• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.295-303
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• 2022

Residential heating systems in South Korea are largely based on the use of ondol pipelines. Heat is transferred to the floor by passing hot water through a metal or plastic pipe buried within the concrete of the floor. Consequently, it is difficult to clean the inside of these pipes after installation. Over time, foreign substances such as scale accumulate in the pipe when the ondol heating method is used for an extended period. Therefore, in the past, pipes were cleaned by removing foreign substances attached to the inside surfaces of the pipes using high-pressure water or by disassembling the pipes and removing foreign substances with chemical agents. Recently, a method for removing foreign substances through the cavitation effect of ultrasound has been proposed. This idea might lead to the development of new technologies for cleaning pipe interiors. Consequently, this study investigated the use of ultrasound to clean pipes embedded in concrete. In this study, devices that generated ultrasonic waves with various frequencies and directions were prepared. After preparing arbitrarily contaminated pipes, the appropriate frequency, output strength, and output direction for each foreign substance were determined through repeated experiments. The results of this experiment could provide important information for future methods of cleaning the interior of ondol piping systems.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2024

In the context of Korean residential heating systems, Ondol pipelines are a prevalent choice. However, the maintenance of these pipelines becomes a complex task once they are embedded within concrete structures. As time progresses, the accumulation of sludge, corrosive oxides, and microorganisms on the inner surfaces of these pipelines diminishes their heating efficiency. In extreme scenarios, this accumulation can induce corrosion and scale formation, compromising the system's integrity. Consequently, this research introduces an ultrasonic generation system tailored for the upkeep of Ondol pipelines, with the objective of empirically assessing its practicality. This investigation delineates three variants of ultrasonic generating apparatuses: those employing surface vibration, external generation, and internal generation techniques. To emulate the presence of contaminants within the pipelines, substances in powder, slurry, and liquid forms were employed. The efficacy of the cleaning process post-ultrasonic wave application was scrutinized over time, with image analysis methodologies being utilized to evaluate the outcomes. The findings indicate that ultrasonic waves, whether generated externally or internally, exert a beneficial effect on the cleanliness of the pipelines. Given the inherent characteristics of Ondol pipelines, external generation proves impractical, thereby rendering internal generation a more viable solution for pipeline maintenance. It is anticipated that future endeavors will pave the way for innovative maintenance strategies for Ondol pipelines, particularly through the advancement of internal generation technologies for pipeline applications.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.303-312
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• 2002

Polly-pigs technique was developed to remove internal rusts and scales from service pipes in the building by using Polly-pigs that were used as various applications in conventional plant pipelines. Results of cleaning experiments on 15mm GSP(Galvanic Steel Pipe) showed that hydraulic cross sectional area was more increased from 3.5% to 15.4% for straight part or elbow parts of several test pieces. Results of optical analysis also showed that rust and scale removed mostly by KDP series(only consisted of Polyurethane) were outside red colored scale ($Fe_2O_3{\cdot}H_2O$), and there was a limitation to the removal of black colored scale($Fe_2O{\cdot}nH_2O$) that was below red colored scale. But it was evaluated that KDPS series coated fine sand with KDP series could remove not only red colored scale but also black colored scale and more increase hydraulic cross sectional areas of 15mm GSP old service pipes from 13.0% to 17.9%. After KDPS series cleaning, hydraulic cross sectional areas of them were recovered from 95.9% to 99.5%. Turning force of Polly-pigs was largely improved by the effect of Helical guide vane(Cleaning v/v) and Rotating wing(Pigs), and the number of pig rotating also more increased sixteen times compared with conventional cleaning system without Helical guide vane and Rotating wing. After KDPC series cleaning of 100mm GSP old service pipes that hydraulic cross sectional areas were 90%, hydraulic cross sectional areas were almost recovered perfectly like new service pipes. Additionally pressure necessary to run Polly-pigs m 100mm GSP was lower and cleaning efficiency also was higher than 15mm GSP cleaning. Therefore it was thought that as the diameter of pipe was more increased, pressure necessary to clean service pipes was more decreased and cleaning efficiency was more increased in Polly-pigs cleaning.