Microbot Pigging System Adapts to Pipe Geometry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe cleaning systems face challenges in navigating complex pipe geometries and maintaining thorough cleaning due to the limitations of traditional pigging methods, which often require oversized pigs that cannot fit through small openings or navigate turns and obstructions effectively, and alternative systems like ice pigging are costly and require constant resupply.
Innovation Solution
A microbot pigging system comprising a collection of self-propelled, wirelessly controlled microbots that can attach and detach to form a pig shape conforming to the pipe's interior, allowing for flexible navigation through varying pipe diameters and obstructions without the need for constant resupply, using a programmable computer processor to instruct the microbots to adjust their configuration in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large pig is used to clean the pipe interior, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the pig cannot navigate turns, intersections, or pipes with varying diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The pig is divided into multiple modular segments that can independently articulate and change relative positions. Each segment contains cleaning elements and can be controlled to form different configurations, allowing the pig to adapt to varying pipe geometries while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through distributed cleaning elements across all segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The pig incorporates dynamically adjustable segments that can change their configuration in real-time based on pipe geometry detection. The segments can extend, contract, rotate, or reposition themselves to navigate turns, intersections, and diameter variations while maintaining contact with the pipe interior for effective cleaning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a small pig is used to navigate complex pipe geometries, then adaptability is improved, but cleaning effectiveness decreases due to insufficient contact with pipe walls
Solution Approach 1:
The pig consists of multiple segments that can distribute across the pipe interior surface, increasing total contact area. Each segment independently engages with the pipe wall, allowing a compact overall structure to achieve effective cleaning through distributed cleaning elements across multiple contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The segments can dynamically expand or reposition to maximize contact with the pipe interior surface when needed for cleaning, while maintaining a compact configuration for navigation. This allows the pig to adapt its size and shape to both navigate complex geometries and provide sufficient cleaning contact.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pigs are used simultaneously, then flexibility is improved, but unitary strength decreases resulting in less thorough cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cleaning functions and segments are merged into a single integrated pig structure. The modular segments are mechanically coupled to form a unified assembly that maintains strength while allowing internal flexibility. The segments work together as one coordinated unit rather than independent pigs, preserving unitary strength for thorough cleaning.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cleaning the interior of a pipe using a plurality of microbots, where each microbots has a propulsion device and a programmable computer processor operatively associated with the propulsion device, and each of said processors is programmed to instruct its associated propulsion device to operate in cooperation with one or more of the other microbot propulsion devices of said plurality of microbots to form a pig in the pipe having a mutable shape that dynamically and substantially conforms to the interior contours of the pipe.