Plastic Pipes Research Articles

Planar Near-Field Electric Field Sensor Array Applications Facilitated by Neural Networks

Electrical capacitance tomography is employed for various process tomography applications, typically with circular imaging regions (e.g., to estimate fluid levels in plastic pipes). Typical state-of-the-art implementations focus on circular or cylindrical sensor arrays. In contrast, this research explores using a planar 2D array of electric-field sensors to image volumes composed of various dielectric materials. The array is designed to be used with very-low-frequency electric fields, which are desirable due to their ability to differentiate between various non-conducting objects. D-dot sensors (i.e., charge induction sensors) are used as the electric-field sensing element. In this research, imaging regions of interest are modeled as a composition of (25 cm) <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> voxels of dielectric material with randomized relative permittivities. Neural networks are utilized as the inversion algorithm to map measured E-field distortions to the voxels’ relative permittivities. Three applications are explored in a simulated environment: 1) predicting relative permittivities of the entire (pseudo-3D) imaging region from one measurement of electric-field distortions (modeled in free space), 2) imaging regions arbitrarily large (in two dimensions) using the planar array as an imaging kernel, and 3) repeating application (1) in a model of a practical, real-world imaging scenario both with and without interfering material. Application (3) is performed with a real-world experimental setup using a room-sized “E-field Cage” meant to generate a uniform electric field. This work showcases a new electric-field imaging modality using a planar 2D D-dot sensor array paired with a DNN-based inversion algorithm.

Dimensioning of Wide-Area Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) System for IoT-Based Automation.

Water, one of the most valuable resources, is underutilized in irrigated rice production. The yield of rice, a staple food across the world, is highly dependent on having proper irrigation systems. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is an effective irrigation method mainly used for irrigated rice production. However, unattended, manual, small-scale, and discrete implementations cannot achieve the maximum benefit of AWD. Automation of large-scale (over 1000 acres) implementation of AWD can be carried out using wide-area wireless sensor network (WSN). An automated AWD system requires three different WSNs: one for water level and environmental monitoring, one for monitoring of the irrigation system, and another for controlling the irrigation system. Integration of these three different WSNs requires proper dimensioning of the AWD edge elements (sensor and actuator nodes) to reduce the deployment cost and make it scalable. Besides field-level monitoring, the integration of external control parameters, such as real-time weather forecasts, plant physiological data, and input from farmers, can further enhance the performance of the automated AWD system. Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to interface the WSNs with external data sources. This research focuses on the dimensioning of the AWD system for the multilayer WSN integration and the required algorithms for the closed loop control of the irrigation system using IoT. Implementation of the AWD for 25,000 acres is shown as a possible use case. Plastic pipes are proposed as the means to transport and control proper distribution of water in the field, which significantly helps to reduce conveyance loss. This system utilizes 250 pumps, grouped into 10 clusters, to ensure equal water distribution amongst the users (field owners) in the wide area. The proposed automation algorithm handles the complexity of maintaining proper water pressure throughout the pipe network, scheduling the pump, and controlling the water outlets. Mathematical models are presented for proper dimensioning of the AWD. A low-power and long-range sensor node is developed due to the lack of cellular data coverage in rural areas, and its functionality is tested using an IoT platform for small-scale field trials.

An Innovative Three-in-One Face Protective Gear (FPG): A Feasibility Study in a Neonatal Unit in Times of Pandemic!

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at greatest risk of acquiring infection in times of global pandemic of COVID-19 disease. There is an unprecedented demand of several forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) for HCWs leading to possible acute shortage of these equipment. This has paved way for development of local innovative PPEs. Objective: To test feasibility of a low cost, indigenous three-in-one face protective gear (FPG) in HCWs of a neonatal unit of a tertiary care institute in northern India. Methodology: A three-in-one FPG was developed using the commonly available items in a ward or intensive care and few trash items. Items used were sterile surgical sheet, cling wrap piece/transparency sheet, cover of umbilical catheter/any sterile hollow plastic pipe, or straw and adhesive tape. The FPG was tested in 17 HCWs regarding its ease to use, comfort, and feasibility with the help of questionnaire. Results: A total of 17 HCWs participated in this study. Majority (10, 58.8%) were doctors. Eight (47%) participants have never used any form of PPE previously. Thirteen (76.4%) participants found the FPG comfortable to wear; 12 (70.5%) found it comfortable to wear up to 8 h. Three HCWs found it difficult to work when wear the FPG; 1 out of 3 found it suffocating. Conclusion: Three-in-one FPG is an indigenous, low cost, and may be a feasible alternative in low-risk situations when there is scarcity of conventional protective equipment.

