Pipeline pressure-bearing opening without interruption of transportation construction technology: A modern engineering solution for ensuring the continuous smooth flow of energy arteries In the modern industrial production and urban living support system, various medium transportation pipelines are like the blood vessels of the human body, performing a crucial transportation function. Whether it is petroleum, natural gas, chemical products, or urban water supply and heating systems, the safe and stable operation of the pipelines directly affects the lifeline of economic development and the quality of people's lives. However, as the pipeline systems operate for a long time, inevitable engineering demands such as maintenance and renovation, addition of branch lines, and installation of valves arise. The traditional pipeline construction methods often require the cessation of medium transportation and the emptying of the pipeline contents, which not only causes huge economic losses but also may lead to safety hazards and environmental pollution problems. Against this backdrop, the pipeline pressure-bearing opening without stopping transportation construction technology emerged, becoming a revolutionary breakthrough in modern pipeline engineering. I. Basic Principles and Development History of Pressure-Resistant Opening Without Shutting Down Construction Technology The pressure-bearing pipeline perforation without interruption of transportation construction technology refers to an advanced construction method that enables perforation on the pipeline wall using professional mechanical equipment while ensuring that the internal medium of the pipeline does not leak or interrupt the transportation process. The core of this technology lies in establishing a complete temporary bypass system or sealing isolation system during the perforation process, so that the target pipeline section can be effectively isolated from the main pipeline during the construction period, thereby ensuring that the continuous operation of the main pipeline is not affected. The development of this technology can be traced back to the mid-20th century. With the acceleration of industrialization, the scale and complexity of pipeline systems have been continuously increasing, and the drawbacks of traditional shutdown construction have become increasingly prominent. The developed countries in Europe and America were the first to start researching the technology of pressure-assisted opening holes. After decades of continuous technological iteration and engineering practice, a mature technical system has gradually been formed. Since the 1980s, China has begun to introduce and independently develop related technical equipment. Through the efforts of several generations of engineering technicians, a complete set of technical specifications and construction standards has been formed, and it has played an irreplaceable role in many key national projects. In terms of technical equipment, the main equipment involved in pressure-bearing hole opening construction includes hole opening machines, sealing devices, clamp valves, connecting boxes, bypass pipe fittings, and a series of specialized equipment. The coordinated operation of these devices constitutes a complete safety construction system. Domestic professional equipment manufacturers, represented by Cangzhou Aoguang Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd., have continuously carried out technological innovation and process improvement to enhance the performance and reliability of domestic equipment, providing a solid equipment foundation for the popularization and application of the pipeline pressure-bearing hole opening without pipeline shutdown technology. II. Core equipment and technical system for pressure-bearing hole opening without interruption of transportation The technical system for pressure-opening perforation without interruption of the flow consists of three major parts: the equipment system, the process system, and the safety control system. Each of these parts directly affects the success or failure of the construction as well as its safety. The hole-making machine is the core operating equipment of the entire construction system. Modern hole-making machines are driven by hydraulic or pneumatic power, and can, under the condition of existing internal pressure in the pipeline, drive the special hole-making tools to complete the cutting operation. The key to the design of the hole-making machine lies in the precise coordination of its sealing system and feed mechanism. At the moment the tool penetrates the pipe wall, the sealing device must take effect immediately to ensure that the medium does not leak out. Advanced hole-making machines are also equipped with pressure balance devices, which can counteract the influence of the internal pressure in the pipeline on the cutting process, ensuring the accuracy of the hole size and the flatness of the cross-section. The clamp valve is a key interface component connecting the construction equipment to the main pipeline. It is usually composed of two symmetrical half-valves, which are fastened to the outer wall of the pipeline by bolts to form a sealed construction chamber. Inside the clamp valve, there is a gate mechanism. When the hole drilling operation is completed or an emergency occurs, the gate can be quickly closed to achieve a safe isolation between the construction equipment and the main pipeline. The sealing performance of the clamp valve directly determines the safety of the construction. Modern clamp valves adopt multiple sealing structures, capable of withstanding pressures up to 10 MPa or more, and can adapt to various complex working conditions. The plug device is another key equipment for achieving non-stop operation. When pipeline renovation or maintenance is required, the plug device enters the pipeline through the opening on the gate valve, using an expandable plug head or sealing airbag to seal and isolate both ends of the target pipe section. The design of the plug device must fully consider factors such as the characteristics of the internal medium in the pipeline, pressure level, and temperature conditions, to ensure reliable isolation effect after sealing. For large-diameter pipelines, dual plug devices are often used to work collaboratively, forming a double isolation protection. The setting of the bypass system is of great significance in large non-stop operations. When it is necessary to carry out maintenance and replacement on a long pipeline section, two opening points can be set on the main pipeline, and temporary bypass pipes can be installed to allow the medium to pass through the bypass and bypass the construction area, thereby achieving complete isolation of the target pipeline section. The design and installation of the bypass system require precise calculation of technical parameters such as pipe diameter matching, pressure loss, and flow balance to ensure that the normal supply of gas and water for downstream users is not affected during the bypass operation. Standard process flow for pressure-bearing opening without interruption of the operation A complete pressure-bearing hole-making operation without interruption of the process requires a rigorous and standardized workflow. Each step has strict technical requirements and safety control measures. The pre-construction survey and design form the foundation of the entire project. The technical team needs to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the material, wall thickness, operating pressure, medium characteristics, and service life of the construction pipelines. If necessary, they should perform ultrasonic thickness measurement, metallographic analysis, and other tests to confirm that the pipelines meet the construction requirements. Based on this, a detailed construction plan is formulated according to the construction purpose - whether it is to add branch lines, replace valves, or repair pipe sections - including the selection of opening positions, determination of opening diameters, equipment selection, operation procedures, and emergency plans. The construction plan must undergo expert review to ensure its technical feasibility and safety. The construction preparation stage involves the arrangement of the on-site working environment. This includes the excavation and support of the operation pits, the cleaning of the pipeline surfaces and the removal of the anti-corrosion coatings, the erection of the operation platforms, the entry and commissioning of the construction equipment, etc. For buried pipelines, groundwater drainage treatment must be carried out to ensure the dryness of the operation area. All construction personnel must receive technical briefings and safety training, clearly defining their respective responsibilities and divisions of labor. The installation of the clamp valve is the first crucial step in on-site operations. The construction workers accurately position the clamp valve at the pre-marked opening location. They then securely fix the clamp valve to the pipeline using chains or clamps. During the tightening process, a torque wrench is used to tighten in accordance with the prescribed torque sequence to ensure that the sealing gasket is evenly compressed. After the installation is completed, a gas tightness test is conducted, using a testing liquid to check if there is any leakage on all sealing surfaces. The hole drilling operation is the most technically challenging and risky part of the entire construction process. The operators connect the hole drilling machine to the clamp plate valve through the bypass port of the clamp plate valve. After starting the hole drilling machine, the cutting tool slowly advances under the hydraulic drive and begins to cut the pipe wall. During the entire hole drilling process, the operators need to closely monitor parameters such as the feed speed, cutting torque, and pressure changes. When the cutting tool is about to penetrate the final stage of the pipe wall, the operation becomes particularly critical - the operators must maintain a stable feed, and immediately start the lifting tool procedure after the cutting tool is completely penetrated, raising the cut-off pipe wall "saddle block" along with the tool into the cavity of the clamp plate valve. Then, the clamp plate valve's gate is closed, the release valve is opened to release the pressure in the chamber, and after confirming there is no leakage, the hole drilling machine can be disassembled.