechanical connectivity through pipe joints (vibrational or electrical) cannot be assured.

Operating Conditions 

X-ray technologies are considered out of scope due to their operational hazards.
Techniques requiring a lot of excavation- &ldquo;No Dig&rdquo; approaches are sought.
Technologies that require a mains (not readily portable) power supply or mains water supply.
Technologies that would create a significant hazard to operatives or third parties are not desired.

Out of Scope 

A trial would need to cost around &pound;10,000 per Km surveyed to prove competitive to existing approaches.

Cost Requirement 

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to present to the challenge holder.
Selected solutions will have the opportunity, subject to satisfying commercial terms, to being trialled with a view to adoption if successful.
Lower TRL solutions that could offer a significant benefit may be considered for collaborative R&amp;D programmes and other funding routes
The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include: &nbsp;
Support from Innovate UK Business Connect &nbsp;
Support in the development of a prototype or pilot &nbsp;&nbsp;
Technical support &nbsp;
Invitation to attend or present at UK Business Connect events &nbsp;
A potential business collaboration &nbsp;
Investor introductions (if investment is required) &nbsp;
Potential support to qualifying SMES from Innovate UK Business Growth
Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.

Rewards & Market Opportunity 

Launch of the competition: 02/08/24
Deadline for applications: 27/09/24

Timescales

Entrants to this competition must be:&nbsp;
Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs&nbsp;
UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base&nbsp;
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Applications will be assessed on:&nbsp;
Relevance to the defined challenge
Benefit of implementation&nbsp;
Feasibility/economic viability&nbsp;
Innovative nature
Ability to launch in line with expected timescales
Credibility of applicant company
Coherence of the proposed business model&nbsp;
Development potential&nbsp;
Maturity of the solution&nbsp;
Suitability for the intended geographic market

Eligibility & Assessment Criteria

Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.&nbsp;
Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.&nbsp;
Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger. This would be expected to be after pitches and final company selection. All entries are treated as confidential and only shared with Innovate UK and the challenge holder, however if the innovator is concerned about sharing IP, it is suggested that details of IP are not disclosed. Instead, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed at this application stage.&nbsp;
Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect do not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the iX programme.

IP & Potential Commercial Route 

A selected panel of assessors will review and score your application. The panel of assessors will meet and agree a consensus score. Successful solutions will be selected by the Challenge holder. Success will be based on total consensus scores, a portfolio approach and the capacity of the challenge holders to carry out the projects.

Terms & Conditions 

The application form for this challenge will require applicants to provide company information and answer 3 questions - Idea Summary, Technology Readiness and Intellectual Property &ndash; each with a limit of 300 words.
Optionally, supporting documents can be attached to the application. We recommend that supporting documents are limited to those which are directly relevant to the application. Please note that applications with no supporting document will not receive any penalty in assessment. Supporting documents which the Assessment Panel deems to be superfluous may be disregarded. Examples of useful additional documents include product images or short specification sheets, slide decks detailing the solution and/or company background, or solution case studies.
We recommend that you complete the application form in Google Chrome as other browsers may have compatibility issues. The application form does not need to be completed in one session and can be saved for future edits. Please ensure that you toggle &ldquo;Stage Complete&rdquo; for each section before submission. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your application once you have clicked &ldquo;Submit Idea&rdquo; at the bottom of the Summary page.
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No dig measurement of pipe condition to ascertain the remaining lifespan of pressurised ferrous pipelines

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Background

No dig measurement of pipe condition to ascertain the remaining lifespan of pressurised ferrous pipelines Copy Link

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Background

No dig measurement of pipe condition to ascertain the remaining lifespan of pressurised ferrous pipelines