Modular heater assembly for use with fluid lines

Abstract

The modular heater assembly includes a resistive heater disposed along a portion of a fluid pipe system, an insulating member around the resistive heater, and at least one insulating block around a fitting. The fitting is adapted to couple at least two adjacent portions of the fluid pipe system and define an outer geometric shape. The insulating block has a central recess extending axially toward one of the at least two adjacent portions and defining an inner geometric shape substantially matching the outer geometric shape of the fitting, and a peripheral opening. The peripheral opening opens into the central recess, defines an inner geometric shape substantially matching the outer geometric shape of another of the at least two adjacent portions, extends through a sidewall of the insulating block, and is axially aligned with the other of the at least two adjacent portions.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 038,420, filed June 12, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to heater assemblies for heating fluid conduits, and more particularly to heater assemblies with improved thermal insulation for such heated fluid conduits. [Background technology]

[0003] The statements in this section are merely intended to provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0004] The supply of fluids, such as oil, gas, and water, among others, from a source, such as an oil well or reservoir, requires that such fluids be transported through pipes or the like. The fluid in the pipes may need to be maintained at or above a certain temperature to maintain free or unrestricted flow of the fluid through the pipes. The fluid may be heated by an electric heater, such as a heat trace type, mounted around the pipes. Typically, an insulating jacket is mounted around the pipes and electric heater to reduce heat loss to the surrounding environment. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Fittings are typically used to connect multiple pipes along their length or to connect pipes at an angle. When sections of pipe are connected with fittings, the insulation around the fittings is typically custom designed, which increases manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This section provides a summary of the disclosure, but is not an exhaustive disclosure of its entire scope or all of its features.

[0007] In one aspect of the disclosure, a modular heater assembly for a fluid pipe system is provided, the modular heater assembly comprising a plurality of resistive heaters disposed along a pipe of the fluid pipe system, a plurality of insulating members disposed around each of the plurality of resistive heaters, and at least one insulating block disposed around a fitting. The fitting is adapted to couple at least two adjacent portions of a pipe of the fluid pipe system to define an outer geometric shape. The insulating block has a central recess and a peripheral opening. The central recess defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of the fitting. The central recess extends axially in one of the at least two adjacent portions of the pipe. The peripheral opening defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of another one of the at least two adjacent portions of the pipe. The peripheral opening opens into the central recess and extends in a second direction relative to the central recess. The peripheral opening extends through a sidewall of the insulating block and is axially aligned with another one of the at least two adjacent portions of the pipe.

[0008] In one variant, the inner geometry of the central recess is square or arc-shaped, such as a cylinder. The central recess can be blind or extend through the entire thickness of the insulation block. The inner geometry of the peripheral openings is arc-shaped, such as a cylinder.

[0009] In other features, the interior geometry of the central recess or the interior geometry of the peripheral openings defines spaced apart flat surfaces or spaced apart arcuate surfaces. The insulation block can have beveled ends or have a circular cross section. In one variation, the insulation block can have a D-shaped cross section. At least one of the interior geometry of the central recess and the interior geometry of the peripheral openings comprises an insulating material. The plurality of resistive heaters are silicone rubber heaters. Each of the plurality of insulating members comprises a flexible cylindrical foam. At least one of the flexible cylindrical foams defines a slit along its length.

[0010] In another variation, the modular heater assembly further comprises at least one heater disposed proximate to at least one of the inner geometric shape of the central recess and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening, and at least one sensor disposed proximate to at least one of the inner geometric shape of the central recess and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening, hi one aspect, the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

[0011] In yet another variation, the central recess and the peripheral openings define an interior cavity that is open to at least two sides of the insulation block. The interior cavity is open to three sides of the insulation block to define a T-shape.

[0012] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] In order that the present disclosure may be better understood, various aspects thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modular heater assembly mounted about a fluid conduit system, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0015] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insulating block of the modular heater assembly of FIG. 1.

[0016] [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an elongated portion of the modular heater assembly of FIG. 1.

