A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system
By combining the heating element with the skin effect heating layer, the heat-conducting layer, the insulation layer, and the heat-preserving layer, the problems of high energy consumption, inaccurate temperature control, and high maintenance costs of steam tracing systems are solved, achieving efficient and precise heat tracing of crude oil pipelines and reducing maintenance difficulty.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SINOCHEM ZHUHAI PETROCHEMICAL TERMINAL CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing steam tracing systems suffer from high energy consumption, large heat loss, inaccurate temperature control, high maintenance costs, scaling and corrosion problems during crude oil transportation, and are not suitable for complex or long-distance heat tracing.
The heating element, which employs the skin effect heating method, combines a heat-conducting layer, an insulating layer, a heat-insulating layer, and a temperature detector to heat the oil pipeline through heat conduction, thereby achieving precise temperature control and reducing energy consumption.
It reduces heat tracing energy consumption, improves temperature control accuracy, reduces maintenance difficulty and cost, avoids scaling and corrosion, and is suitable for heat tracing of complex or long-distance crude oil pipelines.
Smart Images
Figure CN224592920U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of petrochemical storage and transportation technology, and in particular to a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system. Background Technology
[0002] During crude oil transportation, the annual volume of crude oil increases due to the decrease in temperature, and the fluidity decreases. Crude oil with high wax content is prone to forming paraffin deposits at low temperatures, which can clog pipelines.
[0003] Existing methods for preventing pipeline cooling generally employ steam pipeline heat tracing, which converts steam into heat energy. However, steam pipeline heat tracing has some significant drawbacks, mainly including the following aspects:
[0004] High energy consumption: Steam tracing requires the continuous generation and supply of steam, which consumes a large amount of energy (such as fuel or electricity). Especially in long-distance or complex pipeline networks, steam loss is significant, resulting in high energy consumption and operating costs.
[0005] Significant heat loss: During the heat tracing process, steam will experience significant heat loss due to insufficient pipe insulation or heat dissipation, especially in cold or high wind speed environments, where the temperature drop is obvious and it is difficult to ensure the uniformity of temperature inside the pipe.
[0006] Inaccurate temperature control: Temperature regulation in steam tracing systems is difficult to control, especially over long distances. Localized overheating or underheating can easily occur, leading to uneven temperature distribution across different sections of the pipeline and affecting the tracing effect.
[0007] High maintenance costs: The heat tracing pipes, valves and other components in the steam system are often exposed to high temperature and high humidity environments, which makes them prone to corrosion, scaling or blockage, and leakage. They require frequent maintenance and replacement, which increases operating costs and safety risks.
[0008] Scale and corrosion issues: Steam condensation forms condensate, which accumulates inside the heat tracing pipes and forms scale. This not only reduces heat transfer efficiency but may also accelerate corrosion of the pipe's inner wall. Especially when the steam contains impurities, the lifespan of the heat tracing system will be shortened.
[0009] Not suitable for complex or long-distance heat tracing: Steam tracing is uneconomical in long-distance or complex pipelines. Steam experiences significant temperature decay during long-distance transmission, requiring multiple steam injection points and condensate discharge points, increasing system complexity and cost.
[0010] Condensate treatment issue: Steam condensation produces a large amount of condensate, which needs to be drained from the pipeline in a timely manner to avoid obstructing steam flow. This condensate also requires treatment, increasing the operational and management burden of the system. Utility Model Content
[0011] The purpose of this utility model is to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and to provide a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system that can reduce pipeline heat tracing energy consumption, reduce maintenance difficulty, and accurately control heat tracing temperature.
[0012] This utility model provides a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system including an oil pipeline and a heat tracing system. The heat tracing system is installed on the oil pipeline and is used to heat the pipe wall of the oil pipeline. The heat tracing system includes a heating element and an insulation layer. The insulation layer is attached to the outer wall of the oil pipeline, and the heating element is installed on the insulation layer. The heating element uses the skin effect to heat itself and conduct heat to the oil pipeline.
