EP0074464B1 - Apparatus for cleaning the inner walls of metallic tubular systems by electropolishing by means of moving electrodes - Google Patents

Apparatus for cleaning the inner walls of metallic tubular systems by electropolishing by means of moving electrodes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0074464B1
EP0074464B1 EP82104946A EP82104946A EP0074464B1 EP 0074464 B1 EP0074464 B1 EP 0074464B1 EP 82104946 A EP82104946 A EP 82104946A EP 82104946 A EP82104946 A EP 82104946A EP 0074464 B1 EP0074464 B1 EP 0074464B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrode
electropolishing
cleaning
inner walls
metallic tubular
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP82104946A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0074464A1 (en
Inventor
Manfred Kienhöfer
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Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
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Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/001—Decontamination of contaminated objects, apparatus, clothes, food; Preventing contamination thereof
    • G21F9/002—Decontamination of the surface of objects with chemical or electrochemical processes
    • G21F9/004—Decontamination of the surface of objects with chemical or electrochemical processes of metallic surfaces
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25F—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC REMOVAL OF MATERIALS FROM OBJECTS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25F3/00—Electrolytic etching or polishing
    • C25F3/16—Polishing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for cleaning the inner walls of metallic line systems by electropolishing with the aid of moving electrodes.
  • a hollow profile which consists of a conductive anode body and attached spacers made of non-conductive material.
  • CH-PS 396561 devices for the electrolytic polishing of surfaces of metallic objects are known, in which a cathode on a surface connected as an anode to be treated, for. B. is moved along an inner wall of a tube.
  • the cathode body can have the shape of a truncated cone and, for centering in the tube to be treated, can be provided with projecting parts made of insulating material, which abut the inner wall of the tube. The cathode is pulled from bottom to top through the vertical tube.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a device with which a metallic pipe system can be cleaned without having to disassemble it.
  • Under piping system should be understood here: a system of straight and curved pipes, including the associated shut-off devices, such as. B. ball valves, slide or the like. Rising or falling pipes should also be able to be cleaned successfully with the device.
  • the device should in particular be usable for the decontamination of radioactive contaminated line systems.
  • the object is achieved according to the invention by a device which has an elastic. electrode consisting of a spiral wire or a coiled ribbon, as well as a plurality of insulating spacers arranged at least fixedly or displaceably on the electrode in the electrode area.
  • the electrodes Due to the elasticity of the electrodes, an adaptation to curved surfaces is possible. As a result, disassembly of the pipes to be polished is no longer necessary, and it is possible to work with elbows and sliders as well as in inclined lines.
  • FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the electrode 4a is designed in the form of a coiled stainless steel strip.
  • an approximately 300 mm long electrode 4a was produced, which was fitted with spacers 5 and 6 made of Teflon registered trademark.
  • the line system 1 was placed in a large tub filled with an electrolyte of phosphoric and sulfuric acid, and the electrode 4a was pulled through at a speed of 5 cm / min. Direct current of 10-20 A / dm 2 was used. In this way it was possible to achieve a decontamination factor of around 500.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zur Reinigung der Innenwände von metallischen Leitungssystemen durch Elektropolieren mit Hilfe bewegter Elektroden.The invention relates to a device for cleaning the inner walls of metallic line systems by electropolishing with the aid of moving electrodes.

