{"id":81565,"date":"2017-03-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.corrosionpedia.com\/2017\/03\/10\/ice-pigging-new-european-pipe-cleaning-innovation"},"modified":"2019-02-06T17:24:36","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T18:45:48","slug":"ice-pigging-new-european-pipe-cleaning-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.corrosionpedia.com\/ice-pigging-new-european-pipe-cleaning-innovation\/2\/1960","title":{"rendered":"Ice Pigging: New European Pipe Cleaning Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

A water infrastructure corrosion expert reviews a paper<\/a> by researchers at the University of Bristol on an innovative technique called ice pigging for the water supply industry.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fine particles in drinking water distribution systems, such as sand and corrosion by-products, are the main cause for water discoloration<\/a>, resulting in customer complaints.<\/p>\n

Current Water Main Cleaning Technologies<\/h2>\n

Current industry standard procedures include unidirectional water flushing, air scouring, and conventional pigging. Flushing involves pumping water at high velocities through the pipes to displace and carry away particulates<\/a> (sometimes measured in units known as grains<\/a>.) Conventional pigging<\/a> consists of pushing a cleaning pig through the pipe to push or wipe away loose particulates. (For more on related techniques, see Understanding a New Trend: In Situ Cleaning and Coating<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Both systems have drawbacks. The first tends to use very large volumes of water, and it may be impossible to get the required velocities in large diameter pipes. The second requires system improvements (launch and receiving stations), and may run the risk of damaging the pipe walls.<\/p>\n

Ice Pigging Has Certain Advantages<\/h2>\n

Ice pigging<\/a> on the other hand, is an alternative to water flushing and conventional pigging. It uses a phase change material (ice-water slurry), which can be introduced into and removed from existing pipe networks with minimal modifications to the infrastructure.<\/p>\n

This new technology uses significantly less water. Another advantage is that the ice pig changes shape to fit the containing topology and is able to navigate bends and restrictions. The ice pig is guaranteed to never get stuck, because it will simply melt away.<\/p>\n

The viability of these concepts has been taken to the next stage by demonstrating the potential of the technology on live mains. The initial field evaluations performed by Bristol Water (BW) and the results to date are very encouraging, and BW invested resources to initiate the commercialization of the technology. The ice pigging technology has since been commercialized and brought to the United States.<\/p>\n

Ice Pigging Limitations<\/h2>\n

Based on the original study, there appears to be some current limitations to the application of this technology, including:<\/p>\n