Notes On Loading A Pig Into Pipeline

By Helen Williams


In many occasions, pipelines need to be cleaned, inspected and other maintenance practices. This is to ensure they remain efficient and dispense their services as expected of them. Pigging is a process that greatly aids in these activities. Special apparatus named pigs are usually used in the performance of a variety of maintenance. Loading a pig into pipeline should however be done in such a way that it does not interfere with fluency of products.

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.

Pigging through times has extensively been used in cleaning conduit piping that has somewhat large circumference or diameter, especially in the oils industry. Today, nevertheless, there has been the adoption of pigging systems with smaller diameters, especially in many plant proprietors and batch plants. This is usually in a bid to fast-track efficiency, lower costs and generally ensures normal operations progress smoothly.

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.

Using pigging has also proved to be very essential because it reduces instances of cross-contamination. It is additionally used during the process of emptying the products from the pipes. Normally, pigging should be done at the very end of the transferring process, though certain circumstances may compel it to be carried out amidst the process.

It should be noted that pigging measures should not be undertaken recklessly, carelessly or with people that have scanty knowledge on the intricacies involved. This is because cases of deaths and severe injuries resulting from mishandling the systems have been on the rise. Caution and experience is therefore paramount. There are many mistakes that may result in catastrophes, though the commonest one is whereby the closure openings are open and at the same time the vessel is under intense pressure.

In addition, grisly incidents may also occur if the closure doors are still opened, when there is a high concentration of hazardous toxins such as H2S still inside the particular vessel. Another one is whereby vent valves still remain opened when the particular vessel is still being pressurized with the product or medium in it.

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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