Technology Name: Pipe Unplugging by Fluid Wave-Action

Demonstration Name:Wave Erosion | Demonstrated on: 9/1/2000
Demonstration Site: Applied Research Center (formerly HCET)

Demo Objective

During April FY00, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) issued a request for proposal (RFP) for a technology demonstration in collaboration with DOE-TFA and FIU-HCET. AEAT Engineering Services, Inc. (AEAT) was awarded a contract to demonstrate their innovative “wave erosion” technology. The pipeline blockage removal technology system demonstrated by AEAT is a promising pipeline unplugging technology that shows immense potential toward use in long pipelines that have drained down below a blockage. The technology is in the developmental stage, and a prototype unit was demonstrated.

Demo Results

The fluidic system demonstrated by AEAT is a promising innovative pipeline unplugging technology that has a potential of being deployed at DOE sites. One of the benefits of this technology is that the setup does not discharge water until the blockage is cleared, minimizing water required. Also the technology is independent of the number of elbows before the blockage, and it has a short mobilization and demobilization time (once adapter jumpers have been fabricated). However, the technology is still in the developmental stage, and the unit demonstrated at FIU-HCET is a prototype unit. Table 1 represents in a tabular form the details of the demonstrations carried out at FIU-HCET. All the demonstrations were performed on Test Bed #2 with access port diameter of 3 in. AEAT technology was non-intrusive, and it required very little operator effort. It may be operated remotely through the control panel.

Pictures

Videos