Pressure-bearing hole-making equipment: The "precision surgeon" for pipes during operation

Pressure-bearing hole-making equipment: The "precision surgeon" for pipes during operation During the continuous operation of the pipeline transportation system day and night, the pressure-bearing opening technology enables the maintenance, renovation and upgrading of the pipeline to no longer require downtime. In modern industrial production and urban operations, pipelines for oil and gas, chemicals, water supply, etc. are like the blood vessels of the human body, continuously transporting various substances day and night. Traditional pipeline maintenance and renovation often require pipeline shutdown and emptying, which not only causes huge economic losses but also affects the production and life of downstream users. The emergence of the pressure-bearing hole-making technology has completely changed this situation. This technology enables the creation of holes on the pipe wall while maintaining the normal transportation pressure of the pipeline, allowing for non-stop maintenance, renovation, and branch drainage. It has become an indispensable key technology in modern industrial operation and maintenance. Pressure-Resistant Hole Opening Technology: Principles and Core Advantages Pressure-holding hole drilling, as the name suggests, is a specialized technique that involves using specialized equipment to drill holes on the surface of a pipeline or container while the system is operating under normal pressure. The core principle lies in creating a temporary sealed space at the drilling site through mechanical seals and a pressure balance system. This sealed space is kept in equilibrium with the internal pressure of the pipeline through a pressure balancing device, preventing the medium from leaking out and providing a safe working environment for the opening tool. The advantages of the pressure-bearing hole opening technology are obvious. It avoids the complex processes such as shutdown, depressurization and cooling required by traditional operation methods, significantly reducing production losses caused by construction. For modern chemical enterprises, oil and gas pipelines, and urban water supply systems, a single day of shutdown can result in significant economic losses. However, the pressure-bearing hole opening technology has minimized this impact to the greatest extent. Meanwhile, this technology also boasts extremely high safety and reliability. Through advanced sealing and pressure balancing technologies, the medium is completely isolated during the operation, significantly reducing the risk of leakage of flammable, explosive, toxic and harmful media, and ensuring the safety of the operators and the environment. Equipment type and key technical parameters The pressure-bearing opening equipment can be classified into various types based on the driving method, application scenarios and functional characteristics, to meet the needs of different working conditions. According to the driving method, pressure-bearing hole-opening equipment is mainly divided into three categories: electric, hydraulic and manual. The electric models usually have a power of over 1.5kW and are suitable for continuous operations; the hydraulic equipment has strong power and is suitable for opening holes in high-strength materials; while the manual equipment is suitable for use in environments without power supply or for small-diameter pipeline operations. Classified by application scenarios, there are various specialized equipment such as general-purpose pipe opening machines, PE pipe drilling machines specifically designed for water supply networks, and heavy-duty opening machines suitable for high-pressure oil and gas pipelines. The key technical parameters of the equipment directly determine its application scope. They mainly include the opening diameter (ranging from DN10 to DN200), working pressure (up to 3.5 MPa), working temperature (up to 240℃), and applicable pipe materials (such as metals, PE pipes, cast iron, and other materials). Application fields: Multi-industry solutions The application scope of pressure-bearing hole-making equipment is extremely broad, covering almost all industries involving pipeline transportation. In the petrochemical industry, the pressure-bearing hole-making machine can safely perform hole-making operations on pipelines transporting flammable and explosive media. Pressure-bearing hole-making on high-pressure oil and gas pipelines is a special type of hot work operation, which is highly dangerous and requires highly reliable professional equipment. The new perforating machine is equipped with cutting tools made of high-strength hard alloy, and features a special tooth arrangement design, which enables it to handle the challenges posed by high-strength pipeline steel. In the urban water supply system, traditional pipeline maintenance requires large-scale water outages, causing great inconvenience to residents' lives and enterprises' production. By using the pressure-bearing hole opening technology, pipeline maintenance, renovation and branch diversion work can be completed without affecting the water supply. The electric pipe pressure-bearing opening machines of models such as DN100/200 are specially designed for water supply PE pipes and steel pipes, and have become an efficient assistant in urban underground pipeline construction. In the field of gas transportation, the technology of pressure-bearing perforation also plays a significant role. The renovation and expansion of gas pipelines are closely related to the gas supply safety for millions of households, and any leakage risks are not allowed. The pressure-bearing hole-making equipment ensures the safety and controllability of the entire operation process through its reliable sealing system. In chemical production, various process pipelines often require the addition of branch pipes or the installation of detection instruments. The pressure-bearing opening technology provides an ideal solution for these needs. Its wide applicability feature enables the selection of an appropriate opening scheme for any type of medium being transported through the pipeline. Operating procedures and safety requirements Pressure-bearing hole opening operations are classified as special operations. They must strictly follow the detailed operating procedures and safety requirements to ensure absolute safety. The preparatory work before the operation is of vital importance. Firstly, a comprehensive assessment of the pipeline pressure, medium characteristics, and pipeline material should be conducted. The operation surface of the pipeline should be cleaned, and the integrity of the sealing rings should be checked. Then, the flange water distribution three-way valve should be correctly installed. After conducting the pressure test, the hole drilling operation can be carried out. The general installation sequence is: flange branch three-way valve - the opened soft-sealed gate valve - the pressure-bearing hole drilling machine. The safety measures during the operation process should not be overlooked either. For the pipe opening operations involving flammable, explosive, toxic and harmful media, they need to be carried out in conjunction with gas detectors. The gas detector is placed at the leak detection hole to continuously monitor the leakage data. Once a leak is detected, the power supply should be immediately cut off, the drill bit withdrawn, and the valve closed. During the operation, the rotation angle of the wrench should not be too large each time it is moved back and forth to ensure the stability of the operation. The relevant national departments have also issued the "AQ 3060-2025 Safety Management Specifications for Pressure-Enclosed Sealing and Pressure-Open Hole Operations", providing clear safety management standards for the industry.