[0013] A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to an embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system includes an oil pipeline and a heat tracing system. The heat tracing system is installed on the oil pipeline. The heat tracing system is used to heat the pipe wall of the oil pipeline. The heat tracing system includes a heating element and an insulation layer. The insulation layer is attached to the outer wall of the oil pipeline. The heating element is installed on the insulation layer. The heating element heats itself using the skin effect and conducts the heat to the oil pipeline. By using the heating element to heat itself through the skin effect and then transferring the heat through the insulation layer to the oil pipeline via heat conduction, many problems such as high energy consumption, inaccurate temperature control, scaling, and corrosion of steam-heated pipelines can be avoided.
[0014] According to the present invention, in a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system, the insulation layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene.
[0015] According to the present invention, a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system includes a heating component comprising a heat-conducting layer, a heating cable, a control box, and a power supply. The heat-conducting layer is disposed on the insulating layer, and a cable groove is formed on the heat-conducting layer. The heating cable is embedded in the cable groove and connects the power supply and the control box. The control box is used to control the power supply.
[0016] According to the present invention, in a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system, the heat-conducting layer is made of heat-conducting adhesive.
[0017] According to the present invention, in a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system, the heat-conducting layer is formed by stacking metal foils.
[0018] According to the present invention, a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system further includes a heat insulation layer, which is sleeved on the outside of the heat-conducting layer and the heating cable, and is used for heat insulation of the oil pipeline.
[0019] According to the present invention, in a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system, the insulation layer is made of rock wool or polyurethane foam.
[0020] According to the present invention, a crude oil pipeline heat tracing system includes a heating component that further includes a temperature detector. The temperature detector is disposed on the insulation layer. An over-temperature alarm module is provided in the control box. The temperature detector is electrically connected to the control box. When the temperature is detected to be too high, the over-temperature alarm module is triggered, and the power supply is turned off.
[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description
[0022] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments;
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pipeline in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the pipeline in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0025] This section will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present utility model. The preferred embodiments of the present utility model are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to supplement the textual description with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present utility model, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present utility model.
[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the directional or positional relationship based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.
[0027] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. If "first" or "second" is used in the description, it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.
[0028] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.
[0029] Reference Figure 1 A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system includes an oil pipeline 10 and a heat tracing system 20. The heat tracing system 20 is installed on the oil pipeline 10. The heat tracing system 20 is used to heat the pipe wall of the oil pipeline 10. The heat tracing system 20 includes a heating element 21 and an insulation layer 22. The insulation layer 22 is attached to the outer wall of the oil pipeline 10. The heating element 21 is installed on the insulation layer 22. The heating element 21 heats itself using the skin effect and conducts the heat to the oil pipeline 10.
[0030] It is understandable that by using the skin effect to heat itself and then transferring the heat to the oil pipeline 10 through the insulation layer via heat conduction, the high energy consumption, inaccurate temperature control, scaling, corrosion and other problems of steam tracing pipelines can be avoided.
[0031] It is worth noting that in some embodiments of this utility model, the insulating layer 22 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene.
[0032] Understandably, PTFE has excellent high-temperature resistance (up to 250°C or higher), insulation, and chemical stability, making it suitable for use in harsh environments, especially for applications requiring strong corrosion resistance, such as highly corrosive environments near the sea.
[0033] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The heating component 21 includes a heat-conducting layer 211, a heating cable 212, a control box 213, and a power supply 214. The heat-conducting layer 211 is disposed on the insulating layer 22. A cable groove 211a is formed on the heat-conducting layer 211. The heating cable 212 is embedded in the cable groove 211a. The heating cable 212 connects the power supply 214 and the control box 213. The control box 213 is used to control the power supply 214 to supply power.
[0034] It is understandable that the heating cable 212 heats itself through the skin effect, and then the heat is evenly distributed around the circumference of the oil pipeline 10 through the heat-conducting layer 211, thereby achieving uniform heat tracing of the oil pipeline 10, improving the heat tracing effect, and avoiding the increase in flow resistance or oil stratification caused by uneven temperature inside the oil pipeline 10.
[0035] In some embodiments of this utility model, the thermally conductive layer 211 is made of thermally conductive adhesive.
