KR101549227B1 - Pigging system and pigging method - Google Patents

Abstract

A pigging system is disclosed. The pigging system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pig launch part communicating with one end of a main pipe and emitting a pig to the main pipe, a pig launch part cover selectively opening and closing one side of the pig launch part, A pig receiving unit communicating with the other end of the main piping and receiving the pig transmitted through the main piping after being emitted from the pig emitting unit; A pig receiving portion cover for opening and closing, and a discharge pipe for discharging the emitting fluid inside the pig receiving portion, and the pig emitting portion and the pig receiving portion may be rotatable.

Description

PIGGING SYSTEM AND PIGGING METHOD [0002]

The present invention relates to a pigging system and a pigging method.

In general, a pipe through which various fluids flow inside can accumulate various solid matter on the inner wall of the pipe due to use for a long time, or the inner wall of the pipe can be oxidized to generate rust. Since the scales of various solids, rust, and the like become gradually thicker with the passage of time, they may interfere with the smooth flow of the fluid inside the pipe, and if the scale is dissolved in the fluid, the quality of the fluid may be greatly lowered.

To solve this problem, it is necessary to clean the inside of the pipe periodically. Recently, a cleaning method using a pig has been widely used. This is also referred to as a pigging system, in which pigs are introduced into the piping to remove scales formed on the inner wall of the piping. This method has economic and hygienic advantages in terms of cost.

Generally, the pigging system may include a pig launcher and a pig receiver for firing and receiving pigs, respectively, connected to both ends of the pipe. That is, after the pig is inserted into the pig launch part and fired to the pipe, the pig is directed to the pig receiving part side while removing the scale of the pipe inner wall along the pipe, and reaches the pig receiving part together with the removed scale.

The pig emitting part and the pig receiving part may be divided vertically and horizontally.

In the case of the vertical type, the pig launch part and the pig receiving part are arranged vertically, and both ends of the pipe connected to them also extend in the vertical direction. Therefore, the pig is fired in the vertical direction from the pig firing portion and reaches the pig receiving portion in the vertical direction. In this case, since the pig launch part and the pig receiving part are arranged vertically and both ends of the pipe extend in the vertical direction, the restriction on the installation space is smaller than the horizontal flat type which will be described later. However, it is relatively difficult to install the discharge pipe for discharging the emitting fluid for allowing the movement of the pig from the pig launch part and the pig receiving part, and the discharge pipe is provided on the side of the vertically arranged pig- Therefore, it is difficult to discharge the flushing fluid completely. In addition, it is difficult to insert pigs into the vertically arranged pig launch portions or to remove the pigs from vertically arranged pig reception portions. That is, the pig may be inserted or taken out using a lifting device such as a crane depending on the length of the pig launch part, the length of the pig receiving part, and the weight of the pig.

In the case of the horizontal type, the pig launch part and the pig receiving part are arranged horizontally, and both ends of the pipe connected thereto are also extended in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the pig is fired in the horizontal direction from the pig firing section and reaches the pig receiving section in the horizontal direction. In this case, since the pig is inserted or taken out in the horizontal direction, it is much easier to insert or remove the pig than the vertical type. Further, since the discharge pipe is connected to the bottom of the pig launch part and the pig receiving part, the discharge fluid can be completely discharged. However, since the pigs are fired and received in the horizontal direction, both end portions of the pipe necessarily extend in the horizontal direction as described above, and accordingly, a lot of installation space is consumed and it is difficult to apply the horizontal type to the narrow space.

In other words, it is generally considered that the horizontal type is excellent in terms of operation (installation of the pig and the discharge of the emitting fluid), and the vertical type is superior in terms of the installation space.

On the other hand, a turret is provided in an FPSO (floating milk production and storage facility) for collecting gas or crude oil from the sea floor, and the turret is installed so that the ship can rotate around the turret. That is, the turret is fixed to the subsea well, and a bearing is interposed between the turret and the ship, so that the ship can rotate naturally around the turret by the action of wind, algae or blue. Through this, the gas or crude oil can be stably transported to the ship side through the piping in the fixed turret.

Such a turret is provided with a plurality of vertically stacked decks, and each deck is equipped with a wide variety of equipment, such as winches, lighting devices, heaters, multiple plumbing, power devices, Respectively. Therefore, when the pigging system is applied to such a turret, the piggy launching part and the pig receiving part must be installed in a very limited space. Therefore, the restriction of the installation space is considered to be a very important factor.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2011-0083808

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a pigging system and method which have all the advantages of a vertical type pigging system and a horizontal type pigging system.

