Device and method for heating a fluid in a pipeline

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (112) for heating a fluid. The device (112) comprises: at least one conductive pipe (120) for receiving the fluid; at least one conductive coil (110); at least one AC voltage source (114) connected to the coil (110) and designed to apply an AC voltage to the coil (110). The coil (110) is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field due to the application of the AC voltage. The pipe (120) and the coil (110) are arranged so that the electromagnetic field of the coil (110) induces an electric current in the pipe (120), and the electric current heats the pipe (120) by Joule heat generated when the electric current passes through the conductive pipe material so as to heat the fluid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for heating a fluid in a pipeline. Background Art

[0002] It is known to heat high temperature processes in the chemical industry by direct firing. Most of these high temperature processes use tubular furnaces, such as steam crackers, steam methane reformers, dehydrogenation units, platinum reforming, etc. The flue gases in these furnaces are usually the main source of CO2 emissions for the corresponding processes, and compared to CO2 emissions associated with material-based processes (e.g. from the water gas shift reaction), the flue gases can be avoided by coupling the required process energy in the form of electrical energy. It is known that the pipes in these furnaces, which are composed of conductive metals, can be directly heated by an electric current.

[0003] For example, WO2015 / 197181A1 describes a device for heating a fluid, the device having at least one conductive pipe for receiving the fluid and at least one voltage source connected to the at least one pipe. The at least one voltage source is designed to generate a current in the at least one pipe, which heats the at least one pipe for heating the fluid. The at least one voltage source has M external conductors, M being a natural number greater than or equal to 2. The at least one voltage source is designed to provide an AC voltage on the external conductors. These AC voltages are phase-shifted 2π / M relative to each other. The external conductors are connected to the at least one pipe in an electrically conductive manner so as to form a star circuit.

[0004] JP08247546A describes pipes formed of flat, oval and wound pipes produced from metal. A heating coil formed by spiral winding along each curved surface is installed on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the pipe row, and a plurality of pipes are installed adjacent to each other.

[0005] However, such heating of the pipeline by the electric current requires known highly optimized electrical insulation of the pipeline suspension and also requires electrical contacting of the pipeline for the introduction of the current. The material and cross section of the pipeline are also essentially determined by the process conditions. However, taking into account the necessary compressive strength, large cross sections only lead to low resistances and therefore to very high necessary currents at low voltages. Therefore, large conductor cross sections of the feed lines may be necessary, which leads to high losses in the same and complex high-current system parts and transformers. Summary of the invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for heating a fluid which at least largely avoid the disadvantages of known devices and methods. In particular, the device and the method are technically simple to implement and easy to implement and are also inexpensive.

[0007] This object is achieved by a device having the features of the independent claim. Preferred developments of the device are specified in particular in the associated dependent claims and in the dependent references of the dependent claims.

[0008] In the following, the terms "having", "including" or "comprising" or any grammatical variants thereof are used in a non-exclusive manner. Thus, these terms may relate to situations in which there are no further features separate from the features introduced by these terms, or to situations in which there are one or more further features. For example, the expression "A has B", "A includes B" or "A contains B" may relate to situations in which, in addition to B, there are no further elements in A (i.e., situations in which it is exclusively composed of B), and to situations in which, in addition to B, there are one or more further elements, such as element C, a plurality of elements C and D or even more elements.

[0009] It is also pointed out that, for example, when a feature or element is first introduced, when they are used in conjunction with one or more elements or features and are intended to express that the element or feature can be provided one or more times, the terms "at least one" and "one or more" and grammatical variations of these terms or similar terms are usually used only once. When the feature or element is mentioned again later, the corresponding terms "at least one" or "one or more" are usually no longer used, without limiting the possibility that the feature or element can be provided one or more times.

[0010] Furthermore, in the following, the terms "preferably", "in particular", "for example" or similar terms are used in conjunction with optional features, without limitation to alternative embodiments. Therefore, the features introduced by these terms are optional features, and it is not intended that the scope of protection of the claims, in particular the scope of protection of the independent claims, is limited by these features. Therefore, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the present invention may also be performed by using other configurations. In a similar manner, the features introduced by "in an embodiment of the present invention" or by "in an example of the present invention" are understood to be optional features, without limitation to alternative configurations or the scope of protection of the independent claims. Furthermore, all possibilities of combining features and thereby introducing them together with other features, whether optional or non-optional, are intended to remain unaffected by these introductory expressions.

