Hot Pig?
Hot Pig?
(OP)
I have an underground pipeline in which the contents may be frozen. Not at liberty to divulge the contents, but product starts to gel at 50F. Pipe size is NPS 3. Length in excess of two miles.
I know very little about pigging. Does anyone know if there's such a thing as a heated pig? I could install launching/receiving stations. 316SS would be acceptable material of construction for the pig.
Thank you for your time.
donf
I know very little about pigging. Does anyone know if there's such a thing as a heated pig? I could install launching/receiving stations. 316SS would be acceptable material of construction for the pig.
Thank you for your time.
donf





RE: Hot Pig?
RE: Hot Pig?
There is nothing off the shelf that I've ever heard of.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist
RE: Hot Pig?
A few more details would help, any insulation?, temp in and out, constant flow?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Hot Pig?
RE: Hot Pig?
This worked a couple times for me with PTBP (m.p. 100o C), but the isometric layout was more favorable and the line a lot shorter than yours. It was up in a pipe rack, not down in the ground. You will have to pump the condensate out. Mine took less than an 8 hour shift. I expect you are looking at days, maybe weeks.
If the pipe is above the frost line, don't try this.
Good luck,
Latexman
Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.
RE: Hot Pig?
Best regards, Morten
RE: Hot Pig?
Steam heat tracing would be much too hard over than distance, compared to simple electric exterior wrap under the insulation, right?
RE: Hot Pig?
Hook an arc welder to the other end.
Start the welder.
See if you can pump a couple hundred amps through the length of the pipe.
If you're lucky on several fronts, that will warm it up.
If that doesn't work, insulate and heat trace the new pipe.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Hot Pig?
Turns out that the problem had to do with the failure of the heat tracing controls. Situation under control.
Again, thank you.
donf
RE: Hot Pig?