Abstract: Method and system for clearing a pipe system from its contents, the pipe having a proximal end and a distal end, the method including providing an air supply to the pipe system at the proximal end by applying an air pressure decreasing from an initial pressure as the bulk of the pipe contents get discharged gradually at the distal end for obtaining a contents flow in the pipe system. The method further includes determining a volume of air supplied to the pipe system by the air supply, determining an estimated contents travel speed from the volume of the air supplied to the pipe and regulating the air supply to the proximal end of the pipe for obtaining a predetermined pipe contents travel speed using the estimated contents travel speed.

Abstract: Method of removing the contents from a pipe (1)comprising forcing a gas flow through the pipe, the pipe having a pipe volume, an inlet end and an outlet end (9), characterized in that the gas flow is forced into the pipe (1) at the inlet end by applying a gas pressure decreasing from an initial pressure to a lower final pressure to remove at least parts of the contents from the pipe and maintaining that lower final pressure to remove the remaining contents from the pipe and apparatus for removing the contents from a pipe by forcing a gas flow through a pipe (1) having an inlet end and an outlet end (9), comprising gas flow generating means (5) and a container (3) having an inlet and having an outlet connectable to the inlet end of the pipe (1).