Management and Utilization Strategy of Water Resources for Rice Production

Declination of available water resources is threatening the dry season crop production in Bangladesh. Sustainable water management is crucial need to meet future food production. This study was aimed to determine futuristic water management strategy for rice cultivation. Both surface and groundwater is getting scarce in north-west region, whereas abundant of fresh surface water creating opportunities to irrigate dry season crops in south-central region. This study has outlined irrigation management for rice cultivation and groundwater utilization in water scarce area of north-west region. More than 75% of annual rainfall occurred during monsoon and crops other than monsoon often faced water shortage. Timely establishment of T. Aus rice on 01 May accounted average 183 mm supplemental irrigation for north-west and south-west region. Transplanting of T. Aman rice before 24 July found the low risk period of drought and gave about 1 t ha-1 yield advantage than late transplanting after 15 October. Supplemental irrigation in drought year gave up to 26% yield advantage than the rain-fed condition of T. Aman rice in experimental plot. Over exploitation of groundwater by famers for crop cultivation makes the groundwater status worsen. Farmers used 38% excess water than the actual requirement for Boro rice cultivation. For that annual groundwater withdrawal was higher than annual recharge causing groundwater level depletion in most of the districts. Groundwater table went below suction limit of shallow tubewell (STW) during dry season and thus it become unable to operate. Improved distribution system with plastic pipe, buried pipe could save about 25% of irrigation water. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation method saved 20-25% water than farmer’s practice. Application of these on-farm water management technologies in Boro rice reduced water demand and made the groundwater balance positive as well as reduced the groundwater withdrawal pressure. On the contrary, irrigation with less saline surface water resources in river and canals of south central regions could expand Boro production and increased land productivity. Intervention of low lift pump with plastic pipe distribution in non-saline tidal areas could increase land productivity. Besides, trapped freshwater in to the canals inside the polders and re-excavation of these canals would make crop intensification. Thus, additional food production could help to achieve sustainable development goal and sustained food security. Bangladesh Rice J. 25 (1) : 37-50, 2021

A Comparative Study of Standard Center Pivot and Growers-Based Modified Center Pivot for Evaluating Uniformity Coefficient and Water Distribution

The center pivot irrigation system is a type of irrigation technology used to apply water effectively and uniformly over a wide variety of areas and topographies. These irrigation systems’ uniformity of water application greatly affects water use, energy consumption, and crop production. Performance tests of the standard lateral galvanized and modified polyethylene plastic pipes in the center pivot irrigation systems were conducted in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Water distribution depths along the laterals, coefficient of uniformity (CU), and distribution uniformity of the low quarter (DU) were determined. The results revealed that profiles of water distribution ranged from 4 to 14 mm for the standard-center pivot irrigation systems, while those for the modified-center pivot irrigation systems ranged from 6.5 to 50 mm. Standard-center pivot irrigation systems’ CU values ranged from 74 to 90%, with an average of 86%. In comparison, the modified-center pivot irrigation systems’ CU values ranged from 62 to 83%, with an average of 78%. The DU values ranged from 60 to 82% for the standard-center pivot irrigation systems, with an overall average of 77%. For the modified-center pivot irrigation systems, the DU values, in contrast, ranged from 31 to 75%, with an average of 65%. Thus, the accuracy and uniformity of the standard-center pivot irrigation systems are superior to those that have been modified. Additionally, a statistical model was developed to investigate the relationship between the water losses and the main climatic factors under field operating conditions. Therefore, the study results are expected to draw attention to standard lateral pipes’ value on the one hand and demonstrate the detrimental consequences of growers’ incorrect practices in pivot irrigation systems, motivating them to take strong action against these activities, on the other hand.

An Effective Package of Antioxidants for Avoiding Premature Failure in Polypropylene Random Copolymer Plastic Pipes under Hydrostatic Pressure and High Temperature.