Das Entfernen von Verunreinigungen von metallischen Oberflächen, die schwer zugänglich bzw. erreichbar sind, wie z. B. die Innenwände von Rohren bzw. Anderen Elementen von metallischen Leitungssystemen, insbesondere die Dekontamination von radioaktiven Verunreinigungen in solchen Systemen. war bisher nicht in jedem Falle mit gutem Erfolg bzw. Zufriedenstellend auszuführen. Eines der gebräuchlichsten Verfahren hierfür ist das Elektropolieren. Jedoch konnten bisher nur wenige Meter lange demontierte Rohre mit beweglichen Elektroden innenseitig behandelt werden. Dazu wurden sowohl das gesamte Eintauchen des Rohres in den Elektrolyten als auch das Füllen von zuvor abgedichteten Kammern im Rohr (Rohrstücken) angewendet (R. P. Allen und H. W. Arrowsmith, Materials Performance, Vol. 18, No. 11, Seiten 21 bis 26 (1979)). Aus der DE-B-2 435 277 ist ferner eine Anode für die galvanische. Behandlung eines Hohlprofils bekannt, die aus einem leitenden Anodenkörper und daran befestigten Abstandshaltern aus nichtleitendem Werkstoff besteht. Aus der CH-PS 396561 sind Vorrichtungen zum elektrolytischen Polieren von Oberflächen metallischer Gegenstände bekannt, bei welchem eine Kathode an einer als Anode geschalteten, zu behandelnden Oberfläche, z. B. an einer Innenwand eines Rohres, entlang bewegt wird. Hierbei kann der Kathodenkörper die Form eines abgestumpften Konus aufweisen und zur Zentrierung im zu behandelnden Rohr mit vorspringenden Teilen aus isolierendem Material versehen sein, die an der Innenwand des Rohres anliegen. Die Kathode wird von unten nach oben durch das lotrecht gestellte Rohr gezogen.The removal of contaminants from metallic surfaces that are difficult to access, such as. B. the inner walls of pipes or other elements of metallic pipe systems, especially the decontamination of radioactive contaminants in such systems. was previously not always successful or satisfactory. One of the most common methods for this is electropolishing. However, previously dismantled pipes with movable electrodes could only be treated on the inside. For this purpose, both the entire immersion of the tube in the electrolyte and the filling of previously sealed chambers in the tube (tube pieces) were used (RP Allen and HW Arrowsmith, Materials Performance, Vol. 18, No. 11, pages 21 to 26 (1979) ). From DE-B-2 435 277 there is also an anode for the galvanic. Treatment of a hollow profile known, which consists of a conductive anode body and attached spacers made of non-conductive material. From CH-PS 396561 devices for the electrolytic polishing of surfaces of metallic objects are known, in which a cathode on a surface connected as an anode to be treated, for. B. is moved along an inner wall of a tube. In this case, the cathode body can have the shape of a truncated cone and, for centering in the tube to be treated, can be provided with projecting parts made of insulating material, which abut the inner wall of the tube. The cathode is pulled from bottom to top through the vertical tube.

Einer der gravierenden Nachteile der bekannten Vorrichtungen bestand in der Notwendigkeit, die zu reinigenden Rohre vor dem Elektropolieren ausbauen zu müssen. Außerdem war es nicht möglich, über mehrere Krümmer hinweg oder gar durch Absperrschieber bzw. Hähne hindurchzufahren.One of the serious disadvantages of the known devices was the need to remove the pipes to be cleaned before electropolishing. In addition, it was not possible to drive through several bends or through gate valves or taps.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung zu schaffen, mit welcher ein metallisches Leitungssystem gereinigt werden kann, ohne es demontieren zu müssen. Unter Leitungssystem soll hier verstanden werden : Ein System von geraden und gekrümmten Rohren, einschließlich der zugehörigen Absperrorgane, wie z. B. Kugelhähne, Schieber oder ähnliches. Mit der Vorrichtung sollen auch steigende bzw. fallende Leitungen gleich erfolgreich gereinigt werden können. Die Vorrichtung soll insbesondere für die Dekontamination von radioaktiv verunreinigter Leitungssysteme verwendbar sein.The invention has for its object to provide a device with which a metallic pipe system can be cleaned without having to disassemble it. Under piping system should be understood here: a system of straight and curved pipes, including the associated shut-off devices, such as. B. ball valves, slide or the like. Rising or falling pipes should also be able to be cleaned successfully with the device. The device should in particular be usable for the decontamination of radioactive contaminated line systems.

Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch eine Vorrichtung, welche eine elastische. aus einem spiralförmigen Draht oder einem gewendelten Band bestehende Elektrode, sowie mehrere, zumindest im Elektrodenbereich fest oder verschiebbar auf der Elektrode angeordnete, isolierende Abstandshalter aufweist.The object is achieved according to the invention by a device which has an elastic. electrode consisting of a spiral wire or a coiled ribbon, as well as a plurality of insulating spacers arranged at least fixedly or displaceably on the electrode in the electrode area.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung ist am Kopf und am anderen Ende der Elektrode jeweils ein Abstandshalter mit einer um den Faktor größer als 1 größeren Fläche als jeweils derjenigen der (des) Abstandshalters(s) innerhalb des Elektrodenbereiches, jedoch kleineren Fläche, als dem kleinsten zu durchfahrenden Querschnitt des Leitungssystems entspricht, vorgesehen.In an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, there is a spacer at the head and at the other end of the electrode with an area that is larger by a factor of greater than 1 than that of the spacer (s) within the electrode area, but smaller area than that corresponds to the smallest cross-section of the pipe system to be traversed.

Durch die Elastizität der Elektroden ist eine Anpassung an gekrümmte Flächen möglich. Hierdurch ist eine Demontage der zu polierenden Rohre nicht mehr nötig, und es kann sowohl durch Krümmer und Schieber als auch in geneigten Leitungen gearbeitet werden. Dadurch, daß die Elektrode als Zugdraht ausgebildet ist, ist es möglich, die Rohre fernbedient zu elektropolieren, wodurch die Strahlenbelastung des Personals wesentlich verringert werden kann. Eine Stormstärke zwischen 300 und 400 Ampere reicht in den meisten Fällen aus.Due to the elasticity of the electrodes, an adaptation to curved surfaces is possible. As a result, disassembly of the pipes to be polished is no longer necessary, and it is possible to work with elbows and sliders as well as in inclined lines. The fact that the electrode is designed as a pull wire, it is possible to electropolish the tubes remotely, whereby the radiation exposure of the personnel can be significantly reduced. A current between 300 and 400 amperes is sufficient in most cases.

Im folgenden wird die Erfindung anhand eines Durchführungsbeispieles und anhand der Zeichnungen (Figuren 1 und 2) erläutert :

  • Figur 1 zeigt die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung mit einer Elektrode 4 in der Form eines spiralförmigen Edelstahldrahtes, der mit einem als Stromzuleitung dienenden Kupfer-Zugdraht (nicht dargestellt) verbunden ist. Mehrere Abstandshalter 5 und 6 vermeiden einen ungewollten Kontakt der Elektrode mit der Innenwand 2 des Rohres 1.
The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment and the drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2):
  • FIG. 1 shows the device according to the invention with an electrode 4 in the form of a spiral stainless steel wire, which is connected to a copper pull wire (not shown) serving as a power supply line. Several spacers 5 and 6 prevent undesired contact of the electrode with the inner wall 2 of the tube 1.

In Figur 2 ist eine andere Ausbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung aufgeführt, in welcher die Elektrode 4a in Form eines gewendelten Edelstahlbandes ausgebildet ist.FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the electrode 4a is designed in the form of a coiled stainless steel strip.

Durch Wendeln eines 10 x 1 mm starken Edelstahlbandes wurde eine ca. 300 mm lange Elektrode 4a hergestellt, die mit Abstandshalterungen 5 und 6 aus Teflon eingetragenes Warenzeichen bestückt wurde. Damit konnte ein mit radioaktiven Verunreinigungen kontaminiertes Leitungssystem 1 aus Edelstahl, bestehend aus 3 x 1 m langen Rohren, Durchmesser 100 mm, 2 Bögen und 1 Kugelhahn innenseitig durch Elektropolieren von seiner radioaktiven Kontamination befreit werden. Das Leitungssystem 1 wurde in einer großen Wanne, die mit einem Elektrolyten aus Phosphor- und Schwefelsäure gefüllt war, gelegt und die Elektrode 4a wurde mit einer Geschwindigkeit von 5 cm/min durchgezogen. Es wurde Gleichstrom von 10-20 A/dm2 verwendet. Auf diese Art war es möglich, einen Dekontaminationsfaktor von ca. 500 zu erreichen.By turning a 10 x 1 mm thick stainless steel band, an approximately 300 mm long electrode 4a was produced, which was fitted with spacers 5 and 6 made of Teflon registered trademark. This enabled a line system 1 contaminated with radioactive contaminants made of stainless steel, consisting of 3 x 1 m long pipes, diameter 100 mm, 2 bends and 1 ball valve on the inside, to be freed of its radioactive contamination by electropolishing. The line system 1 was placed in a large tub filled with an electrolyte of phosphoric and sulfuric acid, and the electrode 4a was pulled through at a speed of 5 cm / min. Direct current of 10-20 A / dm 2 was used. In this way it was possible to achieve a decontamination factor of around 500.

