Ionix Static Eliminators and Ionix MA
for Natural Gas Distribution Lines

Static electricity inside PE pipe is the major source of
unexplained holes in PE distribution systems
and ignitions during repairs and 3rd party damage

   
Nicor Technologies independently verified the effectiveness of Ionix in PE gas lines.
NICOR Report of the Field Test of Ionix Static Eliminator

Pipeline and Gas Journal article on static electricity in PE pipe (December 2001 issue)
Pipeline and Gas Journal article on pinholing in PE pipe due to static electricity (January 2003 issue)
Pipeline and Gas Journal article on fires at meter service risers (April 2006 issue)

2006 Midwest Energy Association Gas Section
Distribution Operations division Continuing Education class on
"Static Control in PE Pipe" presented by Dirk Smith August 3 2006 at Ames IA
Course description (a 1 hour class)
This class will explain the safety and integrity issues of static in PE pipe, the basics of static in PE gas distribution pipe,
how it is created, measured and dissipated, implications of static issues of ignition and pinholing particular to distributors
and a review of current static control products and procedures in various field situations and assess their effectiveness.
Powerpoint presentation  (Powerporint file)
Class handout  (pdf file)
Dirk Smith is available to present this class at your gas distribution association meeting.
Contact him at dsmith@ionixtechologies.com for additional information

Executive Summary

Static inside PE pipe causes:
1. Pipeline integrity problems. Static causes electrostatic pinhole leaks especially in smaller diameter pipe such as service lines. This is the source of unexplained holes.
2. Safety issues. Static causes ignitions during repair operations or 3^rd party damage - a major cause of pipeline integrity issues.

The only means to stop static is to prevent static buildup inside PE pipe.

Technical background of static in PE pipe

GRI (now GTI) has done extensive research on this issue. Here is a summary of their conclusions with citations.

1. Static electricity is naturally generated by passage of gas inside PE pipe.

All static problems with plastic pipe begin with interior pipe static charges caused by the normal transmission of gas through PE pipe. GRI report 92-0460 was not initiated to eliminate exterior static but eliminate interior static charges. This is because interior static is the beginning of exterior static charges.

"When PE pipe is charged by dust or particulate flowing in the gas (triboelectrification), charge is generated initially in the interior of the pipe. The electric field resulting from the interior charge induces exterior charge on the pipe." - Technical Perspective, page iv, line 3

Understanding and dealing with the underlying interior static charges is the beginning of eliminating static charges. All distributed gas has some particulate in it which contributes to internal static generation. Even normal construction activity which throws off plastic and metal shavings in the systems is sufficient to generate static within the pipe system.

The industry mandate for GRI to conduct research to solve this problem is prima facie acknowledgement by operators that static is present in PE pipe in significant enough amounts to be a potential hazard within their systems.

2. Static electricity inside PE pipe does not dissipate.

The static on the interior walls of PE pipe does not dissipate. Static cannot conduct away because it is residing on an electrical insulator.

"Charges imparted to the interior PE pipe surfaces act as point sources and are immobile because of the inherent high resistivity of PE." - Introduction, page 1 line 4.

Once static is generated inside PE pipe it remains and poses a serious spark discharge hazard at any time it is exposed to an electrical ground - either by tools, machines, workers or third party damage.

"The interior charge problem is still evident after gas flow has been cut off, and a defective section of pipe is cut for repairs by using a saw or circular cutter. When a metal object penetrates the inner wall of a charged pipe, a spark discharge is inevitable." - Charge Removal Procedures, page 1 line 5.

3. Current industry safety standards such as grounding tools or wet burlap wrapping of pipe do not eliminate static electricity inside PE pipe.

The industry has done well in its handling of exterior static. However, the real hazard is the interior static charge.

Gas Research Institute report 92-0460 continues:

"Prior to this project, standard safety procedures involved wrapping the pipe with wet soapy burlap. This procedure is effective for neutralizing exterior charge accumulation but does not affect the interior charge." - Technical Perspectives page iv, line 7.

