DE60022213T2 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLEANING TUBES - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for clearing a pipe 11 having an inlet end 11a and at least one outlet end 11b. A blowing means 12 maintains an overpressure sufficient to blow a gas, preferably air, through the pipe contents at a low flow rate. Following discharge of the pipe contents, the blowing means flushes a gas through the pipe at a lower overpressure and a higher flow rate to remove the remaining debris. Preferably a cleaning fluid is then introduced into the pipe, and after being discharged the pipe is dried <I>via</I> an adiabatic temperature increase. Also disclosed is an apparatus for clearing pipes, comprising a gas forcing means for the gas, a throttle valve, and optionally a control means and a pressure relief valve.

Description

These The invention relates to methods and apparatus for cleaning Pipelines.

Pipelines, such as water pipes, pipelines in industrial plants for transferring Liquids, sludges, Solids, as well as air ducts, oil pipelines, drainpipes and the like become conventional from the flowable material carried in them or deposits accumulated therein by means of a pig or pipe cleaner cleaned, a device passing through the pipeline either by pulling or pushing or under their own power promoted becomes.

In Straight pipes with a circular cross-section Pipe pigs or pipe cleaners are usually quite satisfactory, However, problems arise with non-circular sections or pipelines, the direction changes or branches.

In DE2629301A a wastewater treatment plant is disclosed with a pressure line in which contaminated waste water is forced into the pressure line by means of a submersible pump with a filtrate collection chamber. The wastewater is supplied with more or less continuous oxygen, so that no decomposition of the wastewater can begin while it is in the pressure line, by air compressors at one or more suitable locations in the pressure line, which the line more or less continuously and at a constant Ventilate the level by injecting measured quantities of air and / or introducing purging air into the line at suitable intervals. The purge air quickly flushes out the sewage in the line and it is followed by a flow - with increasing velocity - of compressed air that stirs up the deposits so that they are removed.

In US5915395 For example, there is disclosed a method for purifying water lines by forming water plugs alternately between portions of compressed air containing atomized chlorine and a polyphosphate inhibitor in an insulated section of the conduit.

The The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the Cleaning pipes, which are significant improvements over with pipe pigs linked Represent methods and devices.

As DE2629301A and US5915395 For example, the methods and apparatus of the invention utilize air or other gas to expel pipeline contents, but are designed to drive off many materials other than water or wastewater and under a wider variety of circumstances, and to provide additional functions consistent with these earlier ones Procedures are not possible.

• – Zwangszuführung eines Gases in die Rohrleitung an dem Einlassende, wobei der Auslass oder zumindest einer der Auslässe offen ist, um die Hauptmenge des Rohrleitungsinhalts auszutreiben, der von dem Gas durch die Rohrleitung gedrückt wird, unter Verwendung von Gaszwangszuführmitteln, die in der Lage sind, einen hierfür ausreichenden Überdruck bei niedriger Strömungsgeschwindigkeit aufrechtzuerhalten;
• – erst wenn die Hauptmenge des Rohrleitungsinhalts durch den bei niedriger Strömungsgeschwindigkeit durchgeführten Schritt ausgetrieben ist, Zwangszufüh rung eines Gases in die Rohrleitung bei offenem Auslass oder Auslässen, bei einem niedrigeren Überdruck und höherer Gasströmungsgeschwindigkeit, um alle Inhaltsreste auszublasen, die in der Rohrleitung nach dem mit hohem Druck, niedriger Strömungsgeschwindigkeit durchgeführten Schritt verblieben sind.

The invention includes a method of cleaning pipelines having an inlet end and one or more outlets by expelling the contents of the pipeline by a gas flow, characterized by the steps of:

• Forcibly feeding a gas into the pipeline at the inlet end, the outlet or at least one of the outlets being open to expel the majority of the pipeline contents pushed by the gas through the pipeline, using gas forced feeding means capable of to maintain a sufficient overpressure at low flow rate;
• - Only when the majority of the pipe contents is expelled by the step performed at low flow rate, Zwangszufüh tion of a gas in the pipeline with open outlet or outlets, at a lower pressure and higher gas flow velocity to blow out any remains of residues in the pipeline after with high pressure, low flow rate performed step are left.