Claims (2)

1. Device for cleaning of the internal walls of metallic pipework by electropolishing with the help of mobile electrodes consisting of an elastic electrode (4, 4a) made from a spiral wire or a helical filament, and several insulated spacers (5, 6) provided on the electrode either firmly attached or mobile, at least in the electrode zone.
2. Device as defined in Claim 2 wherein at the head and the other end of the electrode (4, 4a) one spacer (5) each is provided with an area greater than the factor 1 as compared to that of the spacer(s) (6) within the electrode zone although smaller than corresponding to the minimum cross section of the pipework (1) to be passed.
EP82104946A 1981-09-12 1982-06-05 Apparatus for cleaning the inner walls of metallic tubular systems by electropolishing by means of moving electrodes Expired EP0074464B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3136186 1981-09-12
DE19813136186 DE3136186A1 (en) 1981-09-12 1981-09-12 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE INTERNAL WALL OF METAL PIPING SYSTEMS BY ELECTROPOLISHING WITH ELECTRODES MOVED

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0074464A1 EP0074464A1 (en) 1983-03-23
EP0074464B1 true EP0074464B1 (en) 1985-08-07

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EP82104946A Expired EP0074464B1 (en) 1981-09-12 1982-06-05 Apparatus for cleaning the inner walls of metallic tubular systems by electropolishing by means of moving electrodes

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JP (1) JPS5855599A (en)
DE (1) DE3136186A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3430384A1 (en) * 1984-08-17 1986-02-20 Kraftwerk Union AG, 4330 Mülheim METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ELECTROPOLISHING THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF U-SHAPED HEAT EXCHANGER TUBES
JPS6483697A (en) * 1987-09-28 1989-03-29 Oe Kogyo Kk Method for electropolishing inner surface of straight tube or bent tube with coiled electrode
US20180281092A1 (en) * 2015-09-04 2018-10-04 Poligrat Gmbh Electrode device for electrochemical workpiece machining
CN113089073B (en) * 2021-03-30 2022-04-01 中国工程物理研究院机械制造工艺研究所 Flexible electrode for electrochemical polishing and electrochemical polishing method for inner cavity structure

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH396561A (en) * 1960-10-06 1965-07-31 Nyby Bruk Ab Process for the electrolytic polishing of surfaces of metallic objects

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1209242A (en) * 1958-07-09 1960-02-29 Jacquet Hispano Suiza Improvements to processes and apparatus for electrolytic treatment of tubes, more specifically for polishing
DE1931174B2 (en) * 1969-06-19 1975-09-04 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen Device for electrolytic continuous polishing of rod-shaped workpieces made of zircon alloys
DE2435277C2 (en) * 1974-07-23 1975-11-13 Langbein-Pfanhauser Werke Ag, 4040 Neuss Anode for the galvanic treatment of a hollow profile

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH396561A (en) * 1960-10-06 1965-07-31 Nyby Bruk Ab Process for the electrolytic polishing of surfaces of metallic objects

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DE3136186A1 (en) 1983-03-24
JPS5855599A (en) 1983-04-01
EP0074464A1 (en) 1983-03-23
DE3136186C3 (en) 1985-03-07

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