[0011] In a first aspect of the present invention, a device for heating a fluid is proposed. Within the scope of the present invention, "fluid" is understood to mean a gaseous and / or liquid medium, such as a process gas. The fluid can be selected, for example, from the group comprising the following items: water, steam, combustion air, a hydrocarbon mixture, a hydrocarbon to be cracked. For example, the fluid can be a hydrocarbon to be thermally and / or catalytically cracked, in particular, a mixture of hydrocarbons to be thermally and / or catalytically cracked. For example, the fluid can be water or steam, and in addition comprises a hydrocarbon to be thermally and / or catalytically cracked, in particular, a mixture of hydrocarbons to be thermally and / or catalytically cracked. The fluid can be, for example, a preheated mixture of hydrocarbons to be thermally and / or catalytically cracked and steam. Other fluids are also conceivable.

[0012] "Heating a fluid" may be understood to mean a process that causes a change in the temperature of a fluid, in particular, causes an increase in the temperature of a fluid, for example, warming the fluid. For example, by heating, the fluid may be warmed to a specified or predetermined temperature value. The specified or predetermined temperature value may be a high temperature value. The device may be designed to heat the fluid to a temperature in the range of 200°C to 1100°C, preferably 200°C to 900°C, more preferably 400°C to 850°C. For example, the fluid may be heated to a temperature in the range of 550°C to 700°C. For example, the fluid may be combustion air in a reformer furnace that is pre-warmed or heated to a temperature in the range of, for example, 200°C to 900°C, preferably 400°C to 850°C. However, other temperatures and temperature ranges are also conceivable. The device may have a heating capacity of ≥0.5 MW per pipeline, wherein the device may have a pipeline system that may be composed of a plurality of pipelines.

[0013] The device may be part of an apparatus. For example, the device may be selected from the group consisting of: a steam cracker, a steam reformer, a device for dehydrogenating alkanes. For example, the device may be designed to perform at least one process selected from the group consisting of: steam cracking, steam reforming, dehydrogenating alkanes.

[0014] For example, the device may be part of a steam cracker. "Steam cracking" may be understood to mean a process in which longer chain hydrocarbons (e.g., naphtha, propane, butane and ethane as well as gas oils and wax oils) are converted into shorter chain hydrocarbons by thermal cracking in the presence of steam. In steam cracking, hydrogen, methane, ethylene and propylene and especially butenes and pyrolyzed benzene may be produced as main products. A steam cracker may be designed to heat the fluid to a temperature in the range of 550° C. to 1100° C.

[0015] For example, the device may be part of a reformer. "Steam reforming" may be understood to mean a process for producing steam and carbon oxides from water and a carbon-containing energy carrier, in particular hydrocarbons such as natural gas, light gasoline, methanol, biogas and biomass. For example, the fluid may be heated to a temperature in the range of 200° C. to 800° C., preferably 400° C. to 700° C.

[0016] For example, the device may be part of a device for dehydrogenating alkanes. "Dehydrogenating alkanes" may be understood to mean a process for producing alkenes by dehydrogenating alkanes, such as dehydrogenating butane to butene (BDH) or dehydrogenating propane to propylene (PDH). The device for dehydrogenating alkanes may be designed to heat the fluid to a temperature in the range of 400° C. to 700° C.

[0017] The device includes:

[0018] - at least one electrically conductive conduit for receiving a fluid,

[0019] - at least one conductive coil,

[0020] - At least one AC voltage source connected to the coil and designed for applying an AC voltage to the coil.

[0021] The coil is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field by applying an AC voltage. The pipe and the coil are arranged so that the electromagnetic field of the coil induces an electric current in the pipe. The electric current, also known as eddy current, heats the pipe to heat the fluid by Joule heating generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material.

[0022] In this way, the pipe can also be heated by flowing a non-conductive fluid through it.

[0023] In the scope of the present invention, pipeline can be understood to mean any shaped device designed to receive and transport fluid. Pipeline can be a process pipe. Pipeline can include at least one pipe section. Pipe section can be understood to mean a part of pipeline. The geometry and / or surface and / or material of the pipeline can depend on the fluid to be transported. "Conductive pipeline" can be understood to mean pipeline, in particular, the material of the pipeline, designed to conduct electric current. Pipeline can be designed as a reaction pipeline of a reformer. Pipeline can be designed as a reaction pipeline and / or a tubular reactor. Pipeline can be particularly designed so that chemical reactions are performed and / or carried out therein.