The embodiments of the present invention are also intended to provide a pigging system and method applicable to a narrow space.

Further, the embodiment of the present invention is intended to provide a pigging system and method that facilitates the operation of inserting or removing pigs.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a pigging system and method capable of completely discharging the ejected fluid from the pig launch part and the pig receiving part.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pigging system comprising a pig launch portion communicating with one end of a main pipe and emitting a pig to the main pipe, a pig launch cover cover selectively opening and closing one side of the pig launch portion, A pig receiving unit communicating with the other end of the main pipe and receiving the pig transmitted through the main pipe after being emitted from the pig launching unit; And a discharge pipe for discharging a firing fluid inside the pig receiving unit, wherein the pig launch unit and the pig receiving unit can be pivotable.

In addition, one end and the other end of the main pipe may extend in the vertical direction and communicate with the pig launch part and the pig receiving part when the pig launch part and the pig receive part are vertically arranged, respectively.

In addition, the pig may be inserted into the pig launch part when the pig launch part is horizontally disposed, and may be launched into the main pipe when the pig launch part is vertically arranged.

In addition, the discharge pipe communicates with the lower part of the pig receiving part when the pig receiving part is horizontally disposed to discharge the emitting fluid.

The pig receiving unit receives the pig when vertically disposed, and the pig can be taken out from the pig receiving unit after the pig receiving unit is horizontally disposed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pigging method comprising the steps of preparing a rotatable pig launch part and a pig receiving part, horizontally arranging the pig launch part, vertically arranging the pig receiving part, A step of vertically disposing the pig launch part, a step of connecting the pig launch part and the pig receiving part to both ends of the main pipe, a step of supplying the discharge fluid to the pig launch part to fire the pig to the main pipe Releasing the connection between the pig receiving unit and the main pipe when the pig reaches the pig receiving unit, horizontally placing the pig receiving unit, discharging the emitting fluid from the pig receiving unit, And taking the pig out.

In addition, both ends of the main pipe may extend in the vertical direction and may be connected to the pig launch part and the pig receiving part.

In addition, the step of discharging the emitting fluid from the pig receiving unit may include the steps of: providing a discharge pipe at a lower side of the pig receiving unit when the pig receiving unit is horizontally disposed; connecting the discharge pipe with the pig receiving unit And discharging the firing fluid through the discharge line.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the advantages of a vertical type pigging system and a horizontal type pigging system are all provided, and the disadvantage can be eliminated.

It is also possible to provide a pigging system and method applicable to a narrow space.

In addition, it is possible to provide a pigging system and method that facilitates the operation of inserting or removing pigs.

In addition, it is possible to provide a pigging system and method capable of completely discharging the ejected fluid from the pig launch part and the pig receiving part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically shows the construction of a pigging system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
Figures 2 to 4 show the operating states of the pigging system of Figure 1;
5 is a flowchart of a pigging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view showing an example of a configuration for rotating the pig launch part.
7 is a view showing another example of the configuration for rotating the pig launch part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

The main piping to be described below refers to piping to be cleaned by the pig, and does not assume the concept of primary and auxiliary. That is, the main piping is merely to distinguish it from other piping which is not cleaned by pigs, such as supply piping and discharge piping.

In the following description, the pigg is moved from the pig launching part to the pig receiving part while one direction is determined in the pigging system. Alternatively, the pig may be fired from the pig receiving part and moved to the pig launching part. When one piping main pipe is to be cleaned several times, the pig can move back and forth between the pig emitting portion and the pig receiving portion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a configuration of a pigging system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an initial view of a pigging system 100. Referring to FIG.

The pigging system 100 includes a main pipe 10 to be cleaned by the pig 1 and the pig launch part 110 and the pig receiving part 130 can be connected to both ends of the main pipe 10. Both ends of the main piping 10 may extend in the vertical direction as shown in Fig.

Here, the vertical direction may be the direction of action of gravity, and may be a direction perpendicular to the turret deck surface when the present invention is applied to the turret as described below. Further, the horizontal direction may be a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and a direction perpendicular to the direction of action of gravity.

The pig launch part 110 may have a hollow part therein to provide a space in which the pig 1 is inserted. A piggy shot cover 111 for selectively opening and closing the pig launch part 110 may be provided at one side of the pig launch part 110 to allow the piggy 1 to enter and exit the piggy, In operation, the pig launch cover 111 is closed and the pig launch portion 110 can be sealed.

