Pipe protection design for the marin outfall on the East coast of Argentina

M CORRAL; FERNANDEZ R; P FURCHI; GYSSELS P; A RODRIGUEZ

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Congreso; MWWD 2008 5th International Conference on Marine Waste Water Discharges and Coastal Environment; 2008

IAHR

The tourist area of Mar del Plata, located on the east coast of Argentina, has more than 500,000 habitants. To date, the sewage generated by the city varies in between 2.8 m3 seg-1  and  3.5 m3 seg-1 along the year, and it is discharged after a pretreatment in the Atlantic Ocean. In order to protect the environment and to improve the water quality of the coast, a complete treatment plant and a sea outfall were designed. The project includes  the three main components in the outfall system: the pumping station, the discharge pipeline and the diffuser. Particularly, this paper focuses on the design and the steps planned to assess the protection of the main pipe itself, based on the three parameters: waves, currents regime and bottom morphology characteristics. Here, critical aspects were the characteristic wave conditions, in combination with the lack of underwater visibility and the strong sedimentary dynamics of the region. Particularly, this paper focuses on the design and the steps planned to assess the protection of the main pipe itself, based on the three parameters: waves, currents regime and bottom morphology characteristics. Here, critical aspects were the characteristic wave conditions, in combination with the lack of underwater visibility and the strong sedimentary dynamics of the region. The solution for the functionality and durability of the main pipe was found in the combination of six different pipe protections along its length; all the sections made in Polyethylene of High Density and with a uniform external diameter of 2m. The structural analysis of the subsea design in all sections was performed to approve the respective protection methodology. The solution for the functionality and durability of the main pipe was found in the combination of six different pipe protections along its length; all the sections made in Polyethylene of High Density and with a uniform external diameter of 2m. The structural analysis of the subsea design in all sections was performed to approve the respective protection methodology.