[0024] The device may include a plurality of pipelines. The device may include L pipelines, L being a natural number greater than or equal to 1. For example, the device may include at least one, two, three, four, five or more pipelines. The device may, for example, include up to several hundred pipelines. The pipelines may be configured identically or differently. The pipelines may include different numbers of branches or windings. The pipelines may include different numbers of branches. The pipelines may be configured as so-called single-pass or multi-pass pipelines. The pipelines may include identical or different geometric shapes and / or surfaces and / or materials. The pipelines may be interconnected and thus form a substantially planar pipeline system for receiving fluids. "Pipeline system" may be understood to mean a device comprising at least two pipelines (especially connected to each other). "Substantially planar pipeline system" may be understood to mean an arrangement of pipelines in a plane, wherein a small deviation of less than 5%, preferably less than 1%, from a planar arrangement is also possible. The pipeline system may include input and output pipelines. The pipeline system may include at least one inlet for receiving a fluid. The pipeline system may include at least one outlet for discharging a fluid. "Interconnection" may be understood to mean that the pipelines are fluidly connected to each other. Therefore, pipelines can be arranged and connected so that fluid flows through pipelines one by one. Pipes can be interconnected in parallel with each other so that fluid can flow through at least two pipelines in parallel. Pipes (particularly, pipelines connected in parallel) can be designed to transport different fluids in parallel. Particularly, the pipelines connected in parallel can include geometric shapes and / or surfaces and / or materials different from each other for transporting different fluids. Particularly, for the transport of fluids, multiple or all pipelines can be configured in parallel so that fluid can be divided between those pipelines configured in parallel. A combination of series connection and parallel connection is also conceivable.

[0025] "Coil" may be understood to mean any desired element having inductance and suitable for generating a magnetic field under the flow of an electric current and / or vice versa. For example, the coil may comprise at least one completely or partially closed conductor loop or winding. "Conductive coil" may be understood to mean that the coil is configured so that when a voltage and / or a current is applied, the coil generates a magnetic flux. The conductive coil may be an induction coil. The conductive coil may comprise at least one conductive material, such as copper or aluminum. The winding form and the number of windings of the coil may be selected so that a maximum current intensity and / or a maximum voltage and / or a maximum frequency are achieved. In particular, a greatly reduced current with an increased voltage may be possible compared to direct resistance heating of the pipeline.

[0026] The device may include a plurality of coils. The device may include M coils, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to 2. For example, the device may include at least two, three, four, five or more coils. The coils may form a substantially planar coil array. "Coil array" may be understood to mean a coil arrangement comprising at least two coils. A "substantially planar" coil array may be understood to mean an arrangement of coils in a plane, wherein a slight deviation of less than 5%, preferably less than 1%, from the planar arrangement is also possible. The coil array may be adapted to the path followed by the pipeline. In particular, the coil array may be adapted to the process heat requirement of the path changed along the pipeline. For example, the coil array may be configured so that energy input adapted to the process and the path followed by the pipeline is possible.

[0027] "AC voltage source" may be understood to mean a device designed to provide an AC voltage. "AC voltage" may be understood to mean a voltage whose level and polarity are regularly repeated over time. For example, the AC voltage may be a sinusoidal AC voltage. The AC voltage source is connected to the coil, in particular electrically connected, and is designed to apply the AC voltage to the coil. The device may comprise a plurality of AC voltage sources. In the case of a device with an array of coils, each coil or coil group may be assigned an AC voltage source, which is connected to the corresponding coil and / or coil group, in particular, by at least one electrical connection. In each case, the AC voltage source may be configured with the possibility of closed-loop control for adapting the level and / or frequency of the AC voltage. The AC voltage sources may be electrically controllable independently of one another. Thus, even complex variations of the energy input along the path followed by the pipeline and therefore precise control of the temperature field may become possible.

[0028] The coil is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field by applying an AC voltage. The coil is particularly designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field in response to the application of the AC voltage. The pipe and the coil are arranged so that the electromagnetic field of the coil induces an electric current in the pipe. In particular, the spacing of the pipe and the coil may be such that the pipe is arranged in the electromagnetic field of the coil. The electric current thus generated in the pipe may heat up the pipe by Joule heat generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material for heating the fluid. "Heating up the pipe" may be understood to mean a process that results in a change in the temperature of the pipe, in particular, a rise in the temperature of the pipe.

[0029] The device may comprise at least one thermal insulator designed to decouple the temperature of the coil (in particular, the coil array) from the pipe (in particular, the pipe system). "Thermal insulator" may be understood to mean an element that at least partially or completely prevents heat conduction between the pipe (in particular, the pipe system) and the coil (in particular, the coil array). For example, the substantially planar coil array may be embedded in a non-conductive and non-magnetic thermal insulation compound. The thermal insulator may comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting of: ceramic fiber mats, ceramic foams, refractory bricks, refractory concrete.

[0030] The coil may comprise at least one conductor pipe. A "conductor pipe" may be understood to mean a device designed to be flowed through by a liquid and / or a gas. The device may be designed to conduct at least one coolant through the conductor pipe. Heat losses of the coil and heat input to the coil through the thermal insulation from the process space in which the pipe is arranged can thus be removed by direct cooling of the coil. For example, the coil may consist of a copper or aluminum pipe through which the coolant is conducted.

