Insulated Heated Pipeline Duct Layout for Efficient Pipe Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heated pipelines for conveying fluids, such as multiphase oil, gas, and water, face inefficiencies in electrical heating due to power loss and high costs associated with heat-traced pipe-in-pipe systems, which are also heavy and difficult to install in deep or large-diameter environments.
Innovation Solution
A heated pipeline design featuring an inner pipe surrounded by a thermal insulating outer coating with ducts housing heating elements, allowing for high heating efficiency and low cost implementation, where the ducts are easily manufactured and can withstand pressures higher than 3 bar, with heating elements inserted using pressurized fluid assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If direct electrical heating is used, then heating function is provided, but electrical efficiency is low due to power loss in water
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is extracted from the fluid medium and placed in a separate heating element within an insulating duct. The heating element heats the pipe wall directly, and heat transfers to the fluid through conduction, avoiding direct electrical heating of water and reducing power loss.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal insulating material acts as an intermediary between the heating element and the external environment, concentrating heat toward the pipe. The insulating duct serves as a mediator to guide and contain thermal energy, improving heating efficiency while maintaining the heating function.
2Reliability
If heat traced pipe-in-pipe system is used, then heating function is provided, but cost is very high and weight is very heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, heavy pipe-in-pipe construction with a simpler, lighter structure using standard pipe sections with attached insulating ducts containing heating elements. This achieves the same heating function at lower cost and reduced weight.
3Reliability
If heat traced pipe-in-pipe system is used, then heating function is provided, but installation difficulty increases at larger water depths
Solution Approach 1:
The pipeline is divided into standard pipe sections with separately attachable insulating ducts and heating elements. This modular segmentation allows for easier handling, transportation, and installation at depth compared to monolithic pipe-in-pipe systems.
4Loss of energy
If heating elements are arranged close to inner pipe, then heating efficiency is high, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating duct is designed as a flexible or semi-rigid shell that can be easily formed and attached to the pipe. This simple geometric form allows close positioning of heating elements to the pipe surface for high efficiency while maintaining ease of manufacturing through standard fabrication processes.
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 solution provides a cost-effective and efficient heating system with reduced weight and installation complexity, maintaining high heating efficiency and pressure resistance, suitable for various environments including undersea applications.
Implementation Method 1
direct electrical heating
Implementation Method 2
outer coating made of a thermal insulating material and covering the inner pipe
Data Source
AI summary
The heated pipeline comprises an inner pipe intended to convey a fluid, and an outer coating made of a thermal insulating material and covering the inner pipe. The outer coating comprises at least one duct delimited, in a transverse plane, by a closed outline entirely defined in the thermal insulating material, each duct housing a respective heating element.