Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Basic Tips Of Loading A Pig Into Pipeline

By Helen Williams


In numerous occasions, conduit pipes or pipelines will require to be cleaned and disposed of unwanted materials, and even inspected. These activities are mainly aimed at ensuring their dispensation of service remains effective and exemplary, as intended. To facilitate these upkeep practices, pigging comes in. It is a process which basically involves equipment referred to as pigs, which greatly help in maintenances of piping systems. Loading a pig into pipeline must nonetheless not disrupt normal operations and flow of medium.

This process, usually called pigging, is done by putting the pigs into launching stations or rather launchers, which are oversized parts of pipelines, thus reducing to the standard diameters. The launcher is consequently closed, and the pressure that is exerted by the particular product in the pipe pushes the pig along the pipe, up to the receipt traps or receiving stations.

In the past, this process was used in practices like cleaning of conduit pipes that have large diameters. However, nowadays, there has been the adoption of pigging systems which are smaller amongst many plant firms, in a bid to enhance efficiency and also cut down on costs. Pigging may be employed in almost all sections of transfer process, including during blending, filling alongside storage systems. The pigging systems are majorly preferred in industries that handle diverse products such as lubricating oils, toiletries, foodstuffs, chemical materials, paints, etc.

The pigs can also be used in paints blending, in cleaning pipes so that situations like cross-contamination are significantly avoided. They are also used in emptying pipes into respective product pipes. Under normal circumstances, pigging should be done during the end of every batch though at times it can be done in the middle of the batch, for instance in production of premixes which are intended to be used as intermediate products or components.

It has also been confirmed that pigging goes a long way in reducing cross-contamination conditions. Prevalently, pigging is done during clearing or emptying of mediums. Many undertake it during the end, though in certain conditions and circumstances, it can be done in the course or midst of the transfer process.

However, during the execution of pigging, various cautionary measures should mandatorily be taken, to avoid ugly scenarios like injuries, impairments or accidents of whatever kind. There has been multiple numbers of accidents that are recorded whereby operators are injured and some even killed whilst performing pigging operations. The commonest cause of suchlike cases is whereby closure doors are opened, whilst pressure is still being exerted in the vessel. Another cause is whereby the main valves are opened when the closure doors are not yet completely closed.

Another advantage is that pigging ensures the product is saved as much as possible, as well as time. This is because during the tail end of transfer process, the line can be easily cleared out in either directions, forth towards reception point, or back towards the source. Line flushing is therefore of no importance.

All the above mentioned causes are majorly related to unorthodox and improper operations of process valves as well as closure doors. Adding valve interlocks is a very clever idea of combating these woes. Adherence to all safety procedures are core during this process, and therefore make sure that you carry out all various activities involved in the process very cautiously and knowledgeably. This is to ensure you remain safe, from the start to the end.




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