SEARCH
(https://nigen.com/)
CALL US: 713.965.7567
(tel:713.965.7567)
Menu
713.965.7567 (tel:713.965.7567)
BLOG
Last Posts
Laser
Cutting
with
Nitrogen
Gas –
Plasma/Laser
Cutting Air
Privacy & Cookies Policy Assist
(https://nigen.com/pipeline-drying-equipment-after-
(https://nigen.com
hydrotest/)
gas-
Pipeline
laser-
cutting-
stainless-
steel-
Drying
with-
nitrogen/)
26 May 2020
Procedures What Is
Modi!ed
Atmosphere
Packaging?
(https://nigen.com
is-
and modi"ed-
atmosphere-
packaging-
map/)
Requirements
12 May 2020
for
Nitrogen
Blanketing
for Ships,
Tanks,
Transformers,
& More
Commissioning (https://nigen.com
blanketing-
system-
Pipeline construction and pipeline repairs are major projects that for-
require detailed steps before a pipeline can be put into service. One tankers/)
step that can be overlooked until late in the project is pipeline 14 April 2020
drying. Why is this process so important and what options are
available for e!ective pipeline drying?
Using
Why Is Pipeline
Food-
Grade
Nitrogen
in Food
Drying Packaging
(https://nigen.com
Important? nitrogen-
gas-in-
food-
Moisture is not a friend to pipelines. Not only does water need to
packaging/)
be cleared from pipelines as part of the commissioning process,
7 April 2020
removing moisture helps to inhibit corrosion once the pipeline is in
service.
Unwanted moisture can accumulate for several reasons. Water and Di"erences
other contaminants can collect in the pipeline during the between
Aftercooler
construction process. Pipeline drying after a hydrotest is
vs.
particularly challenging since there will be additional water to Intercooler
remove before the pipeline is ready for commissioning.
(https://nigen.com
between-
There are speci"c problems that can be created by pipeline aftercooler-
moisture. For medium-pressure gas pipelines, water can make vs-
pressure regulators susceptible to freezing in the winter, and high- intercooler/)
pressure gas pipelines can be clogged by hydrates that can form 31 March
within the pipeline. Finally, in addition to moisture-speeding normal
2020
corrosion, the presence of water can make gas pipelines subject to
internal stress corrosion cracking (SCC) which can cause damage
inside pipelines in as little as a few years. Nitrogen
Lifting –
Well
Common Activation
by
Nitrogen
Pipeline Drying
Gas
Injection
(https://nigen.com
Methods tubing-
nitrogen-
lifting-
well-
activation/)
17 March
2020
Dew Point
in
Compressed
There are several options available for drying pipelines.
Air – Why
E!ectiveness and cost are normally the primary considerations
It Matters
when selecting a drying method. to Your
Pro!ts
Nitrogen Purge (https://nigen.com
is-
Pipeline Drying compressed-
air-dew-
Nitrogen is becoming increasingly popular for pipeline drying for point-
several reasons. Nitrogen is very dry, unlike the ambient air. how-to-
Nitrogen is also inert so it is appropriate for preparing and testing
measure/)
pipelines for a range of purposes, even pipelines that will be used
28 January
to transport #ammable gases.
2020
An on-site nitrogen skid (/nitrogen-generators/) can be transported
to pipelines, even in remote locations, in order to "ll the pipelines Desiccant
with nitrogen. If nitrogen will be used for pneumatic pipeline Air Dryer
vs.
pressure testing prior to drying, the nitrogen generator can be used Refrigerated
–
for both processes.