[0031] The conductor pipe may be of a pressure-resistant configuration. Thus, boiler feed water may be applied directly to the conductor pipe and steam may be generated directly in the conductor pipe or in an external steam drum after throttling the pressurized water from the conductor pipe. The steam may be used as process steam or machine steam.

[0032] The pipe can be arranged in the gas space. "Gas space" can be understood to mean a structural space designed to receive at least one gas. In particular, the gas space can be a structural space through which the gas can flow. The pipe can be freely suspended in the gas space. Therefore, the temperature does not hinder the change of the length of the pipe. Suspension and process are known to those skilled in the art. The length and / or width and / or height of the gas space can be configured to allow changes in the position and length of the pipe and its suspension due to temperature rise. For example, the pipe system can define a plane. The "length" of the gas space can be the horizontal extent of the gas space relative to the path followed by the pipe system. The "height" of the gas space can be the range perpendicular to the length of the gas space in the plane of the pipe system. The "width" of the gas space can be the range perpendicular to the plane of the gas space and the pipe system. Compared with a directly fired radiation boiler, no minimum gas layer thickness is required so that the width of the gas space can tightly surround the pipe with changes in its position and length due to temperature rise, and / or so that in the event of a pipe rupture, the process gas can be safely removed in the plane of the plane pipe system. The device can be designed for a gas space through which a chemically inert and oxygen-free inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) is to be flowed (in particular, slowly). Thus, the pipeline can be protected from scaling and at the same time possible small leaks can be safely removed before large amounts of combustible gas accumulate. The device can include at least one leak detection device. The leak detection device can be designed for monitoring the gas composition at the output of the gas space.

[0033] The device may include a plurality of coil arrays and / or piping systems. The coil arrays and piping systems may be alternately arranged in at least one stack in the horizontal direction. In particular, in each case, the coil array may be arranged between two piping systems. In one embodiment, the stack may include a coil array at one end, such as on the front side, the stack including a piping system and another coil array alternating in the horizontal direction of the stack. Coil arrays or piping systems may also be provided on the back side of the stack. In one embodiment, the stack may include a piping system on the front side, the stack including a coil array and piping systems alternating in the horizontal direction of the stack. Coil arrays or piping systems may also be provided on the back side of the stack. The device may include piping systems and coil arrays of different or equal numbers. For example, the device may include N piping systems and O coil arrays, N and O being natural numbers greater than or equal to 2. For example, the device may include at least two, three, four, five or more coil arrays and piping systems. By such stacking of piping systems and coil arrays, a tube furnace with a desired capacity may be assembled. Field losses may be kept low by using the corresponding front and rear electromagnetic fields to the left and right sides of the coil arrays for heating the piping system. Mutual reinforcement of the fields of the coil arrays to the left and right side of the pipe system may also be advantageous. Symmetrical fields around the respective pipe systems may also be advantageous.

[0034] The stack may include at least one compensation coil array. "Compensation coil array" may be understood to mean a device designed to keep the front and / or rear electromagnetic fields of the stack as small as possible. The stack may be closed at the free end by a pipe or a pipe system for a cryogenic temperature (e.g. a preheater or a reagent evaporator) and a combination of a compensation coil array, so that the residual external electromagnetic field is as small as possible.

[0035] The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous because it combines complete mechanical and thermal decoupling of the electrical heating with the pipework, largely exploiting tried and tested process pipe designs in which the heating is operated at low temperatures (e.g. in the coil plane at 150 to 250° C.), depending on the desired pressure of the generated steam, and using electrical losses in the form of process steam with improved and delay-free controllability.

[0036] Within the scope of the present invention, in a further aspect, a method for heating a fluid is proposed. In the method, a device according to the present invention is used. The method comprises the following steps:

[0037] - providing at least one electrically conductive conduit for receiving a fluid,

[0038] - receiving a fluid in a pipeline,

[0039] - providing at least one conductive coil,

[0040] - providing at least one AC voltage source, to which the coil is connected and to which an AC voltage is applied to the coil,

[0041] - generating at least one electromagnetic field by applying an AC voltage to the coil,

[0042] - The electromagnetic field of the coil induces an electric current in the pipe, which heats the fluid by heating the pipe through Joule heating generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material.

[0043] Providing the at least one coil may include providing at least one coil generated from a conductor through which a cooling fluid may flow.

[0044] With regard to embodiments and definitions, reference may be made to the above description of the apparatus. The method steps may be performed in a specified sequence, one or more steps may also be performed at least partially simultaneously, and one or more steps may be repeated multiple times. Furthermore, further steps may be performed in addition, regardless of whether they have been mentioned in the present application.