The gas forcing means can also for the with high flow velocity conducted Serve step.

A cleaning fluid can be introduced into the pipeline after the forced gas supply steps become. The cleaning fluid The pipe can be at least between the inlet and the open Outlet or outlets fill out.

The cleaning fluid is then drained from the pipeline - which, of course, by reuse the forced gas supply means followed by a throttled outlet or outlets Gas can be forced into the pipeline to relieve the pressure to increase in the same way, that the occurring adiabatic temperature increase the pipeline from the cleaning fluid dries.

The forcibly fed gas into the pipeline in one or more steps it can be air, it actually gets be appropriate air, although for certain applications, eg. For example, a food and beverage manufacturing or filling plant, Nitrogen or carbon dioxide may be preferred, and other gases for specific Applications can be used.

When cleaning fluid Water becomes the ordinary Be choice - water can easily be vaporized at an adiabatic temperature rise up to 100 ° C be easy with a pipeline pressure of less than 1 bar is reachable. Other cleaning fluids, such as organic solvents, can can be used on demand, and these are often easier than To be dried off water.

Of the At high speed performed Ausblasschritt can a Gas velocity through the pipeline on the order of magnitude of 20 m / s. The characteristics of a forced gas supply means to achieve such flow rate will depend on the geometry of the pipeline, and the actual required Speed can also be different from both the pipeline geometry also depend on the nature of the material to be cleaned. Considering this "roughly estimated" figure of 20 m / s Empirical-practical tests simply become the gas forcing requirements for a detect any given piping system.

Likewise the size of the overpressure, the for an adiabatic heating drying step is needed, just after the Boyle's law and the forced gas supply requirements be adjusted accordingly to achieve this when they not already suitable for pipe cleaning considerations, and choking can be adjusted to the required Pressure increase while a sufficient flow of the gas is ensured to the evaporated cleaning liquid remove.

• – Gaszwangszuführmittel, die mit einem Einlassende der Rohrleitung verbunden sind,
• – Ventilmittel, die geeignet sind, einen Auslass der Rohrleitung zu drosseln,
• – wobei die Gaszwangszuführmittel und Ventilmittel an die Rohrleitung derart angepasst sind, dass sie zusammenwirken, um sowohl höheren Druck und niedrigere Strömungsgeschwindigkeit als auch einen niedrigeren Druck und höhere Strömungsgeschwindigkeit von Gas durch die Rohrleitung zu bewirken, um dadurch zuerst die Hauptmenge des Leitungsinhalts unter Verwendung der Hoch druckströmung zu entfernen und dann die Strömung mit höherer Geschwindigkeit erst dann, wenn der Inhalt durch den mit niedriger Strömungsgeschwindigkeit durchgeführten Schritt ausgetrieben worden ist, zu verwenden, um jegliche Inhaltsreste, die in der Rohrleitung nach dem Schritt mit niedriger Strömungsgeschwindigkeit verblieben sind, zu entfernen.

The invention further comprises a device for cleaning pipelines by means of a gas flow, characterized in that it comprises:

• Forced gas supply means connected to an inlet end of the pipeline,
• Valve means adapted to throttle an outlet of the pipeline,
• Wherein the forced gas supply means and valve means are adapted to the tubing so as to cooperate to effect both higher pressure and lower flow rate as well as lower pressure and flow rate of gas through the tubing to thereby first remove the majority of the tubing content using the tubing To remove high pressure flow and then use the flow at a higher speed only when the content has been expelled by the low-flow rate step to remove any remains left in the pipeline after the step at low flow rate ,

The gas forcing means can to be a pump.

The gas forcing means can however fans, Be turbine or compressor means that are able, a Gas flow rate through the pipeline in the order of magnitude of 20 m / s.

The Zwangszuführmittel and valve means can be adapted to the pipeline so that they work together, to increase the pressure within the pipeline such that the temperature of the gas in the pipeline is increased to a cleaning liquid to evaporate while a flow out of the pipeline through the valve means becomes.