[0017] [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the elongated portion of FIG. 3A.

[0018] [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fluid conduit system surrounded by the modular heater system of FIG. 1.

[0019] [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of one variation of a modular heater assembly mounted about a fluid conduit system, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; FIG.

[0020] [Figure 6A] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion A of FIG. 5.

[0021] [Figure 6B] FIG. 6 is a front view of portion A in FIG. 5.

[0022] [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of part A taken along line AA in FIG. 6B.

[0023] [Figure 6D] FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of portion A taken along line BB in FIG. 6B.

[0024] [Figure 7]6B is a perspective cross-sectional view of the insulation block shown in section B of FIG. 6A, taken from the opposite side to the closed end face of the insulation block.

[0025] [Figure 8] 1 is a perspective view of another alternative modular heater assembly mounted about a fluid conduit system, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; FIG.

[0026] [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view of another alternative modular heater assembly mounted about a fluid conduit system, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; FIG.

[0027] 10A-10F are perspective views of an insulation block having various internal cavities generally in the shape of a tee ("T") defined by a central recess and peripheral openings.

[0028] [Figure 10A] 1 shows an insulating block with a square / rectangular central recess and cylindrical peripheral openings.

[0029] [Figure 10B] 1 shows an insulating block having a square / rectangular central recess and peripheral openings defined by spaced apart opposing curved surfaces.

[0030] [Figure 10C] 1 shows an insulating block having a square / rectangular central recess and peripheral openings defined by spaced apart opposing planar surfaces.

[0031] [Figure 10D] 1 shows an insulating block having a cylindrical central recess and cylindrical peripheral openings.

[0032] [Figure 10E] 1 shows an insulating block having a cylindrical central recess and a peripheral opening defined by spaced apart opposed curved surfaces.

[0033] [Figure 10F] 1 shows an insulating block having a cylindrical central recess and a peripheral opening defined by spaced apart opposed planar surfaces.

[0034] [Figure 11A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of another variation of an oblique insulation block constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the insulation block having a D-shaped exterior profile with an internal cavity opening through three sides of the insulation block to define a generally Tee ("T") shaped internal cavity.

[0035] [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is a top view of the insulation block of FIG.

[0036] [Figure 11C] FIG. 11B is a front view of the insulation block of FIG.

[0037] [Figure 11D] FIG. 11B is a side view of the insulation block of FIG.

[0038] [Figure 12A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of yet another variation of an insulation member constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, in which the insulation block has a D-shaped exterior configuration and the interior cavity is open through only two sides of the insulation block to define a generally “L” shaped interior cavity.

[0039] [Figure 12B] FIG. 12B is a top view of the insulation block of FIG. 12A.

[0040] [Figure 12C] FIG. 12B is a front view of the insulation block of FIG. 12A.

[0041] [Figure 12D] FIG. 12B is a side view of the insulation block of FIG. 12A.

[0042] [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a front view of an insulation block having a D-shaped profile showing the insulating material, electric heater, and temperature sensor disposed inside the interior cavity of the insulation block.

[0043] [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modular heater assembly mounted around a fluid conduit system similar to that of FIG. 1, except that it uses an insulating block having a D-shaped profile as shown in FIGS. 11A-11B.

[0044] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0046] 1 and 2 show a modular heater assembly 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. The modular heater assembly 10 includes a plurality of electric heaters 17 (one of which is shown in FIG. 3B ) disposed along the tubes of a fluid conduit system 12 for heating the fluid conduit system 12, and a thermal insulation structure (described in more detail below) for insulating the heated fluid conduit system 12. Generally, the fluid conduit system 12 carries various fluids, such as process gases or liquids, that are to be heated by the modular heater assembly 10 during operation. In one form, the modular heater assembly 10 is a modular silicone rubber gas line heater assembly for heating gases contained within the fluid conduit system 12 for a semiconductor processing system (not shown).

