JPH01288385A - Method and apparatus for cleaning pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To well perform the cleaning of a pipe by mixing a polishing agent consisting of washing water and crushed stone with the air stream advancing through the pipe from one end thereof while performing revolving motion to allow said air stream to pass. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrical body 15 is connected to one end of a pipe 90 at first and a dust collector receiving a polishing material 93 or a removed accumulated substance 91 to allow air or washing water 92 to flow out is connected to the other end thereof. Compressed air is sent from a compressor 11 to supply a revolving air stream into the cylindrical body 15 and the pipe 90 to gradually accelerate the flow velocity of the air stream. When the flow velocity of the air stream issued from the cylindrical body 15 reaches certain velocity, the washing water 92 is sent in the pipe 90 to be passed therethrough by the revolving air stream. Subsequently, the polishing material 93 is supplied while the washing water 92 is supplied. The washing water 92 carried through the pipe 90 by the revolving air stream impinges against the accumulated substance 91 adhered to the inner surface of the pipe 90 by large centrifugal force due to revolving motion to remove the same. By this method, the pipe can be well cleaned within a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning pipes, and is particularly suitable for oil pipes that transport crude oil from an oil extraction plant to a refinery.

[Prior Art] A conventional pipe cleaning method and apparatus includes, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,704, sand is mixed into a swirling air flow and the sand is supplied into the pipe for cleaning. It was done. On the other hand, over time in oil pipes that transport crude oil, viscous substances contained in the crude oil accumulate inside the pipes and clog the pipes. In order to clean such pipes, a bullet-shaped object is placed inside the pipe and moved using compressed air or other pressure to clean it, but once the deposits get large, they cannot be removed efficiently. Ta.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This invention makes it possible to efficiently clean oil pipes, etc. that have viscous deposits inside the pipes [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a method for cleaning a pipe, characterized in that cleaning water and an abrasive material made of crushed stones are mixed with an air flow moving forward in a rotating motion from the pipe, and the mixture is passed through the air stream.

The present invention also provides a device having a swirling airflow forming device that sends a forward airflow through a swirling motion from one end of a pipe, and a washing water supply device that supplies washing water to the swirling airflow; The present invention provides a pipe cleaning device characterized in that it includes an abrasive material supply device for supplying an abrasive material made of crushed stone to a pipe.

[Function] According to the present invention, viscous deposits in the pipe can be dissolved by the cleaning water sent by the swirling air flow, weakening the bonding force, and can be cleaned extremely well using the abrasive material made of crushed stone. .

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In one embodiment of the invention shown in the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a swirling airflow forming device, which is constructed as described below. That is, 10 is an air chamber, and compressed air is supplied from two compressors 11 via hoses 12, respectively. Only one compressor 11 may be used in some cases. 13° and 14 indicate valves. 15 is a cylindrical body connected by a joint 16, one end of which is inserted into the air chamber ]0 and connected to the end plate 1.
It is blocked at 7. Reference numeral 18 designates a plurality of short nozzles extending from the air chamber 10 into the cylindrical body 15 at an angle toward the center, in order to supply compressed air at high speed into the cylindrical body 15 so as to rotate in a predetermined rotational direction. It is sloping. Inside the cylindrical body 15, the compressed air supplied from this nozzle creates an air flow that is sent out while making a swirling motion. 90 is a pipe connected to the outlet side of the cylindrical body 15 to be cleaned;
A viscous deposit 91 is firmly bonded to the inner surface.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a washing water supply device, which is constructed as described below. That is, 21 is a tank, into which detergent and water are input through an input port 22 and stirred by a stirrer 23 to form cleaning water 92, which is then sent out via a hose 26 by a submersible pump 25.

27 is a power distribution board attached to the tank 21. 28 is another tank that accommodates the cleaning water 92 supplied from the tank 21, and 30 is a hose 26 extending from the top of this tank.
32 is a compressor. The compressed air compressed by the compressor 32 is sent to a pipe 36 branched from the pipe 30 through a valve 33 and a hose 35, so that the cleaning water 92 in the tank 28 can be pressurized. 3
7 is the wall provided on this pipe 36, IL,! The pulp 31 is closed with a pump, and the cleaning water 92 is opened from the tank 21 without flowing out, so that compressed air is sent. 38 is a lid that releasably closes the upper surface of the tank 28;
0 is an air venting pipe connected to the upper part of the tank 28 and opening the valve 41 as necessary to discharge compressed air. 4
A pipe 2 extends downward from the lower end of the tank 28 via a valve 43, passes through the end plate 17, and is almost surrounded by the outlet end of each nozzle 18 within the cylinder 15, so that the air flow velocity is locally controlled. Opening 4 that opens at a position that becomes very large and has low pressure
4 is a provision. 45 is a hose connected to the compressor 32 via a valve 46, and 47 is a pipe branched from the pipe 42, connected to the other end of the hose 45, and provided with a valve 48. The compressor 11 is driven to form a swirling air flow within the cylinder 15, and the tank 28 contains cleaning water 92, the submersible pump 25 is driven, and the valve 3 is
1 and close the valve 37, or stop the submersible pump 25, close the valve 31, and open the valve 37, and then open the valve 43 and the valve 48. The cleaning water 92 in the tank 28 flows into the pipe 42 together with compressed air. The cylindrical body 1 flows out from the opening 44 and rotates together with the swirling air flow.
5 and then passes through the tube 90. The opening 44 of the pipe 42 is located approximately surrounded by the outlet end of the nozzle 18.1. Therefore, the flow rate of the air increases and the pressure is likely to become negative, and in such a case, the cleaning water 92 can be flowed out without using the compressor 32.

