Sulfuric acid pipeline clearance
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93% sulfuric acid pipeline, approximately 2000 meters in length, DN100, with a design pressure of 1.6 Mpa. There are 8 elbows and 3 expansion bends. Normal pumping takes place on regular days, but now the pipeline is blocked (it is preliminarily assumed to be due to acidic sludge); the exact location of the blockage is unknown. Nitrogen is being supplied to both ends of the pipeline, but there is no flow between them. Purge with nitrogen at 1.2 Mpa. It is currently a mixed environment of nitrogen, air, and hydrogen inside. There are many other pipelines on the pipeline gallery as well. Dear experts, what would be the appropriate way to handle this? Is there any equipment that can detect the location of the blockage? Additionally, the local environmental protection situation is quite severe, with strict regulations regarding odor control.
The most basic striking method! If there is insulation, it’s rather troublesome. This blockage cannot have developed over just a day or two; check the pipes for areas where there are height differences. Once the approximate location is identified, use a special stainless steel cutting tool to cut behind the blocked area
To locate the turning point where the pipe slope changes, tap it with a stick; based on the sound produced, determine whether there is a blockage. The pipe can be disconnected at a section that is not blocked and close to the location of the blockage, after which hot water can be used to flush out the blockage
During the inspection of sulfuric acid pipelines, welding operations must not be carried out blindly; our company has experienced hydrogen explosions during welding work on acid pipelines
Has no low point been set on the pipeline?
Blockages can be detected by using a metal hammer
Why use special stainless steel cutting blades when it’s sufficient to cut from behind the blockage? ? ? ?
There are 8 elbows and 3 expansion bends. It seems that there is no design for draining sediment at the lowest point. Given this issue, could we consider adopting the approach used in steam pipelines, by installing liquid separation tanks along certain pipes to allow the precipitation and collection of acidic sludge? Then, those liquid separation tank pipelines could be cleaned after a certain period of time