The Device can be used in a manufacturing facility either as an afterthought in an existing plant or as a custom installation be installed in a new plant. However, portable devices can also be used used, for example, to provide a power for routine or occasional pipeline cleaning. Access for the forced gas supply means and connections for the Exhaust valves can configured in the new facility or can be retrofitted and after use for future use leave, or can be improved as needed become.

The Apparatus may include a control arrangement comprising the forced gas supply means controls. The control arrangement may include the forced gas supply means control according to the conditions within the pipeline, and may be a relief valve and / or a pipe internal pressure measuring device and / or a measuring device for have the tube internal temperature.

The Control means may be the outlet power of the forced gas supply means Taxes. The forced gas supply means can include a rotary blower and the control means can control its speed. When the fan is operated electrically, can speed control over a frequency converter done.

The Control arrangement may include a programmed computer, the can be programmed to operate the forced gas supply means and all ancillary equipment according to measured variables and / or to arrange a time scheme.

A major application for the procedure is in the area of drainage lines of household, commercial and industrial sites, which are currently unblocked using spiral cleaning or pressure washing techniques - pigs are usually unusable. With drainage systems that are anything but straight, even broken, with misaligned adjacent parts and possibly different cross-sections along their length, spiral and pressurized washing systems can be problematic at best, potentially damaging piping or increasing damage already existing.

A Device according to the invention can on a trailer be attached to the maintenance of drain pipes - of course Building drain pipes usually except the cleaning steps need nothing more, and therefore the insertion a throttled outlet usually not to be required.

Examples the apparatus and method for cleaning pipelines according to the invention are intended now with reference to the accompanying drawings become, in which:

1 is a schematic representation of a basic system according to the invention;

2 is a schematic representation of an installation in a typical production plant;

3 Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a typical fan end of a device;

4 an elevation of an outlet end for the device of 3 is, which is arranged for pipeline cleaning; and

5 an elevation of the outlet end of 4 is, which is arranged for liquid cleaning and drying.

6 Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a drain line cleaning arrangement; and

7 is a design of a trailer for pipe cleaning.

The drawings illustrate methods and apparatus for cleaning a pipeline 11 which is an inlet end 11a and one or more outlet ends 11b having. In the schematic device of 1 are two outlet ends 11b present, being in the pipeline 11 a branch 11c is included. It is just such a branch, as well as a curvature 11d in the pipeline 11 that cause problems when spiral cleaning or pressure rinsing.

• – Zwangseinführung eines Gases in die Rohrleitung 11 an dem Einlassende 11a, wobei das Auslassende 11b oder zumindest eines der Auslassenden 11b offen ist, um den durch das Gas ausgeblasenen Rohrleitungsinhalt auszutreiben – wobei die benötigte Gebläsekapazität deutlich reduziert wird, wenn immer nur jeweils ein Auslass 11b offen ist – unter Verwendung von Gebläsemitteln 12, die in der Lage sind, einen zum Durchblasen des Rohrleitungsinhalts bei einer niedrigen Strömungsgeschwindigkeit ausreichenden Überdruck aufrechtzuerhalten;
• – wenn der Rohrleitungsinhalt ausgetrieben worden ist, erneutes Einblasen eines Gases bei niedrigem Überdruck und hoher Strömungsgeschwindigkeit in die Rohrleitung 11 an dem Einlassende 11a und bei offenem Auslassende oder zumindest einem offenen Auslassende, um Inhaltsreste in der Rohrleitung 11 zu entfernen, die nach dem mit niedriger Strömungsgeschwindigkeit durchgeführten Schritt verblieben sind.

The procedure, as it is in 1 is shown, comprises:

• - Forced introduction of a gas into the pipeline 11 at the inlet end 11a , wherein the outlet end 11b or at least one of the outlet ends 11b is open to expel the blown out by the gas pipeline contents - the required blower capacity is significantly reduced, if only one outlet at a time 11b is open - using blowers 12 capable of maintaining sufficient positive pressure to blow through the pipeline contents at a low flow rate;
• - When the pipe contents have been expelled, re-blowing a gas at low pressure and high flow rate in the pipeline 11 at the inlet end 11a and with the outlet end open, or at least an open outlet end, to residual contents in the pipeline 11 to remove after the step performed at low flow rate.

