New Pigging System Demonstration Video
A question we often get asked is how pigs travel through pipes. There are various ways to propel pigs. These include compressed air, water, the following product, carbon dioxide plus others.
We’ve recently put together a new video which shows some of the different ways to propel the process pig. The system featured in the video is housed in our demonstration facility located at our head office in Beeston, Nottingham, UK.
The video shows two types of pigging system demonstrations being carried out: pigging with compressed air and pigging with another product.
Both of these demonstrations show the pig, powered by compressed air and the next product, being propelled through the pipeline and recovering and removing the product (a blue demonstration liquid with medium viscosity) from the pipeline.
To watch the video, click on the play button below:
Look out for how clear the line is after pigging and the clear, distinct separation between the two products!
Pigging with Air – What Does the Video Show?
In the first video clip, the operator begins the sequence by using the HMI control panel to transfer the blue liquid through the pipelines. Please note, the blue liquid is just for illustrative purposes – HPS pigging systems are extremely effective with both very low viscosity products (e.g. fruit juice) right through to high viscosity mixes such as dog food, adhesives, and caulk.
The operator then uses the HMI control to start the pigging sequence. The HPS pig then recovers the product from the pipeline, which is then returned to the storage tank.
Pigging with Another Product – What Does the Video Show?
In the second video clip, the operator uses the HMI control to start the product transfer sequence. The blue liquid is then transferred from the storage tank and through the pipelines. The operator then uses the HMI control to start the product push sequence.
The HPS pig, propelled by the yellow demonstration liquid, then recovers the blue liquid from the pipeline which is returned to the storage tank.
At the end of the sequence, air automatically pushes the pig back to its housing. As it returns, the pig recovers the yellow liquid from the line which is also returned to the storage tank.
As you can see from both of the demonstration videos, the pigging process is extremely quick!
Propellent Used to Push the Process Pig
The propellent used to propel the pig can vary. Although the demonstration video shows compressed air and the next product being used to push the pig, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water can also be used.
The system is a demonstration pigging system, so it differs slightly to pigging systems that we typically install in food, beverage, cosmetics, personal care, pet food and home-care production facilities throughout the world.
Although the components remain the same i.e. pig, pig detector, pipelines, control software, receive station, launch station, housing, and various valves, supports and fittings, the demonstration pigging system differs as it sends and returns the product to the same storage tank.
However, HPS pigging systems in factories and production facilities typically send the product from source to its destination. The destination can be either a filling machine or another storage vessel for the product. Other options available to manufacturers include a single source to multiple destinations, multiple sources to multiple destinations and multiple sources to a single destination.
Benefits of Implementing a Pigging Solution
As well as recovering significant amounts of product (up to 99.5%) from the line, HPS pigging systems also clean the line at the same time. As you can see from the video, the line is extremely clean with no visible traces of residue remaining on the process equipment!
Pigging also minimises waste, increases ease-of cleaning as well as reduces downtime and overall costs, with a positive impact on the bottom line. And that’s only a few of the benefits of pigging, pipe cleaning and product recovery systems.
Pigging systems also go hand-in-hand with clean-in-place (CIP) processes, with pigging making the CIP process more efficient, quicker and easier. Here’s even more about pigging and CIP.
Pig Acts as Barrier Between Two Products
Another one of the major advantages of pigging systems is that they enable clear separation between two products. In turn, this means improved product quality and minimal mixing between batches and different products. Therefore, this significantly reduces the risks of product cross-contamination.
Also because pigging enables clear separation between products, only the littlest amount of mixing occurs when following on with the next batch. This not only means less valuable product being sent to waste, but it also equates to more consistent product output and reduces the costs for raw materials, cleaning agents and water.
At the same time, if a contamination incident does occur, having traceability and clear barriers between products enables businesses to trace the root of the problem through their supply chain, swiftly recall the product therefore minimising disruption to operations.
Find Out More
We hope you like our latest pigging system video. Watch the space for future video releases which will show more variations of propelling the pig!
You can click on the link below to see even more demonstration videos.
Pigging System Demonstration Videos
If you have any feedback or future suggestions for videos that you’d like to see, please let us know.
Alternatively, if you are interested in speaking to our system design team about our solution bespoke to the needs of your organisation, please get in touch.