A large beverage manufacturer located in Puerto Rico needed to modernize its plant to increase capacity for its signature beverage. An underground drainage system was required to handle process waste and any major spills from the tank farm and filtration building where fermentation and yeast propagation take place.

A low-cost provider was chosen for the first phase of the project, which unfortunately cost both the initial contractor and the customer dearly. The low-cost provider supplied material that did not meet the original specifications, had many leaks in the factory welds, and deliveries took more than five months. Severely disappointed with the Phase 1 outcome, the owner and contractor turned to Asahi for their Phases 2 and 3 project needs. The Duo-Pro Piping System is able to withstand the severe operating conditions, including high-temperature demands (up to 190 degrees F) and corrosive medias of the project, and provide superior corrosion resistance with copolymer polypropylene resin. Due to the various stages of chemical combinations during the manufacturing process, sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid are used as neutralizing agents to process waste prior to entering the sanitary sewer system. The thermoplastic materials of the Duo-Pro system provide safe and reliable long term transport of these harsh chemicals. The patented Dogbone fitting was used in the Duo-Pro system to securely lock the inner pipe to the outer pipe and ensure the piping system will maintain proper stress control.

The specifications called for double containment piping in sizes ranging from standard 3 by 6 inches up to an unconventional 24 by 32. Given that the largest standard size for Duo-Pro is 18 by 24, Asahi made special arrangements to accommodate the customer. The larger sizes of the Duo-Pro piping were constructed in Asahi’s fabrication shop in Malden, Mass., as well as in Asahi’s pipe supplier (AGRU) facility in Austria. The contractor and customer also requested Asahi to completely prefabricate an entire double-wall piping system in spools for faster and easier installation in the field. Using the Asahi fabrication facilities in Malden, Asahi was able to prefabricate over 50 piping spools (some as long as 32 feet) to the project’s specifications and dimensions. After completion and pressure testing, the Duo-Pro 150/45 spools were then shipped to the job site, ready to be installed. This saved both time and money for the customer.

For more information, visit www.asahi-america.com.