A supply pipe 120 communicating with the pig launch part 110 and capable of supplying a discharge fluid to the pig launch part 110 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the pig launch part 110. [ 1, since the pig launch part 110 can be pivoted, when the pig launch part 110 is horizontally disposed as shown in FIG. 1, the pig launch part 110 and the supply pipe 120 are not communicated with each other Lt; / RTI > At one point of the supply pipe 120, a supply control valve 121 capable of controlling the supply of the discharge fluid may be provided.

A fire control valve 11 may be interposed between the pig launch part 110 and the main pipe 10. The launch control valve 11 can selectively block the communication state between the pig launch part 110 and the main piping 10 so that the discharged fluid flows to the main piping 10 side until the pressure of the discharged fluid reaches a certain level It is possible to prevent the fluid flowing through the main pipe 10 from flowing into the pig launch part 110 side.

The pig receiving unit 130 may also include a hollow portion therein to provide a space for receiving the pig. A pig receiving portion cover 131 for selectively opening and closing the pig receiving portion 130 may be provided at one side of the pig receiving portion 130 to allow the pigging of the pigging unit 1. In operation of the pigging system 100, The pig receiving portion cover 131 is closed and the pig receiving portion 130 can be sealed.

A discharge pipe 140 that can communicate with the pig receiving unit 130 and can discharge the emitting fluid inside the pig receiving unit 130 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the pig receiving unit 130. [ 1, when the pig receiving unit 130 is vertically disposed, the pig receiving unit 130 and the discharging pipe 140 may not communicate with each other. have. A discharge control valve 141 may be provided at one point of the discharge pipe 140 to control discharge of the discharge fluid.

A reception control valve 12 may be interposed between the pig receiver 130 and the main pipe 10. The reception control valve 12 can selectively block the communication state between the pig receiving part 130 and the main piping 10 so that the pig 1 reaches the pig receiving part 130 and then returns to the main piping 10 side It is possible to prevent the fluid flowing through the main pipe 10 from flowing into the pig receiving portion 130 side.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views showing an operating state of the pigging system 100 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a pigging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the pigging method or the pigging system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 1 to 4 corresponding to the respective steps of FIG.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the pig launch part 110 and the pig receiving part 130 may be prepared (S10). The pig launch part 110 and the pig receiving part 130 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise with reference to FIG. The concrete construction for the rotation will be described later.

When the pivotable unit 110 and the pig receiving unit 130 are prepared, the pig emitting unit 110 may be horizontally arranged and the pig receiving unit 120 may be arranged vertically (S20). In this state, after opening the pig-shot cover 111 of the pig launch part 110, the pig 1 can be inserted horizontally into the pig launch part 110 (S30). As described above, since the pig 1 is inserted in the horizontal direction, the pig 1 can be inserted more easily than when the pig is inserted in the vertical direction.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 5 together, after the insertion of the pig 1 is completed, the pig launch part cover 111 can be closed and the pig launch part 110 can be arranged vertically (S40). The pig launch part 110 and the pig receiving part 130 may be connected to both ends of the main pipe 10 (S50). At this time, as described above, between the pig launch part 110 and one end of the main pipe 10 and between the pig receiving part 130 and the other end part of the main pipe 10, The reception control valve 12 may be interposed. The firing control valve 11 needs to be closed and the supply control valve 12 must be opened before the shooting of the pig 1 is performed.

1, when the pig launch part 110 is horizontally disposed, the pig launch part 110 and the supply pipe 120 may not be connected to each other. In order to launch the pig 1, it is necessary to receive the emission fluid from the supply pipe 120. To do this, the pig launch part 110 is rotated to rotate the pig launch part 110 and the supply pipe 120, And then connect the pig launch part 110 and the supply pipe 120 with each other.

The supply fluid is supplied to the pig launch part 110 and the pig 1 is discharged to the main pipe 10 in step S60. To this end, the supply control valve 121 is opened to supply the supply pipe 120 So that the firing fluid supplied through the firing unit 110 can be filled into the inside of the shooting unit 110. In this process, an apparatus such as a pump (not shown) may be used if necessary. As the emission fluid is filled in the pig launch part 110, it is possible to generate a pressure suitable for the emission of the pig 1, and when the predetermined pressure value is exceeded, the closed release control valve 11 is opened and the pig 1 ). ≪ / RTI >

The pig 1 can remove the scale of the inner wall of the main pipe 10 while moving along the main pipe 10. The pig 1 can reach the pig receiving unit 130 with the removed scale at which time the receiving control valve 12 maintains the open state as described above so that the pig 1 can be smoothly received do. When the pig 1 completely enters the pig receiving part 130, the reception control valve 12 may be closed to prevent the pig 1 from moving back to the main piping 10.

