• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.2019-2029
• /
• 2001

Up to now a wide variety of researches on inpipe inspection robots have been introduced, but it still seems to be difficult to construct a robot providing mobility sufficient to navigate inside the complicated configuration of underground pipelines. This paper introduces a robot called MRINSPECT IV(Multifunctional Robotic Crawler for inpipe inSPECTion IV) for the inspection of urban gas pipelines with a nominal 4-inch inside diameter. The proposed robot can freely move along the basic configuration of pipelines such as along horizontal or vertical pipelines. Moreover it can travel along reducers, elbows, and steer in the branches by modulating the speeds of driving modules. Especially, its capability for steering in tile three-dimensional pipeline configuration has a competative edge over the other ones and provides excellent mobility in navigation. Its critical points in the design and construction are introduced and results of experiments are given.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2016

The standard(KS D 3631) should be obey for using fuel gas pipe in Korea and a carbon steel pipe is coated with synthetic resine for protecting the corrosion. The coating is just performed for anti-corrosion, and actual strength of pipe is given by the carbon steel pipe when the fuel gas is transported. When the flaws are occurred in the steel pipe, the estimation method which is used for residual strength is necessary. But the suitable method is not exist for applying the fuel gas pipe. Eventually, the residual strength is estimated by overseas regulation such as ASME B31G or DNV RP F101. But the method based on the relative regulations are not sufficiently valid and it can not estimate the 85% over even. Therefore, the test was performed for validation with pipe specimen. The specimen was made with artificial flaw. The test results showed the certain differences according to flaw depth and DNV RP F101 is suitable to estimate the residual strength in Korea. The results in this paper contain in case of the severe flaw depth and suitable mode for Korea, so the result can be expected as valuable and widely used in various field.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.38-43
• /
• 2015

For buried gas pipelines, cathodic protection system shall be installed to protect against corrosion. The surveys of pipe-to-soil potentials for the gas pipelines should be carried out at the test box more than once a year. In urban, the test box is usually located on the driveway, therefore, it is difficult to measure the potentials. That is, traffic control is needed when carrying out the measurements of the potentials on daytime, or measurements of pipe-to-soil potentials at the test box located on the driveway have to be carried out in the late night when the traffic is light. We have developed remote potential monitoring system using the solid reference electrode and the wireless communication technology for the purpose of removing above problems. We have installed the developed solid reference electrodes at a site and monitored the potentials by wireless communication. Measured potential values were transferred to the server in office and analyzed. We have found the pipe-to-soil potentials transferred to the web server make no difference to the potentials measured directly on the site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2018

Defects in piping caused by corrosion or external impact of underground piping can lead to high risk of rupture of the piping due to high pressure. Flammable gas can be immediately ignited when discharged from piping, causing a jetfire. The damage of the radiant heat not only threatens the health of the workers who work in the industry but also the health of the people living in the neighboring residential areas. It is important to prevent and prepare before an accident occurs. In this study, three types of flammable gas underground piping accident scenarios were investigated, and the ranges of influence were determined using Phast ver7.2. and finally regression models were formulated to predict the ranges using excel and Matlab.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.419-427
• /
• 2024

This study assessed the potential impact of gas leakage resulting from accidental damage to buried urban gas pipelines during perforating operation near subway construction sites. The risk of explosions due to ignition sources such as static electricity, arising from gas infiltrating the subway construction site through storm sewers and sewage pipes, was evaluated using the ALOHA program. The results of the threat zone calculation, which input various parameters of urban gas pipelines such as length, diameter, and pressure, indicated that the flammable area within the vapor cloud extended from 1.2 to 1.4 km (red zone), the blast area ranged from 0.8 to 1.0 km (yellow zone), and the jet fire extended from 45 to 61 m (red zone). This study demonstrates that within the flammable area of the vapor cloud, a specific combination of concentration and conditions can increase flammability. The blast area may experience explosions with a pressure of 1.0 psi, sufficient to break glass windows. In the event of a jet fire, high temperatures and intense radiant heat exposure lead to rapid fire propagation in densely populated areas, posing a high risk of casualties. The findings are presented in terms of the sphere of influence and threat zone ranges.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.168-179
• /
• 2022

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) occurring in underground buried pipes of API 5L X65 steel was investigated. MIC is a corrosion phenomenon caused by microorganisms in soil; it affects steel materials in wet atmosphere. The microstructure and mechanical properties resulting from MIC were analyzed by OM, SEM/EDS, and mapping. Corrosion of pipe cross section was composed of ① surface film, ② iron oxide, and ③ surface/internal microbial corrosive by-product similar to surface corrosion pattern. The surface film is an area where concentrations of C/O components are on average 65 %/16 %; the main components of Fe Oxide were measured and found to be 48Fe-42O. The MIC area is divided into surface and inner areas, where high concentrations of N of 6 %/5 % are detected, respectively, in addition to the C/O component. The high concentration of C/O components observed on pipe surfaces and cross sections is considered to be MIC due to the various bacteria present. It is assumed that this is related to the heat-shrinkable sheet, which is a corrosion-resistant coating layer that becomes the MIC by-product component. The MIC generated on the pipe surface and cross section is inferred to have a high concentration of N components. High concentrations of N components occur frequently on surface and inner regions; these regions were investigated and Na/Mg/Ca basic substances were found to have accumulated as well. Therefore, it is presumed that the corrosion of buried pipes is due to the MIC of the NRB (nitrate reducing bacteria) reaction in the soil.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.64-71
• /
• 2016

According to the urban gas business law, electrical corrosion prevention measures shall be installed to the buried gas pipelines and the pipe-to-soil potentials should be measured at the test box at least once a year. Most of the test boxes installed in urban area are usually located on the road where the vehicle travels, therefore, it is difficult to measure the CP potentials at the test boxes. That is, we need traffic control when carrying out the measurement of the CP potentials on daytime when the traffic is heavy, or we have to measure the potentials in the late night when the traffic is light. To solve these difficulties, we have studied remotely CP potential measuring method by using the patrol car. We have installed solid reference electrodes and data loggers under the test boxes on the site and received the CP potentials from the data loggers when the vehicle moves. It was difficult to send and receive the data because the data logger was located under the ground. We have applied 3 different method including 2 antenna systems to achieve best effective way in receiving the data. We have found the remote CP measuring method by using a car can save more 20 times of measuring time than conventional measuring methods.

• The magazine of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.26-31
• /
• 2014

This invention is purposed to provide an innovative solution for the inside of roof structures, which is cultural assets. The Asian old houses generally have several layered roofs on top of the structures. If a fire has started inside of the roof, it is hard to be extinguished before eliminating all the upper layers of the roof. This invention provides pre constructed embedded pipes, which is flammable and easy to be dissolved by the fire. The material of pipe is composed of rubbers, of which the combustion point is so low that the extinguishing of initial fire is possible without additional fire service. The inside of pipe is filled with halon gas. If the filled gas is consumed after ignited by fire, additional fire extinguishing water is supplied. If the flexible pipes are totally combusted by a big fire, the sprinkler at the end of inflexible pipe will work continuously, which is located between flexible and inflexible pipes. The extinguishing pipe network is suggested as dividing whole roof as multiple sections for a swift fire extinguishing in case of intentional or natural fire attack to our invaluable cultural assets.