[0047] Generally, the fluid conduit system 12 has a number of conduits 18, 20, 21 (shown in FIG. 4, only conduit 21 is shown in FIG. 1) connected by a number of fittings 22 to define a number of configurations depending on the application / requirement.

[0048] As clearly shown in Figure 1, the modular heater assembly 10 has a number of elongated sections 14 (only two are shown in Figure 1) that surround the tubes 18, 20, 21, and a number of insulating blocks 16 (only one is shown in Figure 1) that are disposed around the fitting 22. The insulating blocks 16 insulate the fitting 22 and can optionally provide heating to the fitting 22 if an electric heater is attached around the fitting 22.

[0049] 3A and 3B show a portion of one of the elongated portions 14 in detail. Each of the elongated portions 14 has an insulating member 40 having a tubular structure and an electric heater 17 disposed on the inner surface of the insulating member 40. In one form, the electric heater 17 is a resistive heater. The insulating member 40 is a flexible cylindrical foam / sponge body that defines a slit 42 extending along its length, allowing the insulating member 40 to be easily attached and automatically secured around the tubes 18, 20, 21 of the fluid piping system 12. The electric heater 17 is attached to the inner surface of the insulating member 40 to form an integral unit. The electric heater 17 can be any type of heating means, such as heat trace, heating foil, silicone rubber heater, etc., and can be attached to the inner surface of the insulating member 40 by any means. In one form, the electric heater 17 is a silicone rubber heater that is thin, light, and flexible, making it well suited for applications where space is limited. The silicone rubber heater can be easily attached to the inner surface of the insulation member 40 by an adhesive, such as a silicone-based adhesive. The insulation member 40 is formed of an insulating material and can include a silicone-based material. The insulation structure can further include an insulation jacket 15 (FIG. 1) wrapped around the insulation member 40 and held in place by mechanical means, such as snaps or hook-and-loop (i.e., Velcro®) 41. Similarly, the insulation block 16 can also include an insulation jacket 15 as shown.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4, the pipe system 12 includes a first pipe 18, a second pipe 20, and a fitting 22 that connects the first pipe 18 to the second pipe 20 to form a right angle. The fluid pipe system 12 can optionally include a third pipe 21 (shown in dashed lines) that is connected to the first pipe 18 and the second pipe 20 by the fitting 22 and extends along the length of the first pipe 18. The third pipe 21 can be of the same diameter as the first pipe 18 or of a different diameter. The fluid pipe system 12 includes a plurality of fittings 22. One of the fittings 22 can be used to connect two adjacent pipes to form a straight line or to define an angle, such as a right angle, as shown in FIG. 4. Another of the fittings 22 can be used to connect three adjacent pipes as shown in FIG. 1. In the illustrative example of FIG. 1, the three adjacent pipes are connected by the fittings 22 to define a T-structure. The teachings of the present disclosure can be applied to any number of pipes and fittings, and to connecting pipes and fittings at any angle, including a 180 degree angle (or in other words, a straight section of pipe at the transition to a smaller or larger diameter, for example). Also, fitting 22 does not necessarily have to have a square block shape as shown in Figure 4. Instead, fitting 22 can be an elbow fitting at 90 degrees or any angle, or a three-way fitting depending on the pipe being connected.

[0051] Referring again to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 4, the elongated portion 14 has a tubular structure and is attached around the first tube 18, the second tube 20, and the third tube 21. In FIG. 1, the elongated portion 14 for the third tube 21 has been removed to show the interior cavity of the insulating block 16. The inner diameter of the elongated portion 14 can be the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tube surrounded by the elongated portion 14. In one form, the elongated portion 14 can have an inner diameter between about 0.24 inches (6.096 mm) and about 0.51 inches (12.954 mm). The elongated portions 14 can have the same or different lengths and are attached around the tubes 18, 20. Depending on the length of the tubes, multiple elongated portions 14 can be attached around the same tube. The insulating block 16 is attached around the fitting 22 to insulate the fitting 22. The electric heater 17 may or may not be located inside the insulation block 16 depending on the application and requirements. Like the insulation members 40 in the strips 14, the insulation block 16 is formed from an insulating material, which may include a silicone-based material. The insulation block 16 is designed to provide a thermal insulation rating of 4 to 16 pounds per cubic foot (64.07 to 256.3 kg / m 3 )

