Service Pipe Sealing Using Pig-Driven Sealant for Lateral Leaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods are inadequate for sealing leaks in lateral pipelines, leading to significant water loss in urban communities, and there is a need for improved methods to address this issue.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pig train and sealant composition is passed under pressure through a main pipeline to enter lateral pipes, sealing leaks by reaching the leakage site and curing them, using fiber-in-liquid sealant compositions and gel pigs to form a pig train that moves along the pipeline and seals the leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional excavation methods are used to repair lateral pipelines, then reliable leak sealing can be achieved, but the complexity of the repair process and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant composition autonomously navigates to the leak location and performs sealing without external intervention. The composition is injected into the lateral pipe where it automatically migrates to the leakage site, seals the leak, and then returns to the main pipe, eliminating the need for excavation or manual repair operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealant composition acts as an intermediary carrier that transports sealing materials to the leak location. It serves as a mobile platform that delivers fibrous materials and sealing agents directly to the defect site, enabling repair without direct human access to the pipeline.
2Loss of substance
If lateral pipeline leaks are not sealed, then water loss continues at significant rates, but existing sealing methods are inadequate for this application
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant composition undergoes parameter changes including viscosity variation and phase transformation upon contact with water. These changes enable the composition to effectively seal leaks by adapting its physical properties to the sealing requirements at the leak location.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealant composition is a composite material containing fibrous materials, sealing agents, and carrier fluids. This composite structure provides both the flowability needed to reach the leak and the sealing capability to stop water loss, achieving reliable leak sealing in lateral pipelines.
3Productivity
If sealant composition is injected under high pressure, then the composition reaches lateral pipes effectively, but the risk of damaging the pipeline increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant composition changes its viscosity parameters in response to pressure and environmental conditions. This allows effective injection under pressure to reach lateral pipes while reducing damage risk through adaptive flow characteristics that prevent excessive force application.
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 method effectively seals lateral pipeline leaks, reducing leakage rates to less than 15,000 liters per hour within minutes to hours, with seals forming quickly and efficiently without the need for excavation.
Implementation Method 1
passing a at least one of a pig train and said sealant composition under pressure along at least one of said main pipeline and said at least one lateral pipe
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the sealant composition enters at least one leakage site to seal and cure the at least one leak
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods and systems for sealing at least one leak in at least one of at least one lateral pipe and a mains pipe, the method including passing a at least one of a pig train and said sealant composition under pressure along at least one of said main pipeline and said at least one lateral pipe such that a portion of the sealant composition enters at least one leakage site to seal and cure the at least one leak.