Systems, devices, and methods for in situ pipe repair

A system for in situ repair of a metal pipe, the system comprising:

• a first pipe repair head comprising:
• a first arm extending along a radial direction of the metal pipe;
• and
• a Joule heating element coupled to a distal end portion of the first arm so as to face an inner circumferential wall of the metal pipe;
• a support member extending along an axial direction of the metal pipe, the first pipe repair head being coupled to the support member;
• an actuation assembly constructed to move the first pipe repair head along the axial direction of the metal pipe, along a circumferential direction of the metal pipe, or along both the axial and circumferential directions;
• an electrical power supply operatively coupled to the Joule heating element;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the actuation assembly and the electrical power supply, the controller comprising one or more processors and computer readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
• (a) position, via the actuation assembly, the first pipe repair head with respect to a surface portion of the inner circumferential wall;
• and
• (b) apply, via the electrical power supply, a first current pulse to the Joule heating element such that the Joule heating element generates a first temperature of at least 1000° C. proximal to the surface portion.