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, the insulation block 16 has a generally puck-like configuration and includes a puck body 30 that defines a central axis X and a peripheral surface 36. The insulation block 16 defines a central recess 32 that extends along the central axis X and a peripheral opening 34 that extends through the sidewalls and peripheral surface 36 of the insulation block 16. The peripheral opening 34 opens into the central recess 32 and extends from the central recess 32 to the outer peripheral surface 36 along a Y axis, which in this form of the disclosure is perpendicular to the central axis X. The peripheral opening 34 is axially aligned with the tubes that extend in the Y direction. Thus, the central recess 32 and the peripheral opening 34 together define a generally tee ("T") shaped internal cavity that allows the tubes to traverse the T shape. In other words, the generally T-shaped internal cavity opens on three sides to allow three tubes (e.g., first, second, and third tubes 18, 20, 21) to be connected.

[0053] The central recess 32 is adapted to receive the fitting 22 (see FIG. 1 ) therein and can define an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of the fitting 22. The central recess 32 extends in the axial direction of one of the tubes (i.e., the tube extending in the X direction shown in FIG. 1 ). The peripheral opening 34 defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of another of the tubes (i.e., the tube extending in the Y direction shown in FIG. 1 ). More specifically, the geometric shape of the central recess 32 matches the geometric shape of the fitting 22, which is square in this example. For example, the central recess 32 can have the same dimensions as the outer shape of the fitting 22, or can be slightly larger than the outer shape of the fitting 22 to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and to facilitate fit when the insulation block 16 is attached around the fitting 22, providing a clearance such as a clearance of 0.030 inches (0.762 mm). Peripheral opening 34 is adapted to receive the tubing connected to fitting 22 and also defines a geometry that matches the exterior geometry of the tubing, which in this example is cylindrical. Similarly, peripheral opening 34 can have an inside diameter that is the same as the outside diameter of the tubing, or slightly larger, such that a 0.030 inch (0.762) clearance exists between insulation block 16 and the tubing to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and to facilitate installation.

[0054] For example, the first tube 18 and the second tube 20 are connected by the fitting 22 to form a right angle (or any other angle in other aspects of the disclosure). The first tube 18 extends in a direction parallel to the central axis X of the insulation block 16, and the second tube 20 is disposed in the peripheral opening 34 and extends along the Y axis. The third tube 21 is connected to the first tube 18 and disposed on the other side of the central recess 32 and extends in a direction parallel to the central axis X of the insulation block 16. In that way, the fitting 22 is insulated by the insulation block 16. Also, because the fittings 22 and the tubes 18, 20, 21 are generally of standard size, the insulation block 16 and the elongated portion 14 can be provided in a pre-designed configuration that fits the standard sizes of the fittings 22 and the tubes 18 / 20 / 21 to provide a modular, low-cost insulation system.

[0055] Although the central recess 32 is shown to have a square shape, the central recess 32 can have any shape and size depending on the shape and size of the fitting 22 so long as the fitting 22 can be placed within the central recess 32. The size of the peripheral opening 34 depends on the outer diameter / size of the tube or tube and electric heater combination that will be placed in the peripheral opening 34.

[0056] Figures 5-7 show a modified modular heater assembly 50. The modular heater assembly 50 has a similar structure to the modular heater assembly 10 of Figure 1, except that the insulating block 16' is open on only two sides instead of three, allowing only two tubes to be connected. The modular heater assembly 50 also has openings / holes 52 through which the leads 54 from the heater and sensor can pass.

