Experimental Research on the Frictional Resistance of Fluid-Driven Pipeline Robot with Small Size in Gas Pipeline

• Published in: Tribology letters Vol. 65; no. 2; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Zhu, Xiaoxiao, Wang, Wei, Zhang, Shimin, Liu, Shuhai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accuracy; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coefficient of friction; Coefficient of variation; Corrosion and Coatings; Finite element method; Friction resistance; Gas pipelines; Inspection; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Natural gas; Original Paper; Petroleum pipelines; Physical Chemistry; Predictions; Robots; Sealing; Sliding friction; Surfaces and Interfaces; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Thin Films; Tribology; Two dimensional models; Fluid driven; Frictional coefficient; Pipeline robot; Bidirectional pig; Frictional resistance
• ISSN: 1023-8883; 1573-2711
• DOI: 10.1007/s11249-017-0830-z

Pipeline inspection gauge (pig), as a kind of pipeline robot, is commonly used in oil and gas pipelines during different stages of operation to perform functions such as dewatering, cleaning and inspecting. Predicting the motion of a pig to estimate its velocity, position and required driving pressure is essential before pigging. A precise evaluation can greatly help the operator to control the motion of the pig and reduce the pigging risks. The frictional resistance between a pig and the pipeline is a key determinant of the prediction accuracy, and research on the contact behaviour of sealing disc can help to understand the frictional resistance well. As a result, in this paper, an experimental rig for measuring the frictional resistance of the bidirectional pig with high accuracy was developed, and the effects of the sealing disc’s interference, thickness and clamping rate on the sliding friction of the pig were experimentally studied. The corresponding normal force between the sealing disc and the pipeline was obtained by a 2D axisymmetric nonlinear finite element model, and the frictional coefficient with the variation of the sealing disc’s size was presented. Research results show different effects of the sealing disc’s sizes on the frictional force, normal force and the frictional coefficient. In addition, different contact behaviours can be observed by the indication of the frictional coefficient curve. The contact behaviour can be grouped into several conditions, depending on the size of the sealing disc.