DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE is a proven, multi-linear, horizontal drainage solution that provides all the benefits of a drain and a cushion geotextile as well as providing leak detection with spark testing and liquid catchment within the one install.

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE is a multi-linear drainage Geocomposite as defined by ASTM (D4439-17). Widely specified and installed in Europe and North America, DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE is designed for high performance drainage applications in the civil construction, landfill and mining sectors while ensuring your containment system is free from holes and defects.

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE design and specification is supported via technical experience and software, namely the Lymphéa design software. The Lymphéa® software was developed in association with the University of Grenoble and le Laboratoire des Ponts et Chaussées (France) to calculate the requirements for DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE in civil applications.

Use

To protect the groundwater from the infiltration of mine tailings and process water, the construction of the ponds integrates single or double sealing systems. The installation of a double geomembrane liner and a geoelectric leak detection campaign increases the safety of the entire system with respect to environmental risks. This requires the installation of an electrically conductive layer under the primary geomembrane in addition to a drainage system.

The applicable leak detection methods compatible with the DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE are Water puddle (ASTM D7002) and Arc test (ASTM D7953) for exposed geomembranes, and Dipole (ASTM D7007) for covered geomembranes

The technology consists of:

• Perforated PP mini-pipes
• Geotextile layers
• Dedicated design software
• Specific connection kits
• Conductive grid

Most Common Applications:

1. Leak Detection

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE adds a conductive stainless-steel grid inside a DRAINTUBE® product. This allows for the benefit of geo-electrical leak detection in addition to the drainage, filtration and mechanical protection of DRAINTUBE®, all in a single product requiring a single installation. The stainless-steel conductive grid also protects the geomembrane from being punctured and drains any leakage during operation.

The benefits of DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE include:

• Homogeneous diffusion of electric currents under the geomembrane
• Compatibility with geo-electrical leak location surveys for both exposed geomembranes (Water Puddle and Arc test methods) and covered geomembranes (Dipole test method).
• Cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution as it replaces granular layers

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE is a great alternative to other products (e.g. aluminium or other conductive materials), as it will remain functional for many years even in humid environments, instead of degrading within a few months after installation.

2. Building and Sport Fields- Synthetic and natural turf sport fields

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE Sport drainage geocomposite offers a better, more effective solution for drainage with the following advantages:

• significant cost reductions,
• simple installation,
• variable design options,
• improved performance,
• a better environmental footprint through a significant reduction of greenhouse gases.

3. Civil- Drainage of roads/highways foundations

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE Civil drainage geocomposite offers a better, more effective solution for drainage with the following advantages:

1. No loss of drainage capacity over time and  under loads​
2. Light and Robust​
3. Easy to install
4. Cost effective alternative to No-Fines concrete
5. Simple connection details for discharge of fluids

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4. Mining and Tailings Management

Fluid management is critical for most civil engineering applications. The development of pore pressure in soils can compromise the stability of installations. Over the past 10 years, Afitex-Texel Inc. has been using DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE drainage geocomposites to eliminate interstitial pressure and ensure the long term performance of environmental and civil engineering projects.

These products rely on the combination of various geotextile layers (filtration, separation and protection layers) that are needle-punched together with integrated perforated mini-pipes for high capacity drainage.

Based on the experience gained over many years of draining waste storage facilities, DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE is especially suited to mining related drainage. The mining industry requires customised solutions specifically adapted to the following situations;

• Drainage for waste storage covers/caps
• Tailings Storage Facilities drainage
• Heap leachate pad drainage
• Groundwater drainage under storage ponds (freshwater, leachate, mining waste)
• Leak detection and geomembrane protection

5. Environmental 

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE combines standard pipe and geosynthetic technology into a unique package offering superior long-term drainage capacity and performance.

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE drainage Geocomposites allow geomembrane leak detection surveys using standard geoelectrical methods.

Standard rolls of DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE are delivered in 75m lengths eliminating embankment benches, which results in maximised landfill cell volume and lessened overlap wastage. Installation of the DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE very much follows the best practices of geotextile installation allowing for non-specialised labour to be used. Whereas Geocomposite Geonets require cable-ties and the overlapping of the adjacent geotextiles to join the panels, the DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE simply overlaps together.

6. Landfill Gas Management 

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE LFG collects and controls gas at each stage of the landfill’s life.

1. During operation: Horizontal LFG collection within the waste mass. Landfill gas (LFG) needs to be effectively extracted from active landfill to comply with air regulation and reach the 75% lifetime gas capture rate recommended.
2. During operation: Temporary cap with LFG collection.  Temporary caps are used on open landfill cells to limit rainfall infiltration into the waste and prevent gas from escaping the sides of the land.
3. Closure: LFG drainage within the final cover system. The final cover system must include a gas venting layer to provide a conduit for LFG to travel to gas wells.

Our Lymphea design software, plus our talented professionals are available to help make your project a success from concept to completion.

Speak to our tech team for assistance techteam@globalsyntheticsgroup.com.au 

DRAINTUBE® CONDUCTIVE INFORMATION VIDEO: 

Case Study

Subsurface drainage collection system for Sydney parking lot

Project: Subsurface drainage collection system Product: Draintube® 480PP FTF/20D Time period: Early 2021 Location: Kings Park, NSW Project Background At Kings Park near Blacktown in Sydney’s west, a car parking facility is being upgraded to better serve the surrounding tenants. The excavation work being undertaken for the project provides a convenient opportunity to upgrade the […]