How to Choose an Industrial Pipeline Cleaning Method

When a city is tasked with the maintenance of its water pipelines, ensuring top system performance is crucial. Naturally, there are various factors that can impact the performance of municipal water pipelines throughout their use.

Factors, such as the cleanliness of the pipeline, can result in changes in the overall system performance of water and force mains. In other words, you might experience low flow or changes in water quality when your pipelines begin to build up debris. 

When dealing with issues such as these, you want to find the right pipeline cleaning methods that are effective and reasonably priced. In this case, you want to learn if pigging, for example, is the right solution that fits your needs and your budget. 

By and large, knowing how to choose a cleaning method can seem daunting due to the many solution options available. 

To help you get started, we’ve put together key information on how to choose an industrial pipe cleaning method that’s right for you.

How to Choose a Pipeline Cleaning Method

Identify Your Problem

It may seem simple, but your first step needs to be identifying your problem. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need all the finer details of your problem at this point.

Let’s use one of our previous scenarios of a pipe that has low flow as an example. Originally, the flow of your pipeline was at a certain level. Now, the flow is much lower than normal. 

In this scenario, the issue of low flow is likely being caused by something obstructing the flow in your pipelines. 

Now that you know your pipelines are dirty, which is likely causing your low flow, you want to get that flow back up.

Analyze Different Pigging & Pipeline Cleaning Methodologies

As we shared before, there are a plethora of different pipeline cleaning methods. While there is only one way to pig, there are other cleaning methods that aren’t pigging but use the term. 

Each method for industrial pipe cleaning has different pros and cons to consider. 

However, to illustrate how to choose a cleaning method, we will cover the three main approaches you’ll likely see. 

1. Flushing

This methodology is one of the more basic ways of cleaning your pipelines. In fact, this is a method you can do on your own. 

As the name suggests, flushing your pipes is when you turn your water pumps up, pumping out the maximum amount of water.

This method is used to knock loose general debris that might be in a pipe. 

While this method can help with less difficult debris, it can’t tackle solidified dirt and debris, which can be the case. 

So, if you’ve tried flushing out your pipes and it didn’t solve your issue, you’re next option is likely pigging. 

2. Ice Pigging™

This type of cleaning is a newer form of technology that has become more common. 

Instead of the typical solid foam pig, this pigging method uses an ice slurry. As this slurry goes through your pipes, it tackles lighter debris. 

Ice Pigging™ is appropriate for cleaning out debris, like built-up biofilm, that doesn’t need a tougher cleaning method.  

While Ice Pigging™ is faster than traditional pigging, it is not the ideal solution for most major issues in your pipeline. Thus, if you use Ice Pigging™, you’ll likely end up using it more often, which will cost you more in the long run. 

3. Traditional Pigging and Swabbing

The traditional pigging and swabbing method, unlike the previously described pipeline cleaning methods, uses a solid foam pig. 

By and large, traditional pigging is the most comprehensive methodology when it comes to tackling tough pipeline debris. 

Why?

First, your pipelines are swabbed. Swabbing is an important initial step in pigging because it helps determine the degree of debris in the pipeline. 

The initial swabbing pig is a soft, sponge-like foam pig that is extremely malleable. This malleability is beneficial for the pig as it makes its way through your pipes. Not only can the pig bend as needed through your pipes, but it also helps prevent the pig from becoming lodged. 

As this initial pig encounters the debris in your pipe, it’ll either bend around the debris or break apart in more difficult cases.

When the initial pig comes out of the pipeline, it is known as a “prover pig.” Essentially, this prover pig lets your pigging experts know how tough the debris in the pipeline is. 

Next, the pigs that go into your pipeline slowly progress towards denser foam pigs. As the pig gets denser, it is better able to tackle debris that has solidified or adhered to your pipeline.

This process is continued until your pipelines are free from debris.

Consult With Top Industry Experts at American Pipeline Solutions

With over 100 years of combined experience, American Pipeline Solutions is North America’s oldest continuous pigging company. 

In those 100 years, American Pipeline Solutions has provided clients with comprehensive services for their water mains, wastewater, and overall pipeline integrity needs. 

In addition to these services, we at American Pipeline Solutions offer consulting services to clients in need. When called in, we assess the client’s problems and use our expertise to recommend the best pigging solution. 

Contact American Pipeline Solutions today to request a quote and learn more about the pigging services we can provide.