Abstract Pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) applied for dewatering and cleaning operation frequently suffers from blockage risk, especially in elbow section. Definitive solution to the blockage problems does not currently exist in literature. In this research, the concept of traveling ability is introduced to describe the performance of blockage avoidance, and it is defined by three influencing factors: sealing performance, which is expressed by the leak area ratio of the PIG cups; driving performance, which is evaluated by the necessary driving pressure, and collision possibility, which is described by the minimum distance between the PIG head or tail and the pipeline inner wall during pigging. The 3D finite element model (FEM) is adopted in this work and is verified by a custom–built experimental setup. Then, the FE model of the PIG running in elbow is established, and the effect of friction coefficients on the influencing factors is discussed. The results indicate that the traveling ability of the PIG will be obviously weakened under the condition with the higher friction coefficients. When the friction coefficient increases from 0.1 to 0.5, the sealing performance decreases by 27.7%; the driving performance decreases by 80% and the collision possibility increases by 94%. The researches of this work are beneficial for improving the PIG designment and avoiding the blockage risk.

中文翻译：

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3D 有限元法分析不同摩擦系数下弯头管道检测仪（PIG）的移动能力

摘要 用于脱水和清洗作业的管道检测仪（PIG）经常存在堵塞风险，尤其是在弯管段。目前文献中不存在堵塞问题的最终解决方案。本研究引入行进能力的概念来描述防堵性能，它由三个影响因素定义：密封性能，用PIG杯的泄漏面积比表示；驱动性能，由必要的驱动压力和碰撞可能性来评估，碰撞可能性用清管过程中PIG头或尾与管道内壁之间的最小距离来描述。本工作采用 3D 有限元模型 (FEM)，并通过定制的实验装置进行验证。然后，建立了PIG弯管运行的有限元模型，讨论了摩擦系数对影响因素的影响。结果表明，在摩擦系数较高的条件下，PIG的行驶能力会明显减弱。当摩擦系数从0.1增加到0.5时，密封性能下降27.7%；驾驶性能下降80%，碰撞可能性增加94%。本工作的研究有利于改进PIG设计，避免堵塞风险。当摩擦系数从0.1增加到0.5时，密封性能下降27.7%；驾驶性能下降80%，碰撞可能性增加94%。本工作的研究有利于改进PIG设计，避免堵塞风险。当摩擦系数从0.1增加到0.5时，密封性能下降27.7%；驾驶性能下降80%，碰撞可能性增加94%。本工作的研究有利于改进PIG设计，避免堵塞风险。