Abstract:
A coherent body (B) of wet crushed ice is pumped along a pipe (5). The crushed ice body can be used as a means of cleaning the pipe wall, as a means of driving a product liquid out of the pipe for recovery, or as a barrier for preventing mixing of two different bodies of liquid (1,2) in the pipe to either side of it. Being coherent but flowable and non-tensile, the mass of crushed ice can negotiate internal constrictions, obstructions and junctions of the pipe readily, unlike conventional solid or gelled pigs.
Abstract:
In a system for loading a liquid into a tank truck by means of a pipeline, a pig is used for pushing product through the line toward the truck. This pig is stored at the source end of the line and is caused to move through the line first toward the truck end, and then back to its storage location at the source end, all in response to the operation of a ''''pig start'''' pushbutton.
Abstract:
Carbon dioxide is injected into a surface pipeline to maintain a pressure near that required to form a two two-liquid phase hydrocarbon-carbon dioxide system. The two-liquid phase region is placed as a slug between two hydrocarbons to be transported within the pipeline. The two-liquid phase slug prevents the mixing of the hydrocarbons being pipelined. The slug material exhibits a lower viscosity than the flowing hydrocarbons so that it flows in the turbulent regime causing a cleansing action in the pipeline and also reducing the extend of its own tailing. Upon effluence from the pipeline the carbon dioxide may be vented to the atmosphere to separate it from the hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
A METHOD OF TRANSPORTING BY PIPELINE TWO IMMISCIBLE FLUIDS SUCH AS A PETROLEUM PRODUCT AND A FERTILIZER SOLUTION. THE TWO FLUIDS ARE SEPARATED BY A TWO-ZONE LIQUID BUFFER, THE ZONES OF WHICH ARE SOLUBLE IN THE RESPECTIVE FLUIDS AND ALSO ONE IN THE OTHER, AS FOR EXAMPLE, ACETONE OR ALCOHOL AND WATER.