Reference numeral 50 denotes an abrasive supply device, which is constructed as described below. That is, 51 is a tank containing an abrasive material 93 made of crushed stone, and the upper end thereof is provided with an input port 53 having an openable/closeable lid 55, and an air vent pipe 56 having a valve 57 is attached. A pipe 58 supplies the abrasive material 93 from the tank 51 into the cylinder 15 via the valve 60. Cleaning water 9 is generated by the air flow swirling within the cylinder 15.
When the valve 60 is opened with the lid 55 and valve 57 closed, the pressure inside the tank 51 becomes the same as that inside the cylinder 15, and the abrasive material 93 falls due to gravity and is carried by the swirling air flow. This will cause it to move forward while making a turning motion. The hardness and softness of the abrasive material 93 differs depending on the condition of the tube 90, but it is crushed stone made from relatively soft stone and has a diameter of 3 to 15 m.
It is best to use one that has the same volume as a sphere of about m diameter, and one that is not spherical but has corners. It is desirable to use one with a large volume at first, and then use one with a small volume later.

Reference numeral 61 denotes a paint supplying device for painting the inside of the pipe 90 after cleaning, which is provided as necessary, and is configured as described below. That is, the main agent and curing agent of the epoxy resin paint are stored in tanks 62 and 63, respectively, and are delivered to the mixer 65 by compressed air or hydraulic pressure (not shown). The paint mixed through a large number of blades 66 in the mixer 65 is transferred to the cylinder 15 via a valve 67 and a vibro 8.
It is designed to be sent inside. When feeding this paint, the supply of cleaning water 92 and abrasive material 93 is stopped inside the cylinder 15, and only the swirling airflow flows, and this airflow carries the paint and cleans the tube 90 well. The inside is lined.

In the structure as described above, when cleaning, the cylindrical body 15 is first connected to one end of the pipe 90, the abrasive material 93 and the removed deposits 91 are stored in the other end, and air and cleaning water 92 are introduced. A dust collector (not shown) is connected to discharge the dust. In this state, compressed air is sent from the compressor 11 to supply a swirling air flow into the cylinder 15 and the pipe 90, and the flow speed is gradually increased. For example, the flow velocity leaving the cylinder 15 is 80 m.
When the time reaches approximately 1/2 seconds, the cleaning water 92 is fed in and passed through by the swirling air flow. Subsequently, the abrasive material 93 is supplied while the cleaning water 92 is being supplied. The cleaning water 92 carried by the swirling air flow inside the tube 90 hits the viscous deposits 91 attached to the inner surface of the tube 90 due to the large centrifugal force due to the swirling movement, dissolving some of them or creating a bonding force. The abrasive material 93, which moves forward while rotating and receives a large centrifugal force, can effectively remove the deposits 91, which are weakened and have a weakened bonding force. The abrasive material 93 is first supplied with a volume equivalent to that of a ball with a diameter of 15 mm, for example, to remove the deposit 91, then an abrasive material with a volume similar to that of a ball with a diameter of 5 mm, and finally a ball with a diameter of 3 mm is supplied. It is best to supply three different sizes, such as those with the same volume, for cleaning.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the cleaning water 92 is supplied by the swirling air flow, and the abrasive material 93 made of crushed stone is supplied and passed through the pipe 90, so that the cleaning water 92 removes a part of the deposits 91. The system dissolves the deposits 91 by dissolving them or weakening the bonding force, and removes the deposits 91 with the abrasive material 93.
1 also has the effect of being able to be removed well in a short time. In addition, it is particularly suitable for cleaning oil pipes that transport crude oil.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram partially showing an embodiment of the present invention in cross section, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 8 is a swirling air flow forming device, 10 is an air chamber, 11 is a compressor, 15 is a cylinder, 18 is a nozzle, 20 is a cleaning water supply device, 21 is a tank, 28 is a tank, 42 is a pipe,
43 is an opening, 50 is an abrasive supply device, 90 is a pipe, 91
92 is the cleaning water, and 93 is the abrasive material. Agent Patent Attorney Akira Katsabe

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A method for cleaning a pipe, which comprises mixing cleaning water and an abrasive material made of crushed stone into an air stream moving forward in a rotating motion from one end of the pipe. 2. A device having a swirling airflow forming device that sends a forward airflow in a swirling motion from one end of the pipe, including a washing water supply device that supplies washing water to the swirling airflow, and a washing water supply device that supplies the swirling airflow with crushed stones. and an abrasive supply device for supplying an abrasive consisting of: 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the swirling air flow is inclined in a predetermined rotational direction for supplying compressed air into a cylindrical body connected to the pipe, and the opening is inclined from the outer periphery toward the center. In the apparatus having a plurality of nozzles, the washing water supply device is characterized in that the washing water supply device includes a pipe for discharging the washing water, which is opened in a portion substantially surrounded by the openings of the respective nozzles. pipe cleaning device.