WO2006032899A1

WO2006032899A1 - Method and apparatus for cleaning liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2006032899A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003661
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shaun William Sadler; Dudley Dickson
Original assignee: Shaun William Sadler; Dudley Dickson
Priority date: 2004-09-25
Filing date: 2005-09-22
Publication date: 2006-03-30
Also published as: GB0421390D0

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of apparatus and a method for the provision of the cleaning of liquid passing along and/or the interior of the pipeline (2). The invention provides for the isolation of a portion (12) of pipeline (2) and liquid can be removed from said portion (12) to pass through a cleaning system (23) which includes one or more liquid cleaning and/or decontamination stages. The liquid then re-enters the pipeline (2) downstream of the second isolation point (10). An article (28) can also be passed along the pipeline portion (12) to cause debris to be removed from the pipeline wall. The cleaning system (23) can be mobile to allow the same to be moved to the location of the pipeline portion (12).

Description

Method and Apparatus for Cleaning Liquids

The invention to which this application relates is a system and apparatus for use in the cleaning of the internal surface of the pipeline wall and for the liquid which normally passes along a pipeline to a supply location. Particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, the apparatus and system is for use in cleaning liquid passing along a pipeline and/or the pipeline internal surface and in a manner which allows the continued supply of the liquid to the supply location while the cleaning process occurs, thereby ensuring continuity of the supply of liquid which can be important to particular industries and/or users .

The problems and benefits of the current invention will now be described with respect to liquids in the form of potable or drinkable water to which the apparatus and system has particular advantages but it should be appreciated that any combination of the features herein described, will be of advantage to any liquid and/or pipeline which is required to be cleaned to improve the liquid supply and/or condition of the pipeline.

With respect to water, when the water is supplied along a mains pipeline, changes in velocity of the water supply and/or relatively high velocity, can cause the water to pick up debris from the interior of the pipeline. This debris can cause discolouration and/or contamination of the water supply which can lead to complaints from the end users to the water supply company. As a result, it is often the case that lengths of pipeline need to be closed down and cleaned. Conventionally, this closure requires that the water supply to the end users is interrupted as the water flow is either stopped completely along the pipeline length which is to be cleaned, or alternatively is flushed out of the pipeline and disposed of once the cleaning operation has occurred. In either case, the interruption to the water supply is, at best, irritating to the end user and, under certain legislations, can lead to the water supply company having to pay financial compensation. A further problem is that conventionally, only limited lengths and diameters of pipeline can be cleaned at any one cleaning operation using typically, chemical, flushing, air scouring or water jetting techniques.

This therefore makes the cleaning operation time consuming and expensive, especially when one considers that a number of kilometres of pipeline may need to be cleaned and therefore it will be appreciated that the interruption to the water supply may be over a significant period of time.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus which can be used to clean a liquid passing along a pipeline and the internal surface of the pipeline in a manner which allows the liquid to continue to be supplied during the cleaning operation and therefore avoid interruption of the supply.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cleaning the interior of a pipeline and/or the liquid passing therethrough, said method comprising the steps of isolating a portion of said pipeline at first and second isolation points wherein there is provided a pipeline outlet located upstream of the second isolation point to allow liquid to leave the pipeline and flow into a cleaning system, said liquid passing through at least one cleaning and/or decontamination stage in the cleaning system and then passing from said cleaning system into the pipeline via an inlet located downstream of said second isolation point. Typically there is provided at a first isolation point a by-pass which allows liquid to leave the pipeline before the isolation point and back again into the said length of pipeline.

In one embodiment, during the cleaning method, an article, such as a pig, is passed along the length of the pipeline between said first and second isolation points. The purpose of moving the pig along the pipeline is to allow the same, which is dimensioned so as to contact with the internal surface of the pipeline, so as to cause debris which may or may not be loose and/or on the pipeline wall, to be removed and carried, at least partially by the flow of liquid along said length of pipeline.

In a preferred embodiment, at or adjacent to the second isolation point on the pipeline, there is provided a debris collection outlet which allows relatively heavy debris carried by the liquid to the second isolation point to be collected from the pipeline.

Typically, the cleaning system includes at least one mobile detachable debris collection point which can be used to allow debris removed from the liquid to be collected and removed from the cleaning system. In certain cleansing operations, several cleaning systems may be connected to each other.

In one embodiment, the cleaning system includes at least one sample point at which liquid can be removed and sampled to test for cleanliness.

In one embodiment, the article or pig which has passed along the said portion of pipeline, can be removed via an outlet at or adjacent to the second isolation point or, alternatively, may be removed from a location in the cleaning system into which the same passes but in either case is preferably removed before any cleaning and/or decontamination stages in the system. Typically the pig is introduced into the pipeline at a location which is at or adjacent the first isolation point and downstream therefrom so that the pig can move along the length of pipeline which is defined between the first and second isolation point.