[0045] In summary, the following embodiments are particularly preferred within the scope of the present invention:

[0046] Embodiment 1: A device for heating a fluid, comprising:

[0047] - at least one electrically conductive conduit for receiving a fluid;

[0048] - at least one conductive coil;

[0049] - at least one AC voltage source connected to the coil and designed to apply an AC voltage to the coil;

[0050] The coil is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field by applying an AC voltage, and the pipe and the coil are arranged so that the electromagnetic field of the coil induces a current in the pipe, which heats the pipe to heat the fluid by Joule heat generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material.

[0051] Embodiment 2: The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the device comprises a plurality of coils, the coils forming a substantially planar coil array.

[0052] Embodiment 3: The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the coil array is adapted to the path followed by the pipeline.

[0053] Embodiment 4: A device according to one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the device comprises a plurality of AC voltage sources, each coil in the coil array being assigned an AC voltage source, the AC voltage sources being in each case configured with the possibility of closed-loop control for adapting the level and / or frequency of the AC voltage, the AC voltage sources being electrically controllable independently of one another.

[0054] Embodiment 5: The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the device comprises a plurality of conduits which are interconnected and thus form a substantially planar conduit system for receiving a fluid.

[0055] Embodiment 6: The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the device comprises a plurality of coil arrays and / or pipeline systems, and the coil arrays and pipeline systems are alternately arranged in at least one stack in a horizontal direction.

[0056] Embodiment 7: The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the device comprises at least one thermal insulator, the at least one thermal insulator being designed to decouple the temperature of the coil from that of the pipe, the thermal insulator comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of: ceramic fiber mat, ceramic foam, refractory brick, refractory concrete.

[0057] Embodiment 8 The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the coil comprises at least one conductor tube, the device being designed to conduct at least one coolant through the conductor tube.

[0058] Embodiment 9: The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the conductor tube has a pressure-resistant configuration.

[0059] Embodiment 10: The device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the pipe is arranged in the gas space, the pipe being arranged to be freely suspended in the gas space.

[0060] Embodiment 11: The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the length and / or width and / or height of the gas space is configured to allow changes in position and length due to increased temperature.

[0061] Embodiment 12 The device according to one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the device is designed for a gas space through which a chemically inert and oxygen-free inert gas flows.

[0062] Embodiment 13 The device according to one of the three preceding embodiments, wherein the device comprises at least one leak detection device designed to monitor the gas composition at the output of the gas space.

[0063] Embodiment 14: A device comprising at least one apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments.

[0064] Embodiment 15: The apparatus according to the preceding embodiment is selected from the group consisting of: a steam cracker, a steam reformer, a device for dehydrogenation of alkanes.

[0065] Embodiment 16: A method for heating a fluid by using a device according to one of the preceding embodiments, the method comprising the following steps:

[0066] - providing at least one electrically conductive conduit for receiving a fluid;

[0067] - receiving a fluid in a pipeline;

[0068] - providing at least one conductive coil;

[0069] - providing at least one AC voltage source, to which the coil is connected and to which the AC voltage is applied to the coil;

[0070] - generating at least one electromagnetic field by applying an AC voltage to the coil;

[0071] - The electromagnetic field of the coil induces an electric current in the pipe, which heats the fluid by heating the pipe through Joule heating generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material.

[0072] Embodiment 17: According to the method of the preceding embodiment, providing the at least one coil comprises providing at least one coil produced from a conductor through which a cooling fluid can flow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Further details and features of the invention can be found in the following description of preferred examples, in particular in conjunction with the dependent claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or several of them can be implemented in combination with each other. The invention is not limited to these examples. These examples are schematically represented in the drawings. The same references in the various figures represent elements that are the same or have the same function, i.e., they correspond to each other with respect to their function.

[0074] Specifically:

[0075] Figure 1A and 1B shows a diagrammatic representation of an example of a coil according to the invention and an example of a coil array according to the invention;

[0076] Figure 2 A diagrammatic representation showing an example of a piping system according to the present invention; and

[0077] Figure 3A and 3B An exploded view of an example of a device according to the invention and a perspective representation of another example of the device are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] Figure 1AA diagrammatic representation of an example of a conductive coil 110 according to the present invention in a device 112 for heating at least one fluid is shown. The fluid can be selected, for example, from a group including: water, steam, combustion air, hydrocarbon mixtures, hydrocarbons to be cracked. For example, the fluid can be a hydrocarbon to be thermally cracked, in particular, a mixture of hydrocarbons to be thermally cracked. For example, the fluid can be water or steam and additionally include hydrocarbons to be thermally cracked, in particular, a mixture of hydrocarbons to be thermally cracked. The fluid can be, for example, a preheated mixture of hydrocarbons to be thermally cracked and steam. Other fluids are also conceivable. For example, by heating, the fluid can be heated to a prescribed or predetermined temperature value. The prescribed or predetermined temperature value can be a high temperature value. For example, the fluid can be heated to a temperature in the range of 550°C to 700°C. For example, the fluid can be combustion air in a reforming furnace that is preheated or heated to a temperature in the range of, for example, 200°C to 800°C, preferably 400°C to 700°C. However, other temperatures and temperature ranges are also conceivable.