It is vitally important that operators are not lulled into a false sense of safety simply because they have used industry safety standards to eliminate exterior static. They must still treat the wet burlap treated pipe as a potential spark discharge hazard.

4. Ordinary gas distribution operations and systems generate static within PE pipe which generate enough static to causes pinhole leaks or ignite a gaseous mixture.

GRI has documented interior static charges during squeeze-off operations and interior static as the source of pinholing in PE pipe. 

Gas Research Institute report 92-0460 continues:

"Squeeze-off operations, combined with particulate flowing in the gas, increase the charging problem. In such cases, the squeeze-off constriction in the pipe produces higher particulate velocities and results in higher charge levels. The charge conditions across the pipe wall can increase high enough to exceed material breakdown. This breakdown phenomenon produces a small burned hole (about the size of a pinhole) through the pipe wall that can leak minute quantities of gas. Even under apparently normal operations when the pipe is not being squeezed, pinholing is observable because of high-turbulent flow conditions occurring near tees, elbows, etc." - Introduction page 1, 2nd paragraph.

Any obstacles to gas flow in the line can cause friction and in turn generate static and in turn generate pinholes. As GRI documents, these obstacles can be tees, elbows or even butt fusion points. Even if there isn't enough static to pinhole the pipe, there very well could be enough charge to ignite an air gas mixture if the pipe was exposed at that point.

Pinholing becomes increasingly common as pipe diameters decrease. As pressure is stepped down for delivery, velocity increases through PE pipe. Since the pipe wall of smaller diameter pipe is thinner, the increased velocity in ½” – 1” pipe creates interior static charges sufficient to overcome the dielectric strength of the pipe. The arcing through the interior pipe wall to exterior ground creates enough heat to melt a hole causing a pinhole leak.

Conclusion
Only by eliminating static INSIDE PE pipe will operators end the static problem of pinholing and ignitions during repair operations or due to third party damage.

Ionix Technologies product solutions for preventing static buildup inside gas distribution pipe.

Background
Ionix Static Eliminators were introduced to the natural gas distribution industry to eliminate static generated inside PE gas distribution pipe which causes accidental ignitions and pinhole leaks. Ionix accomplishes this by reducing the surface resistivity of natural gas which dramatically increases the safety and integrity of natural gas distribution systems.

Ionix cartridge deployment
Ionix Technologies originally deployed its anti static technology in a cartridge housing delivery system. The Ionix cartridge housing is installed at the outlet side of a regulator. Ionix can be installed in systems up to 600 ANSI. For targeted anti static efforts or small distribution systems installed at the city gate, this is the economical deployment.

Ionix MA chemical deployment
Ionix MA is easy to use.
For larger gas distributors, Ionix has developed Ionix MA. Ionix is a chemical additive to mercaptan. When added to the mercaptan tank, while odorizing occurs, Ionix MA is carried through the gas distribution system with the mercaptan and will eliminate any static inside the gas system downstream of odorization. It is unaffected by metal and it is effective through delivery at the gas customer’s point of service. The presence of water or distillates in the gas stream has no detrimental effects on Ionix MA.

No capital investment required.
Ionix MA achieves the same effect as the Ionix cartridge but with a substantial less costly capital installation and a much greater ease of use. Ionix MA is added proportionally to the mercaptan. It can be added at any time and works automatically. Its effect is only diminished when untreated gas mingles with the Ionix MA treated gas.

Ionix MA is environmentally safe and harmless. There is no hazardous disposal or special handling required. While Ionix MA has similar chemical and temperature properties of mercaptan, it is not suitable for drip, wick or vaporization odorizing equipment. Ionix cartridge deployment should be used in systems with wick, vaporization or drip odorizers.

For further information about static in PE pipe or Ionix products to eliminate interior pipe static, contact Dirk Smith at Ionix Technologies.