It should be appreciated that the portion of pipeline between said first and second isolation points may be of a number of kilometres rather than a number of metres.

The apparatus which is used to define the isolation points on the pipeline can be of any conventional form with an inlet and outlet defined in respect of the respective sides of the isolation points so as to allow the flow of liquid "around" the isolation points and thereby allow the continued flow of liquid along the pipeline and to the end users even when the cleaning operation takes place.

The cleaning system can be mobile and/or transportable and can include any or any combination of cleaning or decontamination operations which can be performed on the liquid, said cleaning or decontamination operations selected in accordance with the particular liquid to be cleaned and/or the level of debris and cleaning or decontamination required to be performed on the liquid to allow the same to reach the required cleanliness level.

Although the cleaning system can perform the cleaning operations on most occasions with the liquid held under normal pressure, if required, the pressure of the liquid can be increased to suit any desired cleaning or decontamination operation to be performed. Once the liquid has passed through the cleaning system, the same is passed back into the pipeline downstream of the second isolation point for supply to the end user, providing the "after" sample is of an acceptable standard. It will therefore be appreciated that in accordance with the current invention, there is no, or minimum, interruption of the supply of liquid to the end user while, at the same time, ensuring that the required cleaning operation on the pipeline and liquid can occur.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for performing a cleaning operation on a liquid carried along a pipeline, and/or on the said pipeline, said apparatus comprising means for defining first and second, spaced, isolation points to define a portion of pipeline along which the liquid flows, and a cleaning system connected to an outlet at a location upstream of the second isolation point and through which outlet the liquid flows to enter and pass through the cleaning supply and then re- enter the pipeline via an inlet downstream of the second isolation point.

In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first means connected to an outlet upstream of the first isolation point and connected to an inlet downstream of said first isolation point and through which means the liquid flows.

Typically, the apparatus further includes a pig which is provided to enter the pipeline at a location downstream of the first isolation point and passes along the pipeline to a location at or adjacent to upstream of the second isolation point.

The cleaning system includes any or any combination of apparatus for performing a cleaning operation on the liquid and/or decontamination operation on the liquid.

In one embodiment, the liquid is potable water. Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram illustrating a system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to that figure, there is illustrated a system in accordance with the invention for removing debris from the internal pipeline wall and/or contaminants from a liquid in the form of potable water passing along a pipeline 2. The potable water is passing in the direction indicted by arrow 4 to end users who are located in the direction of arrow 6.

In accordance with the invention there are provided first and second isolation points 8, 10 which are spaced apart along a portion of a given length of the pipeline which is to be subject to the cleaning operation. It should be appreciated that the portion of said pipeline as indicated by arrow 12 can be a number of kilometres. At the first isolation point 8, there is provided upstream, an inlet/outlet arrangement 14 and a debris collection point 16 via which any debris which falls to the base of the pipeline at the first isolation point, can be removed. Fitted to the outlet 14 is provided apparatus (not shown but typically a pipe assembly) which allows the flow of the water therethrough as indicated by the broken line arrow 19 which also shows that the water returns into the pipeline via the inlet 18. Thus it will be appreciated that the water passing along the pipeline bypasses the isolation point 8 and then continues to flow along the pipeline portion 12. If required a further debris removal point 20 can be provided adjacent the isolation point 8 downstream of the same.

The water then flows along the pipeline of pipeline 12 until it reaches the upstream side of the second isolation point 10 at which an outlet 22 allows liquid to leave the pipeline and pass into and through a mobile cleaning system 23 in the direction indicated by the arrows 24.

The particular details of the cleaning system will be explained subsequently but it will be seen that the flow of water 24 is such that it returns to the pipeline via the inlet 26 at a location downstream of the second isolation point 10 for onward delivery to end users in the direction 6.

It is therefore important to appreciate that there is no interruption of the water supply from the supplier to the end user during the use of the system.

To perform the cleaning operation, an article known as a pig 28, indicated in broken lines, can be moved in the direction of arrow 30 along the interior of the pipeline 2 along the portion 12. The outer surfaces of the pig are formed so as to contact with and abrade the inner wall of the pipeline and therefore cause the removal from the pipeline wall of any debris adhered to the pipe wall. This debris is then carried by the flow of water along the pipeline length 12 and the heavier debris can be removed via the debris collection point 32 adjacent the second isolation point 10. The finer or lighter debris is carried by the flow of the water through the outlet 22 and in the direction of arrows 24 to a debris removal system 34 through which the water flows and, as it flows, the cleaning or debris removal process is performed. The debris can be collected at the collection point 36 as indicated. The water then leaves the debris removal system 34 and passes to a sample point 36 at which the quality of the water can be tested. If required, the water can then be diverted at location 38 either to pass back to the pipeline via the inlet 26, or alternatively to pass as indicated by the arrow 40, to a decontamination unit, at which a decontamination operation or operations can be performed on the water, as shown by unit 42. The water then leaves the decontamination unit as indicated by arrow 44 to pass to a further sample point 46 at which the water can be sampled prior to re-entering the pipeline via the inlet 26. The cleaning and debris removal operations can include any or any combination of filtration, centrifugal, sedimentation, decantation or any other suitable debris removal and cleaning operation. It should therefore be appreciated that the particular cleaning operation required will vary from liquid to liquid and in each case, the particular cleaning operation or combination of operations will be selected to provide the most suitable cleaning process .

