One of the forces that act on a pig while in operation in a pipeline is that due to the layer of wax deposited on the pipeline wall. Therefore, if the motion of a pig or its cleaning efficiency are to be determined, this resistive force must be known as a function of the relevant parameters. The goal of this paper is to present a procedure for evaluating this force in situations of engineering interest. In essence, the procedure consists of the following steps: (i) determine the wax shear strength according to an experimental procedure developed for this purpose; (ii) from finite-element results, obtain the maximum stress in wax; (iii) with the foregoing information, calculate the pressure required for the pig to cause a maximum stress on wax equal to its shear strength. This pressure value is the threshold below which no wax removed can occur, according to the present simple approach. In this paper, each of these steps is described in detail and exemplified.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
September 1999
Technical Papers
Resistive Force of Wax Deposits During Pigging Operations
P. R. Souza Mendes,
P. R. Souza Mendes
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
Search for other works by this author on:
A. M. B. Braga,
A. M. B. Braga
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
Search for other works by this author on:
L. F. A. Azevedo,
L. F. A. Azevedo
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
Search for other works by this author on:
K. S. Correa
K. S. Correa
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
Search for other works by this author on:
P. R. Souza Mendes
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
A. M. B. Braga
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
L. F. A. Azevedo
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
K. S. Correa
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Cato´lica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22453-900, Brazil
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Sep 1999, 121(3): 167-171 (5 pages)
Published Online: September 1, 1999
Article history
Received:
September 7, 1998
Revised:
May 10, 1999
Online:
November 6, 2007
Citation
Mendes, P. R. S., Braga, A. M. B., Azevedo, L. F. A., and Correa, K. S. (September 1, 1999). "Resistive Force of Wax Deposits During Pigging Operations." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. September 1999; 121(3): 167–171. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2795977
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Assessing Hydrogen–Ammonia Ratios to Achieve Rapid Kernel Inception in Spark-Ignition Engines
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June 2024)
Characterization of Surfactant Adsorption Profile in Carbonates Under Severe Reservoir Conditions With Geochemical Modeling Approach
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June 2024)
Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis of a Hybrid Power System Formed From Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Gas Turbine, and Organic Rankine Cycle
J. Energy Resour. Technol (July 2024)
Artificial Intelligence for Thermal Energy Storage Enhancement: A Comprehensive Review
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June 2024)
Related Articles
Critical Buckling Strain Equations for Energy Pipelines—A Parametric Study
J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng (August,2006)
A Mathematical Model for Frictional Elastic-Plastic Sphere-on-Flat Contacts at Sliding Incipient
J. Appl. Mech (January,2007)
Bending Capacity Analyses of Corroded Pipeline
J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng (May,2012)
Analytical and Experimental Studies of Short-Beam Interlaminar Shear Strength of G-10CR Glass-Cloth/Epoxy Laminates at Cryogenic Temperatures
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (January,2001)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
LARGE STANDOFF MAGNETOMETRY TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES TO ASSESS PIPELINE INTEGRITY UNDER GEOHAZARD CONDITIONS AND APPROACHES TO UTILISATION OF IT
Pipeline Integrity Management Under Geohazard Conditions (PIMG)
STRESS CHARACTERIZATION OF MECHANICAL DAMAGES IN GAS PIPELINES USING LARGE STANDOFF MAGNETOMETRY TECHNOLOGY
Pipeline Integrity Management Under Geohazard Conditions (PIMG)
Transportation Pipelines, Including ASME B31.4, B31.8, B31.8S, B31G, and B31Q Codes
Online Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Codes