Pipes of polypropylene random (PP-R) copolymers are the best choice for hot- and cold-water networks. Validation of a severe test, accomplishing the ISO 1167 standard, is mandatory to assess their service lifetime expectancy. This work evaluates the behavior shown by three commercial pipes, either the original ones (new pipes) or after being subjected to a hydrostatic pressure test at elevated temperature (aged pipes). Several features with relevance for the final performance have been examined: crystalline characteristics, phase transitions in crystalline regions, effect of high temperature and pressure on these transitions, and oxidation induction time. Moreover, the presence of inorganic fillers, and the content of different antioxidants together with their depletion, have also been analyzed. Films from the new pipes were also prepared for replication of the different environments in order to achieve a better and complete understanding of the phase transitions in the crystalline regions and of the consumption of antioxidants. Distinct environments surrounded the inner and outer parts of the pipes exposed to the failure aging test at 110 °C: hot water and warm dry air, respectively. These features play a key role in the loss of additives and in the subsequent initiation of degradation. Even if the crystalline characteristics are appropriate in the polymeric matrix, the success of a pipe lies in the homogeneous dispersion of components for avoiding damage at interfacial properties, and in a correct package of antioxidants used in its formulation.

Trihalomethanes formation enhanced by manganese chlorination and deposition in plastic drinking water pipes

Residual manganese(II) in finished water undergoes further oxidation and deposition in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS), and Mn deposits can function as sites for accumulating organic and inorganic pollutants. This study aims to explore how Mn transformation and deposition affect the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in chlorinated DWDS, and trihalomethanes (THMs) was selected as a representative DBP. In a 100 μg/L Mn system, regulated THMs (chlorinated/bromated-THMs) increased by over 20% higher than Mn-free system after 150-day operation; when 50 μg/L iodide (I−) entered pipe systems after 150 days, iodinated THMs (I-THMs) in 100 μg/L Mn system increased by over 30% compared with Mn-free system. These promotions were attributed primarily to the accumulation of biomolecules and organic substances by tight and hard chlorinated Mn deposits. The residence of inactivated cells and the bridging role of surface Mn(III) in Mn deposits increased the quantity of THM precursors in DWDS. Furthermore, the rapid catalytic oxidation of Mn(II) by preformed Mn oxides (MnOx) inhibited the conversion of free iodine (HOI/OI−) to iodate, resulting in the generation of more I-THMs. This study provides new insights into the DBP risks caused by Mn in DWDS.

Using a geophone as an actuator to estimate the velocity of leak noise propagation in buried water pipes

A common way to pinpoint a leak in a buried plastic water pipe is to use a leak noise correlator. This is performed by using the time delay between two measured signals and the velocity at which such signals travel along the pipe. In this paper, an investigation is carried out into the use of a geophone in reverse, driven by an oscillating voltage. It then acts as a tapping device, exciting the wave responsible for leak noise propagation, when it is attached to an access point to estimate leak noise velocity. Two different ways of exciting the geophone were investigated. Initial tests were conducted in the laboratory to determine the effectiveness of the device in generating a force over a wide frequency range. Field tests were then carried out on a buried pipe test rig and the predominantly fluid-borne wave was generated by the tapping device, that travelled at least 7 m.

A low-cost subsurface drainage technique to enhance gully bank stability in the sub-humid highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract Gully erosion is the leading cause of elevated sediment yields in the world. Few low-cost techniques are available for rehabilitating gullies. The objective of this research was to evaluate the applicability of a low-cost horizontal sub-surface drainage system for decreasing gully erosion by stabilizing gully banks. The study was conducted in the sub-humid Ethiopian highlands in two active gullies, one in a Vertisol and another in a Nitisol. One bank was drained with a plastic pipe, and the other bank acted as the control. The two opposite banks are hydrologically isolated from one another. The surrounding groundwater tables were continuously monitored for two years. Over two wet seasons, the average bank retreat in the Vertisol gully was 0.62 m for the control and 0.15 m for the drained bank. Similarly, in the Nitisol gully, in 1.1 m for the control and 0.29 m for the drained bank. The average groundwater table of the drained bank was 20% lower than the non-drained banks during the monitoring periods. These results suggest that bank dewatering maintained higher levels of stability of gully banks and promoted lower rates of bank retreat on both soil types. The initial cost of the dewatering treatments was significantly less than the conventional bank stabilization measures. Bank dewatering could be one of the technologies for gully rehabilitation. Gully management techniques in Ethiopia and elsewhere could benefit from integrating bank drainage with other physical and biological protective measures.