[0057] Figure 5 is a perspective view of one variation of a modular heater assembly 50. Figures 6A and 6B are perspective and front views, respectively, of portion A of Figure 5. Figures 6C and 6D are different cross-sectional views of portion A. Figure 7 is a perspective view of portion B of Figure 6A (i.e., insulation block 16'), where insulation block 16' is viewed from the side opposite closed end 49 of insulation block 16'.

[0058] If electrical heaters and / or sensors (not shown) are mounted about the tubing system 12, leads 54 will need to be provided to connect the heaters / sensors to an external power source or controller (not shown). The modular heater assembly 50 has a number of openings / holes 52 through which the leads 54 can pass. More specifically, the elongated portion 14 has the openings / holes 52 as shown, however, the openings / holes 52 could also be provided in the insulating block 16' while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Although FIG. 1 does not show the openings / holes 52 and the leads 54, the openings / holes 52 and the leads 54 could also be provided in the modular heater assembly 10 of FIG. 1 to monitor and control the temperature of the modular heater assembly 10 and the heated tubing system 12.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows the first, second, and third tubes arranged in an XY plane and extending in the X and Y directions, while FIG. 5 shows the first and second tubes (without the third tube) arranged in an XZ plane and extending in the X and Z directions. Although the orientation and number of connected tubes are different, the same modular heater assembly comprising the elongated portion 14 and the insulating block 16 can be used to provide heating and insulation for the fluid pipe system 12 by using an insulating block 16' that is suitable for or can be easily applied to this particular fluid pipe system. As clearly shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6A, the insulating block 16' has a closed end surface 49 such that its central recess 32 allows only one tube to be inserted therein (i.e., for an elbow fitting). It is understood that an insulating block 16 having a T-shaped internal cavity and openings on three sides (not on the closed end surface 49) for T-shaped fittings can also be used for the fluid pipe system shown in FIG. 5. However, the closed end 49 of the insulation block 16' can reduce heat loss from the fitting to the surrounding environment. It is understood that the modular heater assemblies 10, 50 may be used to provide heating and insulation to fluid piping systems having piping extending in all X, Y, and Z directions, among other non-orthogonal directions.

[0060] Another variation of the modular heater assembly 60 is shown in FIG. 8. Similar to the modular heater assemblies 10, 50 of FIGS. 1 and 5, the modular heater assembly 60 includes a number of elongated portions 14 and a number of insulating blocks 16 (only one shown). In this embodiment, first and second tubes are connected by fittings (not shown) and aligned along their lengths. The elongated portions 14 are therefore aligned along their lengths and disposed around the first and second tubes. One insulating block 16 is disposed between adjacent two of the elongated portions 14 to insulate the fittings. The elongated portions 14 can define holes through which heater or sensor leads 54 can be passed, as described above.

[0061] 9 shows another modified modular heater assembly 70 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. The modular heater assembly 70 includes an elongated portion 14 and an insulating block 71. The insulating block 71 includes a first mitered portion 72 attached to an end of the elongated portion 14 and a second mitered portion 74 attached to the first mitered portion 72. The elongated portion 14 has a similar structure to the elongated portion 14 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and therefore a description thereof is omitted here for clarity. The first and second mitered portions 72, 74 have mitered (angled) end faces 76, 78 to form the mitered joints. The first mitered portion 72 and the second mitered portion 74 are disposed at the ends of the elongated portion 14 to provide insulation around the joint where adjacent tubes are connected. The mitered end faces 76, 78 can be angled to match the angle defined by the adjacent tubes to be connected. Additionally, similar to the insulating blocks 16, 16' of Figures 2 and 6A, the first and second diagonal joint portions 72, 74 can define a central recess 32 and a peripheral opening 34 (Figure 2) such that a fitting is disposed inside the first and second diagonal joint portions 72, 74.

[0062] It is understood that the first diagonal section 72 or the second diagonal section 74 may be integrally formed with the adjacent elongated portion 14 as a one-piece piece without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Alternatively, the first diagonal section 72 and the second diagonal section 74 may be used independently as insulation blocks without being mated with another diagonal section.