3 and 5, when the pig 1 reaches the pig receiving part 130, the connection state between the main pipe 10 and the pig receiving part 130 can be released (S70). This may be a procedure for rotating the pig receiving unit 130 to end the operation by turning off the pig 1 and the removed scale.

The pig receiving unit 130 can be horizontally disposed (S80) by rotating the pig receiving unit 130 as shown in FIG. 3, and the discharged fluid in the pig receiving unit 130 can be discharged (S90) have. 1 and 2, when the pig receiving unit 130 is vertically disposed, the pig receiving unit 130 and the discharging pipe 140 may not be connected to each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the pig receiving unit 130 130 are arranged horizontally, the pig receiving unit 130 and the discharge pipe 140 can be in contact with each other and connected to each other.

3, the discharge pipe 140 may be arranged to be connected to a lower portion of the pig receiving unit 130 when the pig receiving unit 130 is vertically disposed. In this state, the discharge control valve 141 is opened, and if necessary, the discharged fluid can be discharged through the discharge pipe 140 by using a device such as a pump (not shown). The discharge pipe 140 is connected to the lower part of the pig receiving part 130, and can completely discharge the emitting fluid inside the pig receiving part 130. Meanwhile, in this process, a part of the scale removed by the pig 1 may be discharged through the discharge pipe 140.

4 and 5 together, the pig fluids in the pig receiving unit 130 are completely discharged and then the pig receiving unit cover 131 is opened to take the pig 1 out of the pig receiving unit 130 (S100). On the other hand, a scale not discharged through the discharge pipe 140 can be taken out from the pig receiving unit 130 together with the pig 1.

On the other hand, as described above, when cleaning of the main piping 10 by the pig 1 is required several times, a supply pipe is provided on the pig receiving portion 130 side, So that the pig 1 can be moved from the pig receiving unit 130 to the pig launching unit 110.

Since the direction in which the pig 1 is inserted or taken out is in the horizontal direction by the pigging system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the pigging method according to the embodiment of the present invention, Can be significantly increased. Both ends of the main piping 10 extend in the vertical direction and are connected to both ends of the main piping 10 and the pig launching portion 110 and the pig receiving portion 130 when the pig emitting portion 110 and the pig receiving portion 130 are vertically arranged. Since the horizontal section for the first and the last movement of the pig 1 does not need to be included at both ends of the main piping 10, the installation space is very small. Accordingly, the pigging system 100 according to the present invention can be applied even when the allowable installation space such as the turret deck is very small. In addition, since the discharge pipe 140 communicates with the lower portion of the pig receiving unit 130 when the pig receiving unit 130 is horizontally disposed, the discharged fluid can be prevented from remaining in the pig receiving unit 130. 4, the discharge pipe 140 may be disposed on the pig receiving portion cover 131 side, and the pig receiving portion 130 may be slightly inclined toward the pig receiving portion cover 131 side in a horizontal state, for example, The pig receiving unit 130 may be arranged to be in contact with the pig receiving unit 130. [ Accordingly, all of the discharged fluid in the pig receiving unit 130 flows toward the pig receiving unit cover 131 and can be discharged through the discharge pipe 140.

Hereinafter, a configuration for rotating the pig launching unit 110 and the pig receiving unit 130 will be described. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are shown for this purpose. For reference, only the pig launch part 110 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for the sake of simplicity, and only the pig launch part 110 will be described below for convenience of explanation. The following description may be applied to the pig receiver 130 as well.

6 is a view showing an example of a configuration for rotating the pig launch part 110, which is viewed from the side of the pig launch part 110. As shown in FIG. 1 to 4 are front views, and Fig. 6 is a side view.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the rotation of the pig launch part 110 is realized by utilizing the motor 25. FIG. Specifically, a support 20, which is connected to the pig launch part 110 and supports the pig launch part 110, may be disposed behind the pig launch part 110. A motor 25 may be disposed inside the support 20.

A gear box 115 may be provided on the rear surface of the pig launch part 110 and a gear 116 coupled to the pig launch part 110 may be disposed inside the gear box 115.

The rotation shaft 30 connected to the motor shaft 26 through the motor shaft 26 and the gear 27 is rotated by the rotation of the motor shaft 26 when the motor 25 in the support body 20 is driven for rotation of the pig launch portion 110, can do. The gear 116 disposed in the gear box 115 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft 30 and the pig launching unit 110 connected to the gear 116 can also rotate.