A study on the optimization of residual stress distribution in the polyethylene and polyketone double layer pipes

Pipes are generally used in the variety of industries such as water purification, automobiles and air ventilation and so on which is commonly made from various materials like stainless steel, plastic and iron. Recently, plastic and copper pipes were widely used in the water industries due to their higher corrosive resistivity and durability. However, the mechanical defects are the major problem in the usage of the plastic pipes. The plastic pipe wall thickness and stress distribution are key components for the plastic deformation in the pipe. Among them, the residual hoop stress is the mainly affects the life time of the pipe. The present study investigates the effect of the inner and outer wall thickness on the pipe defects is explored by finite element analysis. As a result of observation, a discontinuity of stress is observed at the PK/PE interface of the double-multiple pipe due to the void value, and it is judged that the PK pipe has superior tensile strength due to its high mechanical strength and excellent physical properties such as yield stress and stiffness compared to PE pipe. It is judged that the conditions in the real environment can be analyzed by verifying the peeling phenomenon due to thermal fatigue due to different coefficients of thermal expansion between the heterogeneous resins and observing the peeling phenomenon due to local stress concentration due to the thickness non-uniformity of the bonding interface of the heterogeneous resins. The simulation and experimental results confirmed PK pipe has superior tensile strength due to its high mechanical strength and excellent physical properties such as yield stress and stiffness compared to PE pipe.Capsule: This work investigates the residual stress distribution in the polyethylene and polyketone double layer pipe.

Stress Distribution and Fracture Toughness of Underground Reinforced Plastic Pipe Composite.

Reinforced composite materials have many applications in the aerospace, marine, and petroleum industries. Glass fiber-reinforced pipes are of considerable importance as pressurized vessels, infrastructure materials, and petroleum wastewater pipelines. The stress intensity factor due to through-thickness discontinuities is a major parameter in fracture mechanics to understand the failure mechanisms in glass fiber-composite pipes. The stress intensity factor is calculated for a composite cylinder subjected to internal pressure using the linear extended finite element method based on the law of energy release evaluation of surface damage. The analytical model needs two material properties; they are the tensile strength and the fracture toughness; therefore, a standard tensile test was carried out on a standard specimen taken from the pipe’s wall thickness. Moreover, the compact tension test specimen was manufactured from the pipe’s wall thickness to obtain the fracture toughness. The average tensile strength was measured as 21.5 MPa with a standard deviation of 5.59 MPa, moreover, the average Young’s modulus was measured as 32.75 GPa with a standard deviation of 6.64 GPa. The fracture toughness was measured as 2322 () with a standard deviation of 142.5 (), whereas the average surface release energy () was 153.6 kJ/m2 with a standard deviation of 22.53 kJ/m2. A valuable design equation was extracted from the finite element model to measure the effect of cracks on the hoop stress of the cylinder wall thickness based on a nonlinear model. Moreover, an acceptable equation was used to calculate the correction and shape factor of a cylinder with movable and unmovable through-thickness cracks. This study provides useful tools and guidance for the design and analysis of composite cylinders.

Full-Wave Modeling and Inversion of UWB Radar Data for Wave Propagation in Cylindrical Objects

The nondestructive characterization of cylindrical objects is needed in many fields, such as medical diagnostics, tree trunk inspection, or concrete column testing. In this study, the radar equation of Lambot et al. is combined with cylindrical Green’s functions to fully model and invert ultra-wideband (UWB) ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data and retrieve the properties of cylindrical objects. Inversion is carried out using a lookup table (LUT) approach followed by local optimization to ensure retrieval of the global minimum of the objective function. Numerical experiments were conducted to analyze the capabilities of the developed inversion procedure to estimate the radius, permittivity, and conductivity of the cylinders. The full-wave model was validated in laboratory conditions on metallic and plastic pipes of different sizes. The adopted radar system consists of a lightweight vector network analyzer (VNA) connected to a single transmitting and receiving horn antenna. The numerical experiments highlighted the complexity of the inverse problem, mainly originating from the multiple propagation modes within cylindrical objects. The laboratory measurements demonstrated the accuracy of the forward modeling and reconstructions in far-field conditions.