Compressed
Air Dryer
Another advantage to using nitrogen for the drying process is the
Types
nitrogen doesn’t have to be purged after drying is complete, unlike
air drying. In addition, the low dew point of nitrogen speeds the (https://nigen.com
drying process. Unlike hot air pipeline drying, nitrogen drying air-
doesn’t experience the same issues with moisture remaining in the dryer-vs-
center of the pipeline. refrigerated-
compressed-
Hot Air Pipeline air-
dryer-
Drying types/)
14 January
Before nitrogen drying became more popular, hot air drying was 2020
the most common method for pipeline drying. In hot air drying, the
pipeline is "lled with heated air at one end. The water within the
Pipeline
pipeline absorbs the heat energy from the air to speed the drying Gauging
process. Water vapor is pushed out of the other end of the pipeline and
by the air #ow. As hot air is forced in through one end the of the Proving for
Optimal
pipeline, compressed air dew point measurements (/what-is-
Pig Sizing
compressed-air-dew-point-how-to-measure/) are taken at both
ends of the pipe in order to determine when the pipeline is (https://nigen.com
su$ciently dry. gauging-
proving-
The hot air drying process can take a signi"cant amount of time to
for-pig-
complete. One reason for this is because the hot air drying process
sizing/)
is most e!ective at the ends of the pipeline. This is due to the
24 December
higher pressure created within the center sections of the pipeline
2019
as hot air is forced into the line, limiting the amount of liquid the air
can absorb. Near the ends of the pipe the pressure is lower
allowing more water vapor to be absorbed into the air. This
Industrial
dynamic can make it di$cult to adequately dry the center of the Compressed
pipe. To reduce this problem, it is often necessary to perform Air System
Design &
pipeline pigging (/how-to-pig-a-pipeline-gas-pipeline-pigging-
Piping
procedure/) to remove as much water from the pipeline as possible Layout
prior to the hot air drying process.
(https://nigen.com
Another problem created by the uneven drying provided by the hot
compressed-
air method is that it can be more di$cult to measure when the
air-
drying process has been completed. To check for excess moisture
piping-
in the center sections of the pipeline, a soak test can be performed.
systems/)
10 December
2019
This test is done by sealing o! the pipeline for 12 hours, then the
Search !
dew point is monitored again while air is forced through the
pipeline at the lowest pressure possible.
Vacuum Pipeline
Drying
Another option for pipeline drying is the use of a vacuum. In this
approach, a high-power vacuum system is used to remove air from
the pipeline. This will gradually lower the humidity level within the
pipeline as the air is removed.
As the residual water is evaporated and removed, the dew point
within the pipeline will eventually stabilize and lower until the water
has been extracted. A sensor attached to the pipeline is used to
measure the dew point to determine when the pipeline drying
process is complete.
Use a Nitrogen
Generator for
Nitrogen
Purging for
Cost-Savings
There are several advantages to the use of nitrogen in pipeline
drying. Having a nitrogen generator onsite can allow the nitrogen to
be used for pneumatic pipeline pressure testing. Then the same
nitrogen generator can be used to purge the line and dry it in
preparation for commissioning. After the dewatering has been
completed, nitrogen can be used to propel a pig train through the
line.
If the pipeline will be used for hydrocarbons, the nitrogen can pack
the line to ensure that the system has been purged of any oxygen
since it is vital that the hydrocarbons be kept separate from
anything #ammable. Using nitrogen allows a single piece of pipeline
drying equipment to be used for multiple steps in the process to
prepare the pipeline for commissioning. That can simplify the
process while reducing the manpower and costs associated with
coordinating the acquisition, delivery, and operation of process
equipment.
Click to learn more about NiGen’s pipeline maintenance services
(/nitrogen-pipeline-purging/) and how onsite nitrogen generators
could be the best pipeline drying solution. Contact NiGen today
(https://nigen.com/contact-us/) for more information.
"
Contact us
(https://www.facebook.com/NiGenInternational/)
#
(https://nigen.com/)
8 January 2019
(https://twitter.com/NiGenINT)
13938 Chrisman Road
© 2020 NiGen
International L.L.C. All
$
Houston, TX 77039-1918
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/nigen-
Rights Reserved.
international/) (https://goo.gl/maps/kNdkhMgGhfQ2)
TERMS AND Direct: 713-965-7567 (tel:77039-
CONDITIONS
(HTTPS://NIGEN.COM/TERMS- 1918)
AND-
CONDITIONS/)
PRIVACY POLICY
Fax: 713-956-1352 (tel:713-956-
(HTTPS://NIGEN.COM/PRIVACY-
POLICY/)
1352)
