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- Demonstration Project to Implement Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP) Technology to Stop Water Leaks Through Concrete
Demonstration Project to Implement Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP) Technology to Stop Water Leaks Through Concrete
Project ID: 4553
Principal Investigator: Daryl Little
Research Topic: Repair and Maintenance
Funded Fiscal Years:
2016,
2017 and
2018
Keywords: None
Research Question
Will Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP) technology be effective in stopping water leaks through
concrete in locations with various cracks sizes and under high head? How much will EOP
decrease the relative humidity of the concrete structure? How long with the system last before
replacement of the components is required?
Need and Benefit
A main goal of BOR is the delivery of water and power. Dams, pipelines, and canals are among
the structures built with concrete that are used for this purpose, but they can often have leaks.
The leaks represent lost water in many cases, usually cause maintenance problems and
expenses, and can cause loss of revenues related to water delivery and power generation.
Due to the cracks and leaks in the concrete, water migrates through the concrete and can lead
to calcium carbonate deposits which can interfere with gate operations, can plug drains, result in
standing water in chambers, and cause significant corrosion problems of any metal in contact
with the leaking water.
This is a common Reclamation problem. Existing methods for these types of repairs are very
expensive and are limited in application. To date, in many cases, the only solution is continual
maintenance of leaking structures. The continual repair and maintenance is difficult and
expensive due to the location and materials.
Contributing Partners
Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.
Research Products
Bureau of Reclamation Review
The following documents were reviewed by experts in fields relating to this project's study and findings. The results were determined to be achieved using valid means.
Demonstration Project to Implement Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP) Technology to Stop Water Leaks Through Concrete (final, PDF, 5.3MB)
By Daryl Little
Research Product completed on September 30, 2018
Demonstration Project to Implement Electro-Osmotic Pulse Technology to Stop Water Leaks Through Concrete (final, PDF, 284KB)
By Daryl Little
R&D Bulletin completed on September 30, 2019
