Double-Walled Pig Catcher With Screened Fluid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipeline systems lack effective mechanisms for safely trapping and managing pipeline pigs after they exit the pipeline, leading to potential operational inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled pig catcher vessel with a metal screen and anti-static materials, featuring a lid with V-drains and integrally molded feet to securely capture and contain pipeline pigs, allowing fluids and particulate matter to pass through while preventing rotation and horizontal movement, and a process for placing the vessel adjacent to catcher stations to ensure effective pig capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple single-walled vessel is used to catch pipeline pigs, then the device complexity is reduced, but the vessel cannot effectively prevent static charge accumulation and lacks proper containment for fluids and particulates
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is divided into two walls (inner and outer) with a gap chamber between them, creating segmented structures that work together to prevent static charge accumulation while maintaining containment functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The inner wall is nested within the outer wall, with the inner bottom portion and inner closed-wall portion positioned inside the vessel formed by the outer wall, creating a nested configuration that enables static charge prevention through the gap chamber
2Reliability
If a metal screen is added to support the pig and allow fluid passage, then the containment effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal screen is positioned specifically at the inner bottom portion of the vessel, providing localized support for the pig while allowing fluids and small particulate matter to pass through, rather than requiring complete structural complexity throughout the entire vessel
Solution Approach 2:
The metal screen acts as an intermediary element between the pig and the inner bottom portion, supporting the pig's weight while permitting fluid passage through its mesh structure
3Reliability
If feet with notches are added to prevent rotation and horizontal movement, then the pig catcher stability is improved, but the ease of installation and removal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The feet with notches are pre-formed as integral parts of the outer wall during manufacturing, so that the anti-rotation and anti-horizontal-movement functionality is built into the structure before installation, eliminating the need for separate attachment operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures secure and efficient trapping of pipeline pigs, allowing for easy cleaning of the vessel and reducing static charges, thereby enhancing operational safety and efficiency in pipeline maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The outer wall and inner wall are made from an anti-static plastic. Alternatively or additionally, the pig catcher is grounded.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and process used to catch a pipeline pig after use in a pipeline. The process involves locating the pig-catching apparatus adjacent the catcher station of a pipeline such that a pipeline pig coming out of the catcher station lands on a metal screen of the pig-catching apparatus. The pig-catching apparatus includes a vessel with a double wall configuration, the metal screen extending across an upper aperture such that the pipeline pig can be supported on the metal screen and fluids and small particulate matter can pass through the screen into the center chamber, and a plurality of feet integrally molded with the outer wall. The feet are located along the outer edge so as to extend outwardly therefrom and are spaced apart.