Backflow Gas Heating and Throttling Device for Hydrate Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods to prevent natural gas hydrate formation in pipelines after throttling are costly, require additional heating and inhibitor equipment, and have space and installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A backflow gas heating and throttling device that uses the natural gas flow to heat itself through a heat pipe and guide cone arrangement, preventing hydrate formation without additional heating or inhibitor equipment, and is designed to be compact and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water jacket heater or inhibitor injection is used to prevent hydrate formation, then hydrate prevention is achieved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural gas flow itself as the heating medium through the heat pipe. The gas flows through the heat pipe where heat is transferred from the gas to the heat pipe wall, then to the throttling section, preventing hydrate formation without requiring external heating equipment or chemical inhibitors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the temperature drop that would normally cause hydrate formation into a beneficial heating effect. The gas cools in the heat pipe, creating a temperature difference that drives heat transfer to the throttling section, turning the harmful cooling effect into a useful heating mechanism.
2Reliability
If multi-stage throttling is used to prevent hydrate formation, then hydrate prevention is achieved, but the device length and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter distribution along the gas flow path by using the heat pipe to create a controlled temperature gradient. The heat pipe maintains higher temperatures at the throttling section while allowing the inlet gas to cool, preventing hydrate formation throughout the device in a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe is positioned concentrically within the gas flow path, with the throttling section integrated into the heat pipe structure. This nested arrangement allows the heating function to be embedded within the throttling device itself, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment or multiple throttling stages.
3Reliability
If down hole throttle is used for throttling, then hydrate prevention through geothermal heating is achieved, but installation and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the throttling device downhole and using geothermal heat from below, this invention inverts the approach by placing the throttling device at surface level and using the gas flow itself as the heat source. This makes installation, maintenance, and testing significantly easier while achieving the same hydrate prevention effect.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively prevents hydrate formation by maintaining the gas flow temperature above the critical value, reducing costs and space requirements, and enhancing structural safety and heating efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a backflow gas heating and throttling device, including a gas inlet pipe, a heat pipe, a guide cone, an outer throttle pipe, an annular cover, a tapered pipe, a gas outlet pipe, a throttle plate I, a throttle plate II, and a heating rib
Data Source
AI summary
A backflow gas heating and throttling device, and a surface throttling system, where the surface throttling system includes a Christmas tree, a backflow gas heating and throttling device, and a gas collection pipeline connected in sequence. A pipeline between the Christmas tree and the backflow gas heating and throttling device and the gas collection pipeline are both provided with a valve, a thermometer, and a pressure gauge, and the gas collection pipeline is further provided with a flow meter. The backflow gas heating and throttling device includes a gas inlet pipe, a heat pipe, a guide cone, an outer throttle pipe, an annular cover, a tapered pipe, a gas outlet pipe, a throttle plate I, a throttle plate II, and a heating rib, thereby increasing the natural gas temperature before throttling and further heating the natural gas during throttling to prevent hydrate generation from causing blockage.