[0063] As shown in Figures 10A to 10F, the insulation blocks 16a, 16b, 16d, 16e, 16f can have different internal cavities for accommodating fittings of different geometric shapes. Each of the internal cavities is generally T-shaped and has a central recess 32a, 32b, 32d, 32e, 32f and peripheral openings 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, 34f of different shapes and / or sizes. In Figure 10A, the insulation block 16a has a square / rectangular central recess 32a and a cylindrical peripheral opening 34a. In Figure 10B, the insulation block 16b has a square / rectangular central recess 32b and a peripheral opening 34b defined by spaced apart, opposed curved surfaces. In Figure 10C, the insulation block 16c has a square / rectangular central recess 32c and a peripheral opening 34c defined by spaced apart, opposed flat surfaces. In Fig. 10D, insulation block 16d has a cylindrical central recess 32d and a cylindrical peripheral opening 34d. In Fig. 10E, insulation block 16e has a cylindrical central recess 32e and a peripheral opening 34e defined by spaced apart, opposed curved surfaces. In Fig. 10F, insulation block 16f has a cylindrical central recess 32f and a peripheral opening 34f defined by spaced apart, opposed planar surfaces.

[0064] Although not shown in the figures, it is understood that the insulation blocks 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f can be modified to provide an interior cavity open on four sides by further forming a second peripheral opening through the wall of the insulation block opposite the peripheral opening 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, 34f. The various insulation blocks 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f can also be modified to provide an interior cavity open on only two sides by forming a closed end face at one end of the central recess 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f.

[0065] 11A-11D show a variation of an insulation block 80 for mounting about a fitting 22, having a D-shaped profile / cross-section and an interior cavity 82 open on three sides to define a generally Tee ("T") shaped interior cavity. More specifically, the insulation block 80 has opposing major faces 84, 86 (i.e., front and rear faces), each having a D-shaped periphery, and a peripheral face 88 connecting the D-shaped peripheries of the opposing major faces 84, 86. The peripheral face 88 has a planar portion 88a and a curved portion 88b that together define the D-shape. The interior cavity 82 has a central recess 90 extending through the opposing major faces 84, 86 and a peripheral opening 92 that opens into the central recess 90 and extends through the peripheral face 88 of the insulation block 80, particularly the planar portion 88a. In other words, the central recess 90 extends through the entire thickness of the insulation block 80, which is the distance between the opposing major faces 84, 86. The insulation block 80 defines a slit 94. The slit 94 divides the portion of the insulation block 80 that defines the peripheral opening 92 in half, allowing the insulation block 80 to be easily fitted and self-securing around the fitting 22 of the fluid conduit system 12.

[0066] The central recess 90 defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of the fitting 22. The peripheral opening 92 defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of the tube inserted into the peripheral opening 92 and connected to the fitting 22. In the illustrative example shown in Figs. 11A to 11D, the inner geometric shape of the central recess 90 is square and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening 92 is arc-shaped, in particular cylindrical. Thus, the inner geometric shape of the central recess 90 defines spaced apart opposed flat surfaces and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening 92 defines spaced apart opposed arc-shaped surfaces (spaced apart by slits 94). The insulating block 80 insulates the fitting 22, which can connect two or three tubes. The T-shaped internal cavity can also facilitate access to the inside of the insulating block 80, for example, for mounting a temperature sensor therein. The temperature sensor can be located in the central recess 90 or in the peripheral opening 92.

[0067] As shown in Figures 12A-12D, another variation of the insulation block 80' is structurally similar to the insulation block 80 of Figures 11A-11D, except for the configuration of the internal cavity, and as such, like reference numerals are used to indicate like features, the detailed description of which will be omitted here for clarity.

