Mark
Staker, Training Coordinator
Mountain Supply company
INTRODUCTION
Static electricity pinholing
occurs when dust or dirt particles are present in the gas stream and a high
volume of flow exists through a restriction.
Prime examples are: broken
lines, flow control through a squeeze off zone, close proximity of tube turns,
saddle fittings near a break, etc.
These circumstances create a sufficient static charge to build on the inside of
the pipe, which can exceed the dielectric strength of the plastic pipe.
When this occurs, the discharge can cause a pinhole through the pipe
wall.
Thus far, our investigation indicates that prevention is the best
solution in preventing electrostatic pinhole damage:
·
Keep pipe end caps in place
at all times before fusion takes place.
·
Pig pipe sections, as needed.
·
Purge new piping systems with
a reusable steel purging fitting.
·
Purge existing dead ends
before tying on a new piping system.
·
Vacuum new piping systems to
eliminate the need to purge.
In August of 1984, our first
field failure by a static electric discharge was brought to our attention.
A contractor crew installing a 1 ¼ inch medium-density polyethylene line
was in the process of filling and purging a new piping system.
Controlling the flow of natural gas was done through a squeeze-off unit.
It was during this process that a cracking or popping sound was heard in
the vicinity of the squeeze-off or flow-control area.
Inspection of the section of pipe revealed a small leak on the edge of
the squeeze cheek area. A brittle
squeeze failure was first diagnosed, which was later dismissed.
Closer examination of the failure revealed some small black dots (pinholes) that were leaking. Not fully understanding what had happened, our soaping of squeeze-off areas was emphasized. Field personnel were asked to look consciously for this pinholing leak. These efforts resulted in six pinholing squeeze-off failures reported in a two-week period, all of which were determined to be caused by static pinhole discharge.
Only three known static
pinholing discharges had been reported throughout the gas industry at this time.
Evidence again had shown that a static charge had developed on the inside
wall of the plastic pipe in sufficient voltage to cause a pinhole discharge.
During this time frame, samples of pinhole discharge were sent to our
pipe manufacturers for evaluation and verification.
The results and information received are presented below.
To date 38 such failures have been received and reported.
Only two failures were reported in 1988.
The static discharges have
happened in various ways. The
majority of occurrences have taken place when a squeeze-off unit was being used
to control the flow of gas. Purging
or filling of new piping systems accounted for approximately 90 percent of our
failures. Discharges have occurred
in a variety of sizes and manufacturers of pipe - ½-inch C.T.S. through 4-inch
I.P.S. pipe with S.D.R. ranges of 10.0 to 11.5.
Other pinhole discharges have
occurred in multi saddles when a third party has broken a service line.
The restriction in the multi saddle was enough to cause a sufficient
charge to build up, which was discharged directly through the multi-saddle
fitting. We have had similar
occurrences in a ¾-inch inline tee.
Some third party damages have also resulted in the same pinholing.
One of the more rare reported
occurrences happened when a two-inch plastic line was broken with a double ell
arrangement not far from the line break.
With the high volume flow, dirt particles present, and a flow restriction
with the double ell configuration, enough static electricity built up to exit
through one of the ells.
In our early stages of
investigation and testing, some equipment that produced a static charge under
controlled conditions was constructed and used.
It consisted of a hopper that was full of fine sand, a series of valves
that connected the hopper to a line that had a high flow of gas, and a discharge
that vented the gas flow to the atmosphere.
Squeeze-offs were made along the length of pipe during this rapid-flow
situation. Throttling through the
squeeze units was also performed.
These two procedures produced many discharges but not consistently enough to
predict when they would occur.
An example of this occurred
while we were setting up for a demonstration for our company management
supervisors. A test run in which
static discharges occurred frequently was performed.
When it came time to demonstrate the static discharge assembly, a cloud
moved over the test area. No static
charges could be produced at all.
This led to thinking that humidity might be a significant factor.
This though continued until we received a 4-inch static discharge field
failure a few weeks later that occurred during a rain storm.
Since that time we have had reported discharges in every type of weather
condition. So the only predictable
thing about a static discharge is that it is unpredictable.
Additional testing was
performed by use of a closed loop and a blower from a vacuum to generate the
needed static build up. Static
pinholes were created and evaluations were done in hopes of again finding a
solution.
Utilizing this closed loop,
an attempt was made to record a static discharge on video tape.
A discharge focal point was set up to record this effort, but we could
not get a discharge recorded at that time – all static activity simply stopped.
While changing the configuration of the test loop, a hacksaw was used to
cut into the pipe. As the hacksaw
reached the inside of the pipe wall, a spark and cracking sound of a discharge
was heard. This type of static
discharge was recorded on video tape.
After experiencing this discharge, several more cuts were made in the
pipe at various intervals. Small
discharges were found in virtually every hacksaw cut.
Some cuts were within three inches of another cut.
The conclusion of this test is that a static charge that develops on the
inside of the pipe does not dissipate very rapidly.
We have been able to determine that a static charge can remain on the
pipe wall for as many as twelve hours.
To this date, through our
limited testing, no permanent solution has been found to control internal static
discharge. Prevention then became
our best solution. Here is a list
of procedures that can help to prevent a static pinhole discharge.
Protective shipping end caps should remain on the pipe at all times that the pipe is not actually being worked on. Receiving inspection should ensure that the end caps are in place. The only time the end caps should be removed is when fusion is going to take place. This will help ensure that construction dust and dirt does not collect in the plastic piping system.
Pigging pipe sections or lengths should be required when end caps are missing or in any other case when it is deemed necessary in the judgment of the crew foreman or company inspector.
When purging new piping
systems, a reusable steel (riser type) purge fitting properly grounded could be
used to dissipate any charges that may develop during this process.
Flow control of the purging operation could also be accomplished with
this fitting.
Purging dust particles from existing dead ends should take place before the new piping system is connected. This would help eliminate any dust particles from entering the new piping system, thus reducing the chances of a static pinhole discharge. The steel reusable purge fitting could be used to accomplish this procedure.
Use of the vacuum method
eliminates the need to purge new piping systems.
This in turn reduces the chances of a static discharge from occurring.
The objective of the vacuum system is to remove as much air from the
piping systems as possible. When
this vacuum set point is achieved, natural gas would then be released into the
piping system filling the vacuum.
This process not only reduces the chance of a static discharge, it also replaces
the costly need for purging each dead end and the associated waste of natural
gas. This vacuum process can be
accomplished in two ways.
1. Use a vacuum pumping engine assembly capable of removing the desired amount of air for a given elevation.
2. Use a series of air injections with an air compressor to create a venturi type vacuum, which would produce the same results.
In conclusion, static
electric pinholing is a part of working with the polyethylene piping system.
The problems it has created to this point are not very serious.
But we should not choose to ignore the potential problem simply because
it hasn’t happened within our own company, nor should we ignore the possibility
that it has happened in our own company.
When static pinholing occurs, long-term performance of our plastic
systems may be affected. We know
that a hole in the pipe is created and a small leak results from the electric
pinholing discharge. If the pipe
then is put into service without the fault’s being detected, the systems have
been compromised. Additionally, a
potential source of ignition from a static pinholing spark is a reality.
When we have to react to unusual problems, it consumes considerable time
and resources, so prevention is always the preferred step.
Our reaction to static electric pinholing should not be different.