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Nitrogen Drying

WHEN DO WE USE NITROGEN DRYING?

Hydrostatic testing companies can help operators verify the safety and suitability of their pipeline network for the intended products. However, the process will leave residual water within the tested channels. Water retained within pipelines after hydro testing will cause rapid corrosion as well as alter the purity of fluid channeled through them. Consequently, all operators must invest in pipeline drying after hydro testing to ensure their pipelines function as efficiently as possible.

WHAT IS NITROGEN DRYING?

Gaseous nitrogen possesses suitable chemical properties that make it suitable for pipeline drying including its inert, non-reactive nature which makes it very stable. As a result, pipelines primed with nitrogen gas are less likely to have explosive accidents. Further nitrogen gas will displace oxygen, water vapor, and other impurities that can erode the pipelines or alter the quality of their contents.
The nitrogen purging process typically involves feeding nitrogen gas into a selected pipeline at one end. The propulsive force and chemical nature of the gaseous nitrogen are sufficient to push residual water and impurities through the pipeline’s length and expel them through an exit port at the other end. The drying process is deemed complete when a difference of at least 10°F between the feed gas dewpoint and outlet gas dewpoint is obtained.