[0068] Similarly, the insulation block 80' has opposing major faces 84', 86' and a peripheral face 88'. The internal cavity 82' is open through only two sides of the insulation block 80' to define a generally "L" shaped internal cavity. The internal cavity 82' has a central recess 90' and a peripheral opening 92' that opens into the central recess 90' and extends through the peripheral face 88'. Unlike the central recess 90' of Figures 11A-11D, the central recess 90' extends through only one of the major faces 84', 86' (e.g., the front face) and the other of the major faces 84', 86' (e.g., the rear face) is a closed end face. Thus, the central recess 90' is a closed (blind) recess. The insulation block 80' defines a slit 94' that divides the portion of the insulation block 80' surrounding the peripheral opening 92' in half to allow the insulation block 80' to be easily installed and automatically secured around the fitting 22 of the fluid pipe system 12.

[0069] Similarly, the central recess 90' defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of the fitting 22. The peripheral opening 92' defines an inner geometric shape that substantially matches the outer geometric shape of the tube inserted into the peripheral opening 92' and connected to the fitting 22. In the illustrative example shown in Figures 12A to 12D, the inner geometric shape of the central recess 90' is square and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening 92' is arc-shaped, specifically cylindrical. The insulating block 80' with closed end faces of Figures 12A to 12D provides improved insulation for a fitting connecting only two tubes.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 13, the insulation block 80, 80' shown in FIGS. 11A-11D and 12A-12D can further include an insulation material 95 on the inner surface defining the internal cavity 82, 82' of the insulation block 80, 80' to provide additional insulation. By way of example, the insulation material 95 can be a coating applied to the inner geometry of the central recess 90, 90' and / or the peripheral openings 92, 92'. The coating can be an RF coating, a reflective coating, an aerogel coating, or any coating known in the art to provide improved insulation. Optionally, one or more electric heaters 96 and / or one or more temperature sensors 98 can be provided in the central recess 90, 90' and / or the peripheral openings 92, 92' of the internal cavity 82, 82' for improved thermal control and monitoring. Although the insulating material 95, electric heater 96 and temperature sensor 98 are described in relation to the insulating blocks 80, 80' having a D-shaped outline, it will be understood that they may be used in any of the insulating blocks 16, 16', 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f, 71, 72, 74 already described in relation to Figures 1 to 10.

[0071] FIG. 14 shows a modular heater assembly 100 with an insulating block 80 having a D-shaped profile, which is mounted around the fluid pipe system 12. The modular heater assembly 100 is structurally similar to the modular heater assembly 10 of FIG. 1, except that the modular heater assembly 100 uses an insulating block 80 having a D-shaped profile shown in FIGS. 11A-11B. It is understood that an insulating block 80' having a closed end face shown in FIGS. 12A-12B can also be used in the modular heater assembly 100 when the fitting 22 is used to connect only two tubes at an angle. As shown, the insulating block with a D-shaped profile provides an improved fit with the portion of the tube inserted into the peripheral opening (i.e., the portion of the tube positioned proximate the slit 94 of the insulating block 80). The insulating block with a D-shaped profile has more material above and below the slit 94, which can more easily reduce the gap of the slit 94 after the tube is inserted into the peripheral opening 92.

[0072] In summary, the modular heater assembly 10, 50, 60, 70, 100 includes multiple heating / insulating sections, including the elongated section 14 and the insulating blocks 16, 16', 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f, 71, 72, 74, 80, 80', which can have various lengths and sizes and can be combined in various ways depending on the configuration of the pipe system 12 and the size of the pipes 18, 20, 21. The insulating blocks 16, 16', 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f, 71, 72, 74, 80, 80' can have various internal cavities that are open on two, three, or four sides, or have a central recess and peripheral openings that open into the central recess at various angles to accommodate fittings of various configurations. As such, the modular heater assembly according to the teachings of the present disclosure can be easily applied to the fluid pipe system 12 without any custom parts by selecting an insulating block having a suitable internal cavity, thereby providing a relatively low-cost insulation structure.

[0073] Unless expressly stated otherwise, all numerical values ​​indicating mechanical / thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and / or tolerances, or other characteristics will be understood as being modified by the word "about" or "approximately" when describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification may be desirable for a variety of reasons, including industrial practices, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and performance testing.

