In numerous occasions, conduit pipes or pipelines will require to be cleaned and disposed of unwanted materials, and even inspected. These activities are mainly aimed at ensuring their dispensation of service remains effective and exemplary, as intended. To facilitate these upkeep practices, pigging comes in. It is a process which basically involves equipment referred to as pigs, which greatly help in maintenances of piping systems. Loading a pig into pipeline must nonetheless not disrupt normal operations and flow of medium.
It involves inserting this pig device into a section of the conduit pipes called launching station or simply launcher, cutting down to normal diameter. Consequently, the launcher is closed and then the product that is being conveyed by the conduits, say oil or water, considering it is driven by pressure, pushes it down the conduits pipes till it reaches its intended destination or trap, called receiving station or colloquially pig catcher.
In the past, this process was used in practices like cleaning of conduit pipes that have large diameters. However, nowadays, there has been the adoption of pigging systems which are smaller amongst many plant firms, in a bid to enhance efficiency and also cut down on costs. Pigging may be employed in almost all sections of transfer process, including during blending, filling alongside storage systems. The pigging systems are majorly preferred in industries that handle diverse products such as lubricating oils, toiletries, foodstuffs, chemical materials, paints, etc.
The pigs can also be used in paints blending, in cleaning pipes so that situations like cross-contamination are significantly avoided. They are also used in emptying pipes into respective product pipes. Under normal circumstances, pigging should be done during the end of every batch though at times it can be done in the middle of the batch, for instance in production of premixes which are intended to be used as intermediate products or components.
It has also been confirmed that pigging goes a long way in reducing cross-contamination conditions. Prevalently, pigging is done during clearing or emptying of mediums. Many undertake it during the end, though in certain conditions and circumstances, it can be done in the course or midst of the transfer process.
However, during the execution of pigging, various cautionary measures should mandatorily be taken, to avoid ugly scenarios like injuries, impairments or accidents of whatever kind. There has been multiple numbers of accidents that are recorded whereby operators are injured and some even killed whilst performing pigging operations. The commonest cause of suchlike cases is whereby closure doors are opened, whilst pressure is still being exerted in the vessel. Another cause is whereby the main valves are opened when the closure doors are not yet completely closed.
In addition, an accident might occur if valves remain open before closure outlets are fully closed. It is also equally dangerous to leave closure outlets opened, even while the vessel has highly concentrated toxic substances or gases, which will eventually attract serious health complications.
Experts however warn that this pigging process should be handled with caution and precision, since there have been many accidents arising from carelessness or ignorance. It is therefore salient to make sure you exercise precautionary measures in the entire process, and ensure you are well-versed with the intricacies involved, to avert injuries or fatal accidents.
It involves inserting this pig device into a section of the conduit pipes called launching station or simply launcher, cutting down to normal diameter. Consequently, the launcher is closed and then the product that is being conveyed by the conduits, say oil or water, considering it is driven by pressure, pushes it down the conduits pipes till it reaches its intended destination or trap, called receiving station or colloquially pig catcher.
In the past, this process was used in practices like cleaning of conduit pipes that have large diameters. However, nowadays, there has been the adoption of pigging systems which are smaller amongst many plant firms, in a bid to enhance efficiency and also cut down on costs. Pigging may be employed in almost all sections of transfer process, including during blending, filling alongside storage systems. The pigging systems are majorly preferred in industries that handle diverse products such as lubricating oils, toiletries, foodstuffs, chemical materials, paints, etc.
The pigs can also be used in paints blending, in cleaning pipes so that situations like cross-contamination are significantly avoided. They are also used in emptying pipes into respective product pipes. Under normal circumstances, pigging should be done during the end of every batch though at times it can be done in the middle of the batch, for instance in production of premixes which are intended to be used as intermediate products or components.
It has also been confirmed that pigging goes a long way in reducing cross-contamination conditions. Prevalently, pigging is done during clearing or emptying of mediums. Many undertake it during the end, though in certain conditions and circumstances, it can be done in the course or midst of the transfer process.
However, during the execution of pigging, various cautionary measures should mandatorily be taken, to avoid ugly scenarios like injuries, impairments or accidents of whatever kind. There has been multiple numbers of accidents that are recorded whereby operators are injured and some even killed whilst performing pigging operations. The commonest cause of suchlike cases is whereby closure doors are opened, whilst pressure is still being exerted in the vessel. Another cause is whereby the main valves are opened when the closure doors are not yet completely closed.
In addition, an accident might occur if valves remain open before closure outlets are fully closed. It is also equally dangerous to leave closure outlets opened, even while the vessel has highly concentrated toxic substances or gases, which will eventually attract serious health complications.
Experts however warn that this pigging process should be handled with caution and precision, since there have been many accidents arising from carelessness or ignorance. It is therefore salient to make sure you exercise precautionary measures in the entire process, and ensure you are well-versed with the intricacies involved, to avert injuries or fatal accidents.
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