7 is a view showing another example of the structure for rotating the pig launch part 210, and Fig. 7 is a rear view of the pig launch part 210. Fig.

In this embodiment, the rotation of the pig launch part 210 is implemented by using the actuators 40 and 50. Specifically, when the pig launch part 210 is vertically arranged, the first actuator 40 is connected to the center point of the upper part of the pig launch part 210, and the second actuator 50 is connected to the pig launch part 210 To the central point of the lower portion of the lower portion.

When the pig launch part 210 is to be rotated counterclockwise, the first actuator 40 can be retracted and the second actuator 50 can be advanced at the same time.

Although not shown, the ratchet gear may be used to rotate the pig launch part, and a person skilled in the art may adopt various configurations to realize the rotation of the pig launch part.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. It will be understood that various changes, modifications, or substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1: PIG 10: Main piping
11: firing control valve 12: receiving control valve
100: a pigging system 110: a pig launch part
111: Pig firing cover 120: Supply piping
121: Supply control valve 130: Pig receiver
131: pig receiving part cover 140: exhaust pipe
141: Discharge control valve

Claims (8)

A pig firing unit communicating with one end of the main piping and emitting the pig to the main piping;
A piggy shot cover selectively opening and closing one side of the pig launch section;
A supply pipe for supplying a discharge fluid to the pig launch part;
A pig receiving unit communicating with the other end of the main piping and receiving the pig transmitted through the main piping after being emitted from the pig emitting unit;
A pig receiving portion cover selectively opening and closing one side of the pig receiving portion;
A discharge pipe for discharging a discharge fluid inside the pig receiving unit; And
And a structure for rotating the pig launch part and the pig receiving part,
Wherein the structure for rotating the pig launch part and the pig receiving part comprises:
A first actuator connected to an upper part of the pig launch part or the pig receiving part; And
And a second actuator connected to a lower portion of the pig launch part or the pig receiving part,
Wherein the pig launch part or the pig receiving part rotates by applying a force in opposite directions to the pig launch part or the pig receiving part through the first actuator and the second actuator through advancement or retraction. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein one end and the other end of the main pipe extend in a vertical direction to communicate with the pig launch part and the pig reception part when the pig launch part and the pig reception part are disposed vertically, respectively. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pig is inserted into the pig launch part when the pig launch part is horizontally disposed and fired to the main pipe when the pig launch part is vertically arranged. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the discharge piping communicates with a lower portion of the pig receiving portion when the pig receiving portion is horizontally disposed to discharge the emitting fluid. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pig receiving unit receives the pig when vertically disposed, and the pig is taken out from the pig receiving unit after the pig receiving unit is horizontally disposed. Preparing a configuration for rotating the pig launch part, the pig reception part, and the pig launch part and the pig reception part;
A step of horizontally arranging the pig launch part by an operation of rotating the pig launch part and the pig receiving part and vertically arranging the pig receiving part;
Inserting the pig into the pig launch part;
Vertically arranging the pig launch part by an operation of rotating the pig launch part and the pig receiving part;
Connecting the pig launch part and the pig receiving part to both ends of the main pipe;
Supplying a discharge fluid to the pig launch part to fire the pig to the main pipe;
Releasing the connection between the pig receiving unit and the main pipe when the pig reaches the pig receiving unit;
Horizontally arranging the pig receiving unit by operation of a configuration for rotating the pig launch unit and the pig receiving unit;
Discharging the firing fluid from the pig receiving unit; And
And withdrawing the pig from the pig receiving unit,
Wherein the structure for rotating the pig launch part and the pig receiving part comprises:
A first actuator connected to an upper part of the pig launch part or the pig receiving part; And
And a second actuator connected to a lower portion of the pig launch part or the pig receiving part,
Wherein the pig launch part or the pig reception part is rotated by applying a force in opposite directions to the pig launch part or the pig reception part through the forward movement or the backward movement of the first actuator and the second actuator. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein both ends of the main pipe extend in a vertical direction and are connected to the pig launch part and the pig receiving part, respectively. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein discharging the firing fluid from the pig receiver comprises:
Providing a discharge pipe at a lower side of the pig receiving unit when the pig receiving unit is horizontally disposed;
Connecting the discharge pipe and the pig receiving part to the lower part; And
And discharging said firing fluid through said discharge line.

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