[0074] As used herein, at least one of A, B, and C should be construed as meaning a non-exclusive logical OR (A OR B OR C), and not as meaning "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C."

[0075] As used herein, the terms "controller" and / or "module" may mean, be a part of, or comprise: an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC); digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuitry; digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuitry; combinatorial logic circuitry; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuitry; other suitable hardware components that provide the functionality described above (e.g., an op-amp circuit integrator as part of a heat flux data module); or a combination of some or all of the above, such as a system on a chip.

[0076] The term "memory" is part of the term "computer-readable medium." The term "computer-readable medium," as used herein, does not include transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as a carrier wave). As such, the term "computer-readable medium" may be considered tangible and non-permanent. Non-limiting examples of non-permanent, tangible computer-readable media include non-volatile memory circuits (such as flash memory circuits, erasable programmable read-only memory circuits, or masked read-only circuits), volatile memory circuits (such as static random access memory circuits or dynamic random access memory circuits), magnetic storage media (such as analog or digital magnetic tape or hard disk drives), and optical storage media (such as CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray disks).

[0077] The apparatus and methods described in this application can be implemented partially or completely by a special-purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to execute one or more specific functions embedded in a computer program. The above-described functional blocks, flow chart components, and other elements serve as software specifications and can be translated into a computer program by the routine work of a skilled engineer or programmer.

[0078] The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A modular heater assembly for a fluid conduit system, comprising: a plurality of resistive heaters disposed along a plurality of tubes, including a first tube and a second tube, of the fluid conduit system; a plurality of thermal insulation members disposed around each of the plurality of resistive heaters; an insulating block disposed about a fitting adapted to connect the first pipe and the second pipe to define an exterior geometry; and Equipped with The insulating block is a major surface perpendicular to an axial direction of the first tube; a sidewall perpendicular to said major surface; a central recess defining an interior geometry that substantially corresponds to the exterior geometry of the fitting, the central recess extending in the axial direction of the first tube and through the major surface; a peripheral opening defining an inner geometric shape that substantially corresponds to an outer geometric shape of an insert of the second tube inserted therein, the peripheral opening opening into the central recess and extending through the side wall of the insulation block in an axial direction of the second tube; Equipped with a modular heater assembly, the side wall of the insulation block defining a slit that divides the side wall of the insulation block in half to allow the insulation block to fit around the fitting and automatically secure.

2. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior geometric shape of the central recess is square.

3. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner geometric shape of the central recess is arcuate.

4. The modular heater assembly of claim 3 , wherein the inner geometric shape comprises a cylinder.

5. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein said central recess is closed.

6. 2. The modular heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the central recess extends through the entire thickness of the insulation block, through the major surface and a surface opposite the major surface.

7. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening is arcuate.

8. The modular heater assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interior geometry comprises a cylinder.

9. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior geometry of the central recess defines spaced apart opposed planar surfaces.

10. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner geometry of the peripheral opening defines spaced apart opposed arcuate surfaces.

11. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulating block has sloped ends.

12. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulation block has a circular cross-section.

13. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulating block has a D-shaped cross-section.

14. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal insulating material disposed within at least one of the inner geometric shape of the central recess and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening.

15. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one heater disposed proximate to at least one of the inner geometric shape of the central recess and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening.

16. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor disposed proximate to at least one of the inner geometric shape of the central recess and the inner geometric shape of the peripheral opening.

17. The modular heater assembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

18. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of insulating members comprises a flexible cylindrical foam.

19. The modular heater assembly of claim 18 , wherein at least one of said flexible cylindrical foams defines a slit along its length.

20. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of resistive heaters are silicone rubber heaters.

21. The modular heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein said central recess and said peripheral openings define an interior cavity, said interior cavity being open to at least two sides of said insulation block.

22. The modular heater assembly of claim 21 , wherein the internal cavity is open on three sides of the insulation block to define a T-shape.

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