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JBK
Associate

Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 32

Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/06/2011 5:34 AM

Hi?

would you recommend the proper cleaning method for fuel gas supply pipeline?

pigging system? steam flushing? etc.

For your reference, the line size is 52" and material is A106 Gr.B.
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redfred
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Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Been there, done that. Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island NY
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#1

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/06/2011 1:44 PM

A 52" diameter flammable gas line!?!? This is nowhere for an unauthorized individual to work. Leave gas mains alone. If you think that your gas main has an obstruction that requires cleaning, contact the local utility.

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lyn
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#2

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/06/2011 2:02 PM

Are you taking a class, or are you really working in a power plant?

The level of your questions scares me to think that you may be working with dangerous stuff. I hope this is not the case.
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ducon
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hop around Toronto, New York & Karachi
Posts: 1876
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#3

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/06/2011 11:07 PM

Gas Line !!!!! You are not authorized to touch it. Call the Gas Company and they will do it on NO CHARGE.

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Wal
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phnom Penh
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#4

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/07/2011 1:58 AM

What is your location JBK?

I hope that you are simply vetting proposals and not ready to roll up your sleeves and get into it. You really want to know what you are doing here.

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 Difficulty is not an obstacle it is merely an attribute.
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stargan
Associate

Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 40
Good Answers: 1
#5

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/07/2011 5:48 AM

We have experience with FG (Natural Gas) pipelines and in such big diameters it's impossible to flush.

Use cleaning PIGs.
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Anonymous Poster #1
#6
In reply to #5

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/07/2011 6:13 AM

Sorry, where to find breathing apparatus for pigs? Can I subsequently flush the pipe to remove the products of porcine digestion?
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stargan
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 40
Good Answers: 1
#7
In reply to #6

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/07/2011 6:33 AM

Are you familiar with PIGGING operations & procedures? PIGGING launching and receiving stations? scraper traps?

Start by looking at www.tdwilliamson.com
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Lapin
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Join Date: Jun 2011
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#8
In reply to #6

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/07/2011 12:29 PM

If you leave the products of porcine digestion in place, don't they contribute to the methane content of the pipeline?

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dclarihew
Member

Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Good Answers: 1
#9

Re: Cleaning Method for Fuel Gas Supply Line?

12/08/2011 6:30 PM

As other contributors have already pointed out, this is a high risk operation. Lives have been lost recently while cleaning fuel gas lines (google Kleen Energy). Partially in response to those disasters the NFPA has issued a new provisional standard, NFPA 56 Standard for Fire & Explosion Prevention during cleaning and purging of flammable gas piping systems. It may not be entirely applicable to your situation but contains some good "things to consider" when planning such an operation.

As to the best method of cleaning, that will be dependent on what materials you have available, system scope and layout, degree of cleaning required - and the potential hazards of each method. One method which is specifically excluded by the new standard is to use fuel gas itself as the cleaning medium - which is what was happening at Kleen Energy when it went wrong.

Recommend seeking expert advice - for example

http://www.combustionsafety.com/
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Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (1); dclarihew (1); ducon (1); Lapin (1); lyn (1); redfred (1); stargan (2); Wal (1)

Previous in Forum: Centrifugal Pump   Next in Forum: Buffer Volume for Fuel Changeover (From Natural Gas to Oil)

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