METHOD OF EXPLOSION-PROOF CLEANING BY COMPRESSED AIR OF THE PIPELINES CONTAINING TRACES OF HYDROCARBONS Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: methods of explosion-proof cleaning of the acting gas-and-oil product pipelines.

SUBSTANCE: the invention is dealt with the methods of explosion-proof cleaning of the acting long distance pipe lines, in particular, gas-and-oil product pipelines and may be can be used also for cleaning of pipelines of other destination. The method ensures prevention of ignition of a mixture of a compressed air with hydrocarbons, detonation of a conflagrant mixture in the event of inevitable its fire and cleaning of a pipeline with large efficiency at significant saving of time, means and materials. The method provides for a mechanical action on a surface subjected to cleaning by a cleaning device with a following flushing by a foaming agent. The cleaning device passing first is realized for the given distance by feeding a mix of a noble gas and a frothing agent, then by a stream of compressed air. The stream in run is divided into equal length sections by separators, which are formed by delivery of batches of a noble gas blended with a frothing agent in a cavity of the pipeline and after the cleaning device exit out of the pipeline the cleaning is going on by feeding batches of a noble gas. The distance between separators is determined with a magnitude less than a pre-detonation distance.

EFFECT: the invention ensures prevention of ignition of mixture of a compressed air with hydrocarbons in a pipeline, detonation of a conflagrant mixtures in the event of inevitable fire, efficient cleaning of a pipeline at significant saving of time, means and materials.

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