Cleaning of seawater intake pipelines

The seawater inlet pipe is critical to the operation of any water treatment plant and any reduction in diameter can reduce plant efficiency and increase pumping costs. The objective of pipeline pigging is to keep the pipeline running to full capacity and avoid the build-up of mussels and other sea water/marine growth, which can cause significant and fast growing biofouling throughout water intake pipes. In order to control this potential reduction to pipeline efficiency the most environmentally friendly option is to periodically mechanically clean or scrape off, termed pigging, the organic growth and ensure a clean pipeline. The bespoke cleaning tools can be also be used to monitor and predict the potential build up and so develop an economical periodic cleaning schedule. Another option to consider may be chemical dosing, however sometimes environmental considerations prohibit chemical options. However, the organisms inhabiting the pipeline may be able to overcome such methods so perhaps a combination approach should be considered. Established in 1984 and with almost four decades of experience in pipeline cleaning and isolation, iNPIPE PRODUCTS™ have developed an integrated and systematic approach to mechanical cleaning of large diameter pipes. This includes bespoke designs and cost-effective methods to introducing the cleaning tools into the pipeline, specific designs of cleaning tools in order to systematically remove problematic organisms and deposits. Inlet spools to integrate pigging into the seawater inlet pipeline system together with outlet options for the safe and environmentally friendly removal of the debris and the cleaning tool into the sea.