A throttle or relief valve 13 is usually provided. This will be throttled or adjusted so that it is at a given internal pressure in the pipeline 11 opens to protect it.

Even though it possible would be different pumping or blower for the Using two steps will require the use of a single one blower that in both pressure / flow speed modes can work, capital costs for equipment and time and effort for the Save switching.

The Procedure has general applicability, regardless of the length of the Pipeline - pipelines up to several kilometers in length could on cleaned this way - and regardless of the cross-sectional size or shape of the pipeline. Therefore, the process for cleaning process piping in Industrial plants, hot air and Air conditioning pipes, drainage pipes and sewage pipes be used even if the pipeline is damaged or in terms of cross section (no matter if shape or size) or Direction changes (even if right-angled bends present are), and even if sharp steps in the pipeline and internal Obstacles such as instrument probes, flanges or tree roots are present in drain pipes and sewer pipes.

The high pressure, low speed step will usually always drive out the bulk of the material in the pipeline, leaving material behind which is located in U-formations or captured against protrusions - it will expose at least one gas flow path through the pipeline.

Of the Step performed at low pressure and high speed will be any such residue drive out after the step performed at high pressure been left behind is. The Aufwirbelkraft a liquid flow can be proportional to the fourth power of its speed - itself a small increase in the Speed over a nominal value of 20 m / s can lead to a much greater ability lead, fluids, To agitate and transport solids or mixtures thereof which in the pipeline after the high pressure and low speed conducted Step backward are.

The Cleaning fluid - usually water will be, but any other, for the present cleaning task suitable liquid can represent, for example, an organic solvent - can through pour the pipeline and be removed from the pipeline, if necessary by re-application high-pressure, low-speed and low-pressure high speed Gasausblasschritte.

One any on the walls the pipeline remaining Film of cleaning fluid and, Naturally, any puddles from through the blow-out processes left behind liquid are produced by adiabatic heating while throttling the pipe outlet be evaporated, which leads to an increase in pressure while allowing that flow through the pipeline, the evaporated cleaning liquid transported away.

2 shows the method and apparatus of the invention in the context of an industrial plant in which a product, for example minestron soup for can filling in a mixing tank 21 is mixed, for transfer via a pipeline 22 to a storage tank 23 , from there through a pipeline 24 to a filling arrangement 25 for the cans or other containers for transport, sale and the like.

The transfer from the mixing tank 21 to the storage tank 23 is through a pump 25 causes, and from the storage tank 23 to the filling arrangement 25 through a pipeline 26 , A valve 27 allows the product filling process or product transfer to other receptacles.

The auxiliary equipment according to this embodiment of the invention comprises a blower unit 29 and valves 29a . 29b . 29c . 29d . 29e . 29f . 29g ,

The blower unit 29 , which is essentially a jacket fan assembly, is with valves 29a and 29b through a gas pressure line 31 , and from there with a valve 29e through a gas pressure line 32 connected. The valves 29c and 29f supply process water or cleaning fluid.

For cleaning the pipeline 22 becomes the blower unit 29 switched on, the valves 29a and 29b she with the pipeline 22 connect. The high pressure, low velocity initial flow from the blower unit 29 pushes the product out of the pipeline 22 in the receiving storage tank 23 and the subsequent low pressure / high velocity flow then expels any product that has not been removed by the high pressure, low volume flow.

Cleaning fluid, z. As water, can then via the valve 29c be introduced, the valve 29a to the blower unit 29 locked, but to the pipeline 22 is open. The cleaning fluid can flow in and through the pipeline 22 be pumped through a separate pressure source. When this operation is completed, the valve becomes 29c locked to the cleaning fluid supply, and the valves 29a and 29b be opened to the pipeline 22 to the blower unit 29 to join. When the cleaning fluid has been expelled for disposal, the valve becomes 29d so throttled that the gas pressure inside the pipeline 22 rises to adiabatically heat the gas and to vaporize the cleaning liquid coming out of the valve 29d is discharged as vapor carried in the gas effluent.

This process is for the pipeline 26 repeated.