Similarly, with regard to the decontamination, any suitable decontamination operation can be performed such as, for example, by the use of ozone, fluorinating and/or heat.

It is also envisaged that at the second isolation point, a further by-pass apparatus will be provided so as to allow the bypass of water via the outlet 22 as indicated by the broken line arrow 48 to the inlet 26 which will allow water to continue to flow through the pipeline prior to and after the passage of the water through the cleaning system by ensuring that even when the cleaning system is being set up or dismantled, the water supply will not be interrupted.

It is also preferred that the cleaning system and apparatus therefor, will be provided in a transportable, mobile form thereby allowing the same to be taken on site to required locations for the cleaning operation to be performed at the defined portions of the pipeline and therefore avoiding the need for the apparatus to be located in situ and it should be appreciated that this is a further important aspect of the current invention. Typically the cleaning system will be provided as part of a vehicle such as a heavy goods vehicle and therefore can be transported as an integrated cleaning system for connection to the pipeline outlet and inlet with the vehicle therefore only required to handle an inlet connection and an outlet connection externally thereof with the remaining apparatus of the cleaning system housed within the vehicle.

Claims

1 . A method of cleaning the interior of a pipeline and/or the liquid passing therethrough, said method comprising the steps of, isolating a portion of said pipeline at first and second spaced isolation points, wherein there is provided a pipeline outlet located upstream of the second isolation point to allow liquid to leave the pipeline and flow into a cleaning system, said liquid passing through at least one cleaning and/or decontamination stage in the cleaning system and then passing from said cleaning system into the pipeline via an inlet located downstream of said second isolation point.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein there is provided, a bypass at the first isolation point, which allows liquid to leave the pipeline upstream of the first isolation point and enter back again into the said portion of pipeline at a location downstream of said first isolation point and upstream of said outlet at the second isolation point.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein an article is passed along the portion of the pipeline between said first and second isolation points.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the article is dimensioned so as to contact with the internal surface of the pipeline so as to cause debris on the pipeline wall to be removed and carried, at least partially, by the flow of liquid along said portion of pipeline.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the article which is passed along said portion of pipeline can be removed via an outlet or adjacent to the second isolation point.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the article which is passed along said length of pipeline is removed via an outlet located in the cleaning system into which the said article passes.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the article which is moved along the pipeline is removed before the cleaning and/or decontamination stages of the cleaning system.

8. A method according to claim 3 wherein the article is introduced into the pipeline at a location which is at or adjacent the first isolation point and downstream therefrom so that the article can move along the portion of pipeline which is defined between the first and second isolation points.

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein at or adjacent to the second isolation point there is provided a debris collection outlet to allow debris to be collected from the pipeline.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein there is provided at least one mobile detachable debris collection point to allow debris to be collected and removed from the cleaning system.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning system includes at least one sample point at which liquid can be removed and sampled to test for cleanliness.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus used to define the isolation points on the pipeline has an inlet and outlet so as to allow the flow of liquid around the isolation points and thereby allow the continued flow of liquid downstream of the isolation points to end users.

13. A method according to claim wherein the cleaning system is mobile with respect to the pipeline and can be selectively positioned with respect to defined first and second isolation points on the pipeline.

14. A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the number and/or combination of cleaning and/or decontamination stages of the cleaning system, is selected with regard to the condition and/or type of liquid passing along the pipeline.

15. Apparatus for performing a cleaning operation on a liquid carried along a pipeline, and/or on the said pipeline, said apparatus comprising means for defining first and second, spaced, isolation points to define a portion of pipeline along which the liquid flows, and a cleaning system connected to an outlet at a location upstream of the second isolation point and through which outlet liquid flows to enter and pass through the cleaning system and then re-enter the pipeline via an inlet downstream of the second isolation point.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the apparatus includes a first means connected to an outlet upstream of the first isolation point and connected to an inlet downstream of said first isolation point and through which means the liquid from the pipeline flows.

17 Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the apparatus includes an article in the form of a pig which passes along the pipeline from a location downstream of the first isolation point to a location at or adjacent to the second isolation point and upstream thereof. 18. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the cleaning system includes apparatus for performing at lest one cleaning operation on the liquid and/or at lest one decontamination operation on the liquid.