[0036] It is worth noting that the thermally conductive adhesive has a high thermal conductivity, which can effectively conduct the heat generated by the heating cable 212 to the outer wall of the oil pipe 10, reducing heat loss and making the heating effect more uniform. Furthermore, the thermally conductive adhesive has a certain degree of fluidity and viscosity, which can fill the tiny gaps between the heating cable 212 and the surface of the insulation layer 22, increasing the contact area, thereby reducing contact thermal resistance and improving heat transfer efficiency. At the same time, high-quality thermally conductive adhesive is moisture-resistant and corrosion-resistant, preventing moisture and corrosive substances from penetrating, protecting the surface of the heating cable 212 and the oil pipe 10, and extending the service life of the equipment.
[0037] In some other embodiments of this utility model, the heat-conducting layer 211 is formed by stacking metal foils.
[0038] It is worth noting that metal foil (such as aluminum foil or copper foil) has excellent thermal conductivity, which can quickly transfer the heat generated by the heating cable 212, ensuring that the oil pipe 10 is heated evenly. The metal foil can also provide a certain mechanical protection for the heating cable 212 and the oil pipe 10, reduce the loosening of the heating cable 212 caused by vibration or external factors, and help extend the stability and durability of the system.
[0039] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The heat tracing system 20 also includes an insulation layer 23, which is fitted over the heat-conducting layer 211 and the heating cable 212. The insulation layer 23 is used to insulate the oil pipeline 10.
[0040] It is worth noting that the insulation layer 23 can prevent the heat generated by the heating component 21 from dissipating, further reducing energy consumption and costs.
[0041] In some embodiments of this utility model, the insulation layer 23 is made of rock wool or polyurethane foam.
[0042] It's worth noting that rock wool possesses excellent thermal insulation, fire resistance, and corrosion resistance. Its wide temperature range (typically below 600℃) makes it suitable for high-temperature applications. Polyurethane foam exhibits excellent thermal insulation and waterproofing properties; its closed-cell structure effectively prevents moisture penetration, making it suitable for outdoor pipes.
[0043] It is worth noting that in some embodiments of this utility model, the heating component 21 also includes a temperature detector, which is installed on the insulation layer 23. The control box 213 is equipped with an over-temperature alarm module. The temperature detector is electrically connected to the control box 213. When the temperature is too high, the temperature detector can trigger the over-temperature alarm module and shut off the power supply 214.
[0044] It is worth noting that the temperature of the oil pipeline 10 can be monitored in real time by the temperature detector and fed back to the control box 213. The temperature of the heat tracing can be precisely controlled by adjusting the voltage, current or opening and closing of the power supply 214 through the control box 213.
[0045] In addition, when the temperature exceeds the set threshold, it can also issue an over-temperature alarm to staff and handle emergencies in a timely manner.
[0046] The embodiments of the present utility model have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system, characterized in that, include: Oil pipeline (10); A heat tracing system (20) is provided on the oil pipeline (10) and is used to heat the pipe wall of the oil pipeline (10); The heat tracing system (20) includes a heating element (21) and an insulation layer (22). The insulation layer (22) is attached to the outer wall of the oil pipeline (10). The heating element (21) is disposed on the insulation layer (22). The heating element (21) heats itself by means of the skin effect and conducts the heat to the oil pipeline (10).
2. The crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating layer (22) is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene.
3. The crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating component (21) includes a heat-conducting layer (211), a heating cable (212), a control box (213), and a power supply (214). The heat-conducting layer (211) is disposed on the insulating layer (22). A cable groove (211a) is provided on the heat-conducting layer (211). The heating cable (212) is embedded in the cable groove (211a). The heating cable (212) connects the power supply (214) and the control box (213). The control box (213) is used to control the power supply (214) to supply power.
4. A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The thermally conductive layer (211) is made of thermally conductive adhesive.
5. A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The thermally conductive layer (211) is made of stacked metal foils.
6. A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heat tracing system (20) also includes an insulation layer (23), which is sleeved on the outside of the heat-conducting layer (211) and the heating cable (212). The insulation layer (23) is used to insulate the oil pipeline (10).
7. A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The insulation layer (23) is made of rock wool or polyurethane foam.
8. A crude oil pipeline heat tracing system as defined in claim 6, wherein, The heating component (21) also includes a temperature detector, which is disposed on the insulation layer (23). The control box (213) is equipped with an over-temperature alarm module. The temperature detector is electrically connected to the control box (213). The temperature detector can trigger the over-temperature alarm module and shut down the power supply (214) when it detects that the temperature is too high.