One important advantage over the process of the prior art for process pipe cleaning is in that no product is lost as waste, but a storage tank supplied can be - no foreign body is inserted into the pipeline, which could spoil or contaminate the pipe contents.

2 shows cleaning fluid flowing through valves 29c and 29f in turn on pipelines 22 and 26 can be connected.

The entire arrangement can be considered a retrofit into an existing plant be done or configured in a new plant.

The 3 . 4 and 5 are elevations that show what an arrangement would look like in practice.

3 shows the blower unit 29 that have a motor 41 which has a fan 42 drives. A valve stub 43 contains a filter 44 so that the blower unit 29 the pipeline 22 supplied filtered air. The valve 29a is without connection from the mixing tank 21 shown to the pipeline 22 connects, 2 ,

4 shows a possible arrangement at the outlet end or at an outlet end of an as in 2 illustrated system in which the pipeline 22 in a riser 22a ends, being a fortified section 22b in a receiving tank 51 promoted. 5 shows the same riser 22a to the pipeline 22 For adiabatic temperature increase by removing the section 22b adapted and through a valve assembly 52 which can be opened for the flow of a cleaning liquid before throttling for adiabatic heat generation. valve units 52 can be arranged at different positions in a pipeline system so that different pipeline sections can be treated individually.

As mentioned, the method is adaptable to many different pipe cleaning operations, all lengths and cross sections (size, shape) of Covering pipelines containing all types of products such as Example liquids, sludges Transport powder. The device according to the invention can be used in commercial buildings or Industrial equipment can be installed, or can be mounted on a trailer Inserted on an ad hoc basis, for example as an alternative or addition to conventional equipment for Cleaning drain pipes with spirals and pressure flushing.

Various Adjustments to the procedure are planned. In an adaptation will the method is not considered a method of cleaning pipelines used for maintenance, but as an integrated part of a manufacturing process - one Piping can have a certain volume, and this product volume can exactly by filling the pipeline and subsequent Expelling their contents into a receiving tank.

The Method can also be used in conjunction with drainage pipes in a broad aspect and sewer pipes are used on a routine basis. The second part of the process - high Speed, low pressure - would be especially useful when Controlling the flow and levels in drains and Sewer pipes, which they generally keep free from garbage accumulation would. fan and valves can at strategic locations to control the flow in sections of a sewage pipe be attached.

Under "Gaszwangszuführmittel" is any suitable means for forcing gas or air through understand the pipeline in question. One from an internal combustion engine powered fan can for portable equipment (such as equipment for Cleaning drainage pipes and sewage pipes). If greater heat, than those which by adiabatic heating at pressures that endure the pipeline or can reach (eg due to leaks in sewer pipes) can be generated, for example, is needed for pasteurization a fan heater, or and especially when big Pipelines or systems are affected, even a gas turbine be used.

The 6 and 7 show a drain line cleaning arrangement according to the invention.

A mobile unit on a trailer 61 who is a fan 71 ( 7 ) driven by a suitably squat drive machine 72 shown as a gasoline engine with a fuel tank 73 , and an outlet pipe 74 with a valve having a pipe connector 75 contains, can to an access point 62 for a drainage pipe or sewer pipe 63 be drawn where the exposed end 63a the drainage pipe or sewer pipe 63 with a bunghole 64 which is a connection piece 65 which takes against the end 63a by an adjustment 66 is rammed.

The connection piece 65 is attached to a flexible hose 67 from the unit 61 connectable, and includes a valve inlet 67 for a water supply - or other valve openings can also be attached, for. B. for a water spray.

At a downstream access point 68 will be the end 63b the drainage pipe or sewer pipe 63 with a connector 69 provided by another adjustment 66 is kept inside. For cleaning, the collector may be replaced with a valve assembly for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid and air for adiabatic heating as needed, although this will not always be a requirement for drain and sewer cleaning.

The prime mover 72 has a central control panel 76 on and there is a separate panel 77 for adjusting and controlling the blow-off arrangements, valve settings and the like.

