Tribological Exploration on Pigging System using Computational Simulation

Abstract

Pipeline inspection gauge or known as PIG basically a device which is inserted into a pipeline with the purpose of cleaning or inspecting the pipeline for example in oil and gas industry. Pipeline pigging enhances the flow rate and corrosion control in the pipeline. During operation, the PIG is subjected to frictions and wear that occur between the sealing disc and the pipeline wall. The objective of this study is to simulate the contact pressure between the PIG sealing disc and the inner pipeline during pigging process. Other than that, the study is conducted to calculate the wear volume on the PIG sealing disc as the distance of pigging operation increase. The simulation is performed using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3. The analytical calculation implemented Archard’s law formula. The result showed the higher the normal load applied to the PIG sealing disc, the higher the contact pressure between the sealing disc and the pipeline. Next, when the PIG travel through a pipeline with normal load applied, the volume loss of PIG sealing disc is increasing. As a conclusion, when the PIG is travel through a pipeline during pigging, the PIG is subjected to various conditions such as friction and wears which can affect the pigging performance.