[0079] The coil 110 may include at least one complete or partially closed conductor loop or winding. When a voltage and / or current is applied, the coil 110 may generate a magnetic flux. The conductive coil may be an induction coil. The conductive coil 110 may include at least one conductive material, such as copper or aluminum. The coil 110 may be composed of a tubular conductor through which a cooling medium flows. The winding form and the number of windings of the coil may be selected so as to achieve maximum current intensity and / or maximum voltage and / or maximum frequency.

[0080] The device 112 comprises at least one AC voltage source 114. The AC voltage source 114 is connected to the coil 110, in particular, electrically connected. For this purpose, the device 112 may include at least one connecting element 116, such as a terminal and / or a feeder, which electrically connects the coil 110 and the AC voltage source 114. The AC voltage source 114 is designed to apply an AC voltage to the coil 110. The coil 110 is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field in response to the application of the AC voltage.

[0081] The device 112 may include a plurality of coils 110. The device 112 may include M coils 110, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to 2. For example, the device 112 may include at least two, three, four, five or more coils 110. The coils 110 may form a substantially planar coil array 118. An example of the coil array 118 is Figure 1B1. The device 112 may include a plurality of AC voltage sources 114. In the case of a device 112 with a coil array 118, each coil 110 or group of coils 110 may each be assigned an AC voltage source 114, which is in particular electrically connected to the respective coil 110 and / or group of coils 110 via at least one electrical connection. In each case, the AC voltage sources 114 may be configured with the possibility of closed-loop control for adapting the level and / or frequency of the AC voltage. The AC voltage sources 114 may be electrically controllable independently of one another.

[0082] The device 112 includes at least one conductive pipe 120 for receiving a fluid. The pipe 120 may be a process pipe. The pipe 120 may be designed as a reaction pipe of a reforming furnace. The pipe 120 may include at least one pipe section. The geometry and / or surface and / or material of the pipe 120 may depend on the fluid to be transported. The device 112 may include a plurality of pipes 120. The device 112 may include L pipes 120, where L is a natural number greater than or equal to 2. For example, the device 112 may include at least two, three, four, five or more pipes 120. The device 112 may, for example, include up to several hundred pipes 120. The pipes 120 may be configured the same or differently. The pipes 120 may include different numbers of branches or windings. The pipes 120 may include different numbers of branches. The pipes 120 may be configured as so-called single-pass or multi-pass pipes. The pipes 120 may include the same or different geometries and / or surfaces and / or materials. The pipes 120 may be connected straight through and thus form a substantially planar pipe system 122 for receiving a fluid. Figure 2 An example of a pipe system 122 is shown. The pipe system 122 may include input and output pipes 120. The pipe system 122 may include at least one inlet 124 for receiving a fluid. The pipe system 122 may include at least one outlet 126 for discharging a fluid. The pipes 120 may be arranged and connected so that the fluid flows through the pipes 120 one after another. The pipes 120 may be interconnected in parallel with each other so that the fluid may flow through at least two pipes 120 in parallel. The pipes 120 (particularly, the pipes 120 connected in parallel) may be designed to transport different fluids in parallel. In particular, the pipes 120 connected in parallel may include different geometries and / or surfaces and / or materials from each other for transporting different fluids. In particular, for the transport of fluids, a plurality or all of the pipes 120 may be configured in parallel so that the fluid may be divided between those pipes 120 configured in parallel. Combinations of series connection and parallel connection are also conceivable.

[0083] The pipe 120 may be arranged in the gas space 128. The pipe 120 may be freely suspended in the gas space 128. Thus, it may be possible to cause temperature-induced changes in the length of the pipe 120. The suspension and steps are known to those skilled in the art. The length 130 and / or the height 132 and / or the width 134 of the gas space 128 may be configured to allow for changes in position and length due to temperature increases. For example, the pipe system 122 may define a plane. The length 130 of the gas space 128 may be the extent of the gas space 128 horizontally relative to the path followed by the pipe system 122. The height 132 of the gas space 128 may be the extent of the gas space 128 in the plane of the pipe system 122 perpendicular to the length 130 of the gas space 128. The width 134 of the gas space 128 may be the extent of the gas space 128 perpendicular to the plane of the pipe system 122, see e.g. Figure 3A . In contrast to directly fired radiant boilers, no minimum gas layer thickness is required so that the width 134 of the gas space 128 can tightly surround the pipe 120 as its position and length change due to temperature increase, and / or so that in the event of a pipe rupture, the process gas can be safely removed in the plane of the planar pipe system 122. The device 112 can be designed for a gas space 128 through which a chemically inert and oxygen-free inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) is to be flowed (in particular, slowly). Thus, the pipe 120 can be protected from scaling and at the same time possible small leaks can be safely removed before large amounts of combustible gas accumulate. The device 112 can include at least one leak detection device 136. The leak detection device 136 can be designed for monitoring the gas composition at the output of the gas space 128.