Claims (23)

Method for cleaning pipelines ( 11 ), an inlet end ( 11a ) and one or more outlets ( 11b ) by expelling the contents of the pipeline by a gas flow, characterized by the steps of: - Forcing a gas into the pipeline ( 11 ) at the inlet end ( 11a ), the outlet ( 11b ) or at least one of the outlets ( 11b ) is open to expel the bulk of the pipeline contents, which is from the gas through the pipeline ( 11 ), using gas forced feed means ( 12 ), which are able to maintain a sufficient overpressure at low flow rate; - only when the majority of the pipe contents has been expelled by the step performed at low flow rate, forced feeding of a gas into the pipeline ( 11 ) also at the inlet end ( 11a ) and with open outlet or outlets ( 11b ), at a lower overpressure and higher gas flow rate, in order to blow out any residues left in the pipeline ( 11 ) have remained after the step performed at high pressure, low flow rate. Method according to Claim 1, in which the forced feed means ( 12 ) also serve for the high flow rate step. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a cleaning liquid is introduced into the pipeline ( 11 ) is introduced after the forced gas supply step. Method according to Claim 3, in which the cleaning fluid is the pipeline ( 11 ) at least between the inlet end ( 11a ) and the open outlet or outlets ( 11b ). Method according to Claim 3 or 4, in which the cleaning liquid is removed from the pipeline ( 11 ) and with throttled outlet or outlets ( 11b ) a gas in the pipeline ( 11 ) is forced to increase the pressure in the same so that the occurring adiabatic temperature increase the pipeline ( 11 ) dries from the cleaning liquid. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the in the pipeline ( 11 ) positively-fed gas is air. Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the gas in each step by the same forced feed means ( 12 ) into the pipeline ( 11 ) is forcibly fed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the step performed at a higher flow rate, a gas velocity through the pipeline ( 11 ) on the order of 20 m / s. Device for cleaning pipelines ( 11 ) by means of a gas flow, characterized in that it comprises: - forced gas supply means ( 12 ) with an inlet end ( 11a ) of the pipeline ( 11 ), - valve means ( 29d ), which are suitable for an outlet ( 11b ) of the pipeline ( 11 ), the gas supply means ( 12 ) and valve means ( 29D ) to the pipeline ( 11 ) are adapted to cooperate to provide both a higher pressure and lower flow rate, and a lower pressure and flow rate of gas through the conduit (FIG. 11 ) to thereby first remove the majority of the line contents using the high pressure flow, and then to use the higher velocity flow only when the tube contents have been expelled by the low flow rate step, to remove any remains of contents which may be present in the line the pipeline ( 11 ) are left after the low flow rate step. Device according to Claim 9, in which the forced feed means ( 12 ) are a pump. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the forced feed means ( 12 ) are a fan. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the blower ( 12 ) is capable of a gas flow rate through the pipeline ( 11 ) in the order of 20 m / s. Device according to one of Claims 9 to 11, in which the positive feed means ( 12 ) and valve means ( 29d ) to the pipeline ( 11 ) are adapted to work together to control the pressure in the pipeline ( 11 ) in such a way that the temperature of the gas in the pipeline is increased in order to evaporate a cleaning liquid, while a flow out of the pipeline ( 11 ) out through the valve means ( 29d ) is maintained. Device according to one of Claims 9 to 13, having a control arrangement ( 76 ), which are the forced gas supply means ( 12 ) controls. Device according to Claim 14, in which the control arrangement ( 76 . 77 ) the forced gas supply means according to the conditions within the pipeline ( 11 ) controls. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control arrangement comprises a pressure relief valve (15). 13 ). Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, with a sensing device for the Pipe pressure. Device according to one of claims 14 to 17, with a measuring device for the Pipe internal temperature. Device according to one of claims 14 to 18, in which the control device controls the outlet power of the forced gas supply means ( 12 ) controls. Device according to Claim 19, in which the forced gas supply means ( 12 ) comprise a rotary fan and the controller controls its speed. Device according to Claim 20, in which the fan ( 12 ) is electrically operated and the speed control takes place via a frequency converter. Device according to one of claims 14 to 21, in which the Control arrangement comprises a programmed computer. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the computer is programmed to receive the forced gas supply means ( 12 ) and all ancillary equipment operates according to measured variables and / or a time schedule.