Recent Patents on How to Form or Manufacture Large Diameter Plastic Pipe

Background: In recent times, large diameter plastic pipes have been widely used in many functions because of their unique advantages. These applications include water supply, drainage, heating network, industrial transportation, gas delivery, agricultural irrigation, etc. Therefore, manufacturing large diameter plastic pipes economically and efficiently has now become an important research area. Objective: This paper reviews patents of plastic pipe manufacturing or forming to provide insights and references to researchers in the domain of larger diameter plastic pipe production. Methods: This paper reviews the Spouted-accumulated Forming, a production method that combines the advantages of traditional extrusion, calendaring, and additive manufacturing. It is a novel process to manufacture large diameter plastic pipes. Results: The experiment result shows that Spouted-accumulated Forming can be used to manufacture large diameter plastic pipes efficiently with lower costs. This paper argues that this novel method will serve as a promising technology to manufacture larger diameter pipes in the future. Conclusion: Since traditional manufacturing processes cannot fulfil the requirement of large diameter of plastic pipes, it is necessary to develop novel processes such as Spouted-Accumulated Forming (SAF, based on additive manufacturing).

Cooling and annealing of plastic pipe

In commercial pipe extrusion, when plastic pipe is extruded, the extrudate emerges from an annular die as hot molten plastic. The extrudate must be quenched suddenly and then solidified in a quench tank. Because of rapid quenching and large temperature differences between the inner and outer walls, one may need to release residual stress at the outer pipe surface to ensure pipe standard specification and stability over time. In this paper, for saving the extra cost and time, we present a new idea for plastic pipe manufacture that to release residual stress without annealing. The residual stress is calculated from a modified Jansen’s model. To analyze this problem, we begin with the energy balance in Cartesian coordinates, and then nondimensionalize it. We propose a cooling temperature profile as a function of the pipe thickness and the cooling time. We next solve the dimensionless energy balances, in both cooling after solidification and annealing, for the times and temperature profiles of the pipe. We then validate our result with the measurement of a SDR 11 blue PE80 medium density polyethylene (MDPE) pipe. Our results help plastic engineers calculate the cooling time for both cases and to develop this extrusion line. Worked examples show how to use our results with and without annealing. By follow our suggestion, for high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the engineer can reduce production time up to three-fold over conventional manufacture.

Efficient leak detection in single and branched polymeric pipeline systems by transient wave analysis

The widespread use of plastic pipes in different fluid conveyance systems has greatly driven the recent development and application of transient-based methods (TBMs) for leak detection in viscoelastic/polymeric pipelines. Current TBMs for viscoelastic pipe leak detection are usually achieved by a two-step procedure, namely viscoelastic parameters identification and leak detection, which requires the pre-knowledge of intact system states (i.e., non-leak) for comparative analysis. This paper presents an efficient single-step frequency domain inverse transient analysis (FDITA) method for simultaneous identifications of viscoelastic parameters and leaks in plastic pipes, so as to enhance the applicability and accuracy of TBMs. Both the single and branched polymeric pipe systems are applied for the method development and application. To this end, analytical solutions of single and branched systems from the transfer matrix method are firstly derived to represent the transient frequency responses of viscoelastic pipelines with leaks. A global optimized nonlinear curve fitting method is then employed to identify both viscoelastic parameters and potential leaks by knowing/measuring other system and flow conditions. Extensive experimental validations and numerical applications of both single and branched pipe systems demonstrate the very good efficiency and accuracy of the developed method for leak detection in different viscoelastic pipe systems. Furthermore, the mechanism of transient wave-leak-viscoelasticity is analysed based on these application results and theoretical evidence. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to quantify and discuss the advantages and potential limitations of the developed method in the paper.

Impact of Inelastic Seismic Design Using Elastic–Plastic Pipe Supports on Vibration Response of Piping Systems

Abstract This study presents the response mitigation effect of piping systems by inelastic seismic design based on elastic–plastic property of steel pipe supports. The inelastic seismic design to control vibration by absorbing energy using elastic–plastic properties of materials can be one of useful ideas. The design idea to use the elastic–plastic behavior of pipe supports is addressed in Technical Code for Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Plants (JEAC4601) published by the Japan Electric Association in Japan. Here, the component named an elastic–plastic pipe support is proposed as an energy-absorbing element. However, in order to put the inelastic seismic design using the elastic–plastic pipe supports into practical use, it is necessary to accumulate more findings related to the seismic response and the application range. This study aims to investigate the applicability of the inelastic seismic design taking the elastic–plastic pipe supports in the piping systems and to increase the basic findings. In this study, the seismic response analysis using three-dimensional piping system with an elastic–plastic pipe support was conducted. As a result, it was found that the elastic–plastic pipe support affected the seismic response largely. Additionally, the vibration characteristics, the response acceleration, and the load generated in the piping system were discussed relating to the plastic deformation and the plasticity rate of the elastic–plastic pipe support.

