Did the pig leave the launcher? Has it passed the valve station yet? A ClampOn DSP pig detector answers both questions in real time, without drilling a single hole in your pipe.
Pigging is part of day-to-day operations on many onshore and offshore installations. However, operators still need a reliable way to confirm that a pig has left the launcher, passed a set point or arrived at the receiver. PT Saka Nusa Persada supplies the ClampOn DSP PIG Detector across Indonesia as a ClampOn distributor. You can also read more at ClampOn.
How the ClampOn Pig Detector Works
The instrument senses a passing pig with passive acoustic (ultrasonic) technology. Inside, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) analyzes changes in the signal level at multiple frequencies as the pig goes by. As a result, it reliably detects any type of pig, from foam pigs to steel mandrel pigs.
Your team then sees the result in the way that suits the site. For example, an indicator lamp on the instrument lights up locally. In addition, the detector can send a “pig passed” relay signal or a raw signal over RS-485 or 4–20 mA to your control system. With ClampOn software or your MCS, operators can even view the signal as a graph. For extra certainty, an optional magnetic flux gate adds dual detection.
Key Advantages of the ClampOn Pig Detector
- Non-intrusive: the sensor clamps to the outside of the pipe, so no part touches the flow.
- Easy to install: the supplied mounting kit fits pipes of various sizes, and therefore one model covers many lines.
- No hot work: because the sensor clamps on, installation on an operating pipeline needs no hot-work permit.
- Real-time detection: because DSP runs inside the sensor, the signal arrives the moment the pig passes.
- Local and remote indication: a lamp on site as well as relay, 4–20 mA or Modbus RTU output to the control room.
- Stable in changing flow: the instrument filters background noise, so flow velocity changes have minimal effect.
- Simple wiring: for example, only a 1-pair cable for the lamp, or a minimum 2-pair cable when you also need signal output.
Where to Install a Pig Detector
Most operators place one detector just downstream of the pig launcher and another just upstream of the receiver. Moreover, you can add detectors at any point along the pipeline where you want to know that a pig has passed, such as valve stations, crossings or branch connections. Because ClampOn calibrates and tests every instrument at the factory, commissioning on site stays short.
Ex i and Ex d Versions
The detector comes in an intrinsically safe Ex i version and a flameproof Ex d version for hazardous areas. In the Ex d version, the lid opens for easy access to the terminal blocks. Both use a Stainless Steel 316L sensor body, while the mounting bracket comes in 316L, carbon steel or duplex.
Pig Detector Technical Specifications
| Method of operation | Ultrasonic (acoustic); in addition, an optional magnetic flux gate gives dual detection |
| Processing | Intelligent DSP inside the instrument |
| Installation | Non-intrusive, clamped to the pipe surface |
| Ambient temperature | Ex i: −40 °C to +60 °C; Ex d: −50 °C to +80 °C |
| Pipe temperature | −40 °C to +125 °C |
| Power consumption | Ex i: 1.9 W (3.3 W in alarm); Ex d: 1.2 W (1.5 W in alarm) |
| Communication | Relay, 4–20 mA, RS-485 (Modbus RTU, ClampOn DSP protocol) |
| Alarm indication | Local lamp, remote indicator via relay, ClampOn software, DCS/MCS or 4–20 mA |
| Weight (sensor only) | Ex i: 2.1 kg; Ex d: 3.2 kg |
| Dimensions (ø × h) | Ex i: 80 × 135 mm; Ex d: 114 × 185 mm |
| Materials | Sensor 316L stainless steel; bracket 316L, carbon steel or duplex |
Specifications follow the ClampOn brochure (June 2024) and may change without notice.
Complete Your Pigging Setup
A detector works best with the right pig in the line. So, pair it with our Girard cleaning pig range, or let our team run the whole campaign through our pipeline pigging services. Prefer to read in Bahasa Indonesia? Then start with our guide to pig pembersih pipa. For valves that should seal but might not, see the ClampOn DSP Leak Monitor.
Local Light, Reset and Control Station
For sites that need indication right at the pipe, ClampOn offers a version with a red LED array visible through 360° and a local reset. Alternatively, a separate stainless steel Control Station with a high-intensity LED and a push-button reset mounts nearby. In addition, the Ex d e versions detect pigs in both directions and can combine acoustic and magnetic detection.
No cabling on site? Then choose the ClampOn BIRD wireless PIG Detector. The download below includes the brochure, the Ex d e datasheets and the Control Station datasheet.
Explore the full ClampOn sensor range available in Indonesia through PT Saka Nusa Persada.
Planning a pigging campaign or upgrading your launcher and receiver? Request a technical assessment, and then we will specify the right ClampOn detector, mounting kit and output for your site.
