Pipeline Pig Cathodic Protection for Debris-Free Water Pipelines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pipeline pigs often get stuck due to debris and obstructions, leading to costly downtime and restricted pipeline flow, as existing cleaning methods are inefficient in maintaining a debris-free and corrosion-free pipeline.
Innovation Solution
A pipeline pig equipped with a cathodic protection system that includes a cleaning tool with guide discs, an anode, and an impressed current source, where the anode is encapsulated in a hydrophilic wax-repellent cementitious material to prevent corrosion and allow ion flow, ensuring efficient cleaning and protective coating deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pipeline pig is propelled through the pipeline to clean and inspect it, then the pipeline can be maintained, but the pig may get stuck due to debris and obstructions, causing downtime and restricted flow
Solution Approach 1:
The cathodic protection system is activated before the pigging operation to pre-condition the pipeline interior surface by removing corrosion and deposits. This preliminary protective action ensures that when the pig travels through the pipeline, it encounters a cleaner surface with reduced friction and fewer obstructions, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing disruptions to pipeline flow continuity
2Speed
If flow channels are provided through the pipeline pig to regulate speed, then the pig speed can be controlled, but the maximum fluid force that can be applied to drive the pig is reduced, increasing the likelihood of getting stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The cathodic protection system operates continuously during the pig's travel through the pipeline, maintaining a protective current that prevents corrosion and keeps the surface clean. This continuous action ensures that the pig consistently experiences reduced friction and maintains adequate driving force throughout its journey, allowing speed regulation through flow channels without increasing the risk of getting stuck
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then the pipeline can be cleaned, but the pipeline pig still gets stuck due to remaining debris and obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces purely mechanical cleaning methods with an electrochemical cathodic protection system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical scraping or brushing that may leave debris, the cathodic protection system uses electrochemical reactions to dissolve and remove corrosion and deposits at the molecular level, ensuring a truly debris-free surface that prevents the pig from getting stuck while remaining easy to implement
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 cathodic protection system effectively cleans the pipeline interior, prevents corrosion, and maintains a debris-free surface, reducing the likelihood of the pipeline pig getting stuck and enhancing operational efficiency by ensuring continuous pipeline flow.
Implementation Method 1
depositing a cathode layer on the interior of the pipeline
Implementation Method 2
the encapsulant includes a hydrophilic wax repellant cementitious material that is sufficiently porous to allow ions to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 3
the encapsulant includes a hydrophilic wax repellant cementitious material
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Apparatus and method for cleaning the inner surface of a pipeline (P) from deposits and for forming a protective coating are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cleaning tool which is caused to move in the interior of the pipeline (P) by a flow of a fluid (F), the cleaning tool comprising a plurality of guide discs (18, 20) engaging the pipeline surface and mounted along a longitudinal axis (A) of the cleaning tool, an anode (118) positioned inside the cleaning tool, and an impressed current source electrically connected to the anode (118) and the interior of the pipeline (P), the interior of the pipeline (P) acting as a cathode when current is applied from the current source so that ions (114) flow from the anode (118), through the fluid (F), to the interior of the pipeline (P).