[0084] Figure 3A and 3B By way of example, the device 112 is shown in an exploded view ( Figure 3A ) and perspective representation ( Figure 3B ) are two examples. The coil 110 is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field by applying an AC voltage. The pipe 120 and the coil 110 are arranged so that the electromagnetic field of the coil 110 induces an electric current in the pipe 120. In particular, the spacing between the pipe 120 and the coil 110 can be such that the pipe 120 is arranged in the electromagnetic field of the coil 110. The electric current can heat up the pipe by the Joule heat generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material, so as to heat the fluid.

[0085] The device 112 may include a plurality of coil arrays 118 and / or a pipeline system 122. The coil arrays 118 may be adapted to the path followed by the pipeline 120. In particular, the coil arrays 118 may be adapted to process thermal requirements that vary along the path of the pipeline 120. For example, the coil arrays 118 may be configured such that energy input adapted to the process and the path followed by the pipeline 120 is possible.

[0086] The coil arrays 118 and the duct systems 122 can be arranged alternately in the horizontal direction to form at least one stack 138. In particular, a coil array 118 can be arranged between two duct systems 122 in each case. Figure 3A In the embodiment shown, the stack 138 may include a coil array 118 at one end, for example on a front side 140, with the stack 138 including ducting 122 and further coil arrays 118 alternating in a horizontal direction of the stack 138. The ducting 122 may be arranged on a rear side 142 of the stack 138. However, embodiments having the coil array 118 terminated are also conceivable. Figure 3B In the embodiment shown in , the stack 138 may include a duct system 122 on a front side 140 and a rear side 142, and the stack 138 includes coil arrays 118 and duct systems 122 alternating in the horizontal direction of the stack 138. For example, the device 112 may include different numbers or the same number of duct systems 122 and coil arrays 118. For example, the device 112 may include N duct systems 122 and O coil arrays 118, where N and O are natural numbers greater than or equal to 2. For example, the device 112 may include at least two, three, four, five or more coil arrays 118 and duct systems 122. By such a stack of duct systems 122 and coil arrays 118, a tube furnace with a desired capacity can be assembled. By using the corresponding front electromagnetic field and rear electromagnetic field of the coil array 118 for heating the duct system 122 to the left and right sides of the duct system 122, field losses can be kept low. Mutual reinforcement of the coil array 118 to the left and right sides of the duct system 122 may also be advantageous. A symmetrical field around the respective duct system 122 may also be advantageous.

[0087] The stack 138 may include at least one compensation coil array. The compensation coil array may be designed to keep the front and / or rear electromagnetic fields of the stack 138 as small as possible. The stack may be closed at the free end by a pipe or a pipe system for a cryogenic temperature (e.g. a preheater or a reagent evaporator) and a combination of a compensation coil array so that the residual external electromagnetic field is as small as possible. For example, in each case, the last coil array 118 of the stack 138 may be configured as a compensation coil array.

[0088] The device 112 may include at least one thermal insulator 144, see e.g. Figure 1B, which is designed to decouple the temperature of the coil 110 (particularly, the coil array 118) from the pipe 120 (particularly, the pipe system 122). For example, the substantially planar coil array 118 can be embedded in a non-conductive and non-magnetic thermal insulation compound. The thermal insulator 144 can include at least one element selected from the following items: ceramic fiber mat, ceramic foam, refractory brick, refractory concrete.

[0089] The coil 110 may include at least one conductor conduit 146, see e.g. Figure 1A and 1B . The device 112 can be designed for conducting at least one coolant through the conductor pipe 146A. The power losses of the coil and the heat input from the process space in which the pipe 120 is arranged to the coil 110 through the thermal insulation 144 can thus be removed by direct cooling of the coil. For example, the coil 110 can be composed of a copper or aluminum pipe, through which the coolant is conducted. The conductor pipe 146 can have a pressure-resistant configuration. Thus, boiler feed water can be applied directly to the conductor pipe 146 and steam can be generated directly in the conductor pipe 146 or in an external steam drum after throttling the pressurized water from the conductor pipe 146. The steam can be used as process steam or machine steam.