Experimental Study on the Behaviour of Seismic Actions on a Flexible Glass-Reinforced Plastic Structure Used in Water Transport Pipes.

This article presents the experimental results obtained by the testing an experimental model of water distribution which is flexible and above-head mounted on a seismic platform, and their validation in a theoretical manner, but also by the Finite Element Method, using the ANSYS simulation program. This type of system shown by the experimental model is desired to be used in practice not only in seismic areas, but also in the areas of heavy road transport, landslides, etc. thorugh the use thereof in the most stressed points of the network (hearth entry/exit, before/after an elbow, etc.) but also on long routes, at optimal distances. The results achieved are related to glass- reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes with a nominal diameter DN = 250 mm, but conclusions may be drawn starting from these to help future research where the mass of the earth is desired to be taken into account. The present results are comprehensive for buried pipes operated dynamically or seismically at low-medium intensity, as this type of earthquake occurs more and more often in Europe. The experimental tests in this article do not have the characteristics necessary for a high intensity seismic action (above 5° Richter).

Relationship between Squat Mobility with Snatch and Clean & Jerk Technique

The purpose of this study is to find if the mobility of the body effect on the Olympic lifting technique performing. Participants of this study involved 22 males and 22 females students Faculty of Sport Science and Coaching aged 20-24 years old. Participants were instructed to perform 3 repetitions of overhead squat mobility performance first, using only their own bodyweight without any equipment at all. Finished with that, participants were then instructed to performed 3 repetitions of snatch technical performance and proceed to the clean and jerk technical performance using the custom-made plastic pipe bar or 20-kg Olympic bar without plate. Result showed that all students had ‘Good” quality of mobility required for the technical performance of snatch, clean and jerk, however practical test indicated a mastery or quality of the technical performance for the snatch was just considered as ‘Fair’ for the male, with the female students scores dip into the ‘Poor’ level of performance. For both genders, all students have a poor technical performance quality for the clean and jerk exercise.

Evaluation of Moisture Content of Soil at Different Stages of Plant Growth under Different Irrigation Treatments

Drip irrigation is artificial technique of providing water to the roots of the plant at very low rates (2-20 litres/hour) from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with emitters or drippers. A few low cost automation systems were developed and evaluated their performance with drip irrigation on sweet corn on the sandy soils of College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla. It was observed that single row drip irrigation showed better results compared to flood irrigation and paired row drip irrigation. The results indicated that the soil water distribution pattern showed the highest water content near the drip line for all scheduling techniques.As increase in time of operation Wetting diameter and Penetration depth increased in relative to time. With comparison of different irrigation systems, the soil moisture content value of before irrigation and after irrigation is better in single row drip system.

Comparison of Modern Drinking Water Network Maintenance Methods: Evaluation of Removed Deposits in the Form of Total Suspended Solids (TSS).

Water pipe sediment removal should be implemented as an integral part of water mains maintenance in order to steadily supply consumers with drinking water of high quality. Considering the number of different water pipe sediment removal methods, the article aims to evaluate the currently used methods to remove water pipe sediment from the pipes of the drinking water distribution system. The evaluation compares the implementation requirements of each method as well as the quality and the quantity of the removed products. The tested methods were unidirectional flushing, Comprex®, and Ice Pigging®. The results of the comparison are expressed in terms of total suspended solids (TSS) recovery, metals mass concentration and water consumption. Since contamination can settle along the entire surface of the pipeline, it is most appropriate to recalculate the results per unit area of the pipeline. The results point at the following efficiency the Comprex® method was the most efficient in removing TSS, Ice Pigging® was the next and unidirectional flushing removed a negligible amount of TSS compared to the other two methods. The absolute recovery of TSS was 0.12–3.01 g·m−2 in unidirectional flushing of plastic pipes, 1.58–8.54 g·m−2 in unidirectional flushing of metal pipes, 4.36–47.53 g·m−2 in Ice Pigging®, and 5.19–69.23 g·m−2 in Comprex®. The composition of the sediment was strongly influenced by particle origin: Pipe material affected the crystalline phase of the sediment and the water source and the age of the pipe affected the amorphous phase of the sediment. Therefore, it was found that evaluation of efficiency based on the amount of TSS removed is only suitable for sites that meet the same conditions as pipe material, water source and ideally the pipe age. It has further been found that the Comprex® method can be advantageously used in real conditions to clean pipes with insufficient hydraulic conditions (such as with a high level of incrustation), as the cleaning has low water flow velocity requirements.