[0090] List of reference symbols

[0091] 110 Coil

[0092] 112 Installation

[0093] 114 AC voltage source

[0094] 116 Connecting elements

[0095] 118 Coil Array

[0096] 120 Pipe

[0097] 122 Pipeline system

[0098] 124 Entrance

[0099] 126 Exit

[0100] 128 Gas Space

[0101] 130 Length

[0102] 132 Height

[0103] 134 Width

[0104] 136 Leak detection device

[0105] 138 Stack

[0106] 140 front

[0107] 142 rear side

[0108] 144 Thermal Insulator

[0109] 146 Conductor Pipe

Claims

1. An apparatus (112) for heating a fluid, the apparatus being part of an apparatus configured to perform at least one process selected from the group consisting of: steam cracking; Steam reforming; and alkane dehydrogenation, the device comprising: - at least one electrically conductive conduit (120) for receiving a fluid, - at least one conductive coil (110), at least one AC voltage source (114) connected to the coil (110) and designed for an AC voltage to be applied to the coil (110), The coil (110) is designed to generate at least one electromagnetic field by applying the AC voltage, the pipe (120) and the coil (110) are arranged so that the electromagnetic field of the coil (110) induces a current in the pipe (120), and the current heats the pipe (120) to heat the fluid by Joule heat generated when the current passes through the conductive pipe material, wherein the heating source is constituted by the coil (110) configured to generate the at least one electromagnetic field, wherein the device (112) is part of a steam cracker, the steam cracking comprising heating the fluid to a temperature in the range of 550°C to 1100°C, or wherein the device (112) is part of a reforming furnace, the steam reforming comprises heating the fluid to a temperature in the range of 200°C to 800°C, or wherein the device (112) is part of a device for dehydrogenating alkanes, the device for dehydrogenating alkanes being designed to heat the fluid to a temperature in the range of 400° C. to 700° C., wherein the device (112) comprises a plurality of coils (110), the coils (110) forming a substantially planar coil array (118), wherein the device (112) comprises a plurality of pipes (120) which are interconnected and thus form a substantially planar pipe system (122) for receiving the fluid, and The device (112) includes a plurality of coil arrays (118) and / or pipeline systems (122), and the coil arrays (118) and the pipeline systems (122) are alternately arranged in a horizontal direction to form at least one stack (138).

2. The device (112) according to claim 1, wherein: The coil array (118) is adapted to a path followed by the conduit (120).

3. The device (112) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The device (112) comprises a plurality of AC voltage sources (114), each coil (110) in the coil array (118) being assigned one AC voltage source (114), the AC voltage sources (114) being in each case equipped with a closed-loop control possibility for adapting the level and / or frequency of the AC voltage, the AC voltage sources (114) being electrically controllable independently of one another.

4. The device (112) according to claim 1, wherein: The device (112) comprises at least one thermal insulator (144) designed to decouple the temperature of the coil (110) from that of the pipe (120), the thermal insulator (144) comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of: ceramic fiber mat, ceramic foam, refractory brick, refractory concrete.

5. The device (112) according to claim 1, wherein: The coil (110) includes at least one conductor tube (146), and the device (112) is designed to conduct at least one coolant through the conductor tube (146).

6. The device (112) according to claim 5, wherein: The conductor tube (146) has a pressure-resistant configuration.

7. The device (112) according to claim 1, wherein: The pipe (120) is arranged in a gas space (128), the pipe (120) being arranged to be freely suspended in the gas space (128).

8. The device (112) according to claim 7, wherein: The length (130) and / or width (134) and / or height (132) of the gas space (128) is configured to allow for changes in position and length due to increased temperature.

9. The device (112) according to claim 7, wherein: The device (112) is designed for the gas space (128) to be flowed through by a chemically inert and oxygen-free inert gas.

10. The device (112) according to claim 7, wherein: The device (112) comprises at least one leak detection device (136) designed to monitor the gas composition at an output of the gas space.

11. Plant comprising at least one device (112) according to one of the preceding claims, said device being selected from the group consisting of: a steam cracker, a steam reformer, a device for the dehydrogenation of alkanes.

12. A method for heating a fluid by using a device (112) according to one of the preceding claims relating to a device, the method comprising the following steps: - providing at least one electrically conductive conduit (120) for receiving a fluid, - receiving said fluid in said conduit (120), - providing at least one conductive coil (110), - providing at least one AC voltage source (114), to which the coil (110) is connected and to which an AC voltage is applied to the coil (110), - generating at least one electromagnetic field by applying said AC voltage to said coil (110), - The electromagnetic field through the coil (110) induces an electric current in the pipe (120), and the electric current heats the pipe (120) to heat the fluid by Joule heat generated when the electric current passes through the conductive pipe material.

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