Spirally heating submarine pipeline
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine pipelines face inefficiencies in heat transfer due to a large distance between heating wires and fluid flow, leading to insufficient thermal conductivity and increased pressure loss, especially in long-distance transfers, requiring high voltage and equipment investment.
Innovation Solution
A spirally heating submarine pipeline design with electric heating wires installed in a spiral structure inside the conduit, surrounded by a heat insulator, and a heat insulating cap to reduce the distance between the heating wire and fluid, enhance thermal conductivity, and promote turbulent flow, thereby improving heat transfer and reducing pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If electric heating wire is installed outside the pipe using ETH method, then equipment investment cost is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency is insufficient due to large distance between heating wire and fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The electric heating wire is nested inside the conduit rather than being mounted externally. The heating wire is positioned within the fluid flow path, allowing direct heat transfer to the fluid without requiring external insulation layers or complex mounting structures, thus improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
A support structure acts as an intermediary between the heating wire and the conduit wall, positioning the heating wire optimally within the fluid flow. This support structure ensures consistent spacing and maintains the heating wire in the center of the conduit, maximizing heat transfer to the fluid while preventing direct contact with the conduit wall
2Ease of manufacture
If straight type pipeline is used for long-distance fluid transfer, then installation is simple, but heat transfer inside the flow is not smooth due to low interference between fluid particles
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is designed with a spiral curvature instead of a straight configuration. This spiral shape creates continuous fluid particle interference and turbulence along the flow path, significantly enhancing heat transfer efficiency between the fluid and the heating wire while maintaining a relatively simple installation process
3Loss of energy
If high voltage is applied to achieve sufficient heat transfer, then heating effectiveness is improved, but equipment investment and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of heat transfer by positioning the heating wire inside the conduit and creating spiral flow patterns. This increases the heat transfer coefficient and reduces thermal resistance, allowing effective heating at lower voltages and reducing equipment investment and operational complexity
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 design effectively increases thermal conductivity, reduces the need for high voltage and equipment investment, and enhances production stability by minimizing wax and hydrate formation, while allowing for easier maintenance and reduced pigging cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit disposed in a spiral structure inside based on an outer circumferential surface of the conduit, wherein the heating unit includes an electric heating wire that is installed along the spiral structure to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
a heat insulator that is installed in the form of fully surrounding the electric heating wire and preserves the generated heat
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a spirally heating submarine pipeline including: a conduit which transports a high temperature high pressure fluid from a submarine oil well; and a heating unit disposed in a spiral structure inside based on an outer circumferential surface of the conduit. The heating unit includes an electric heating wire that is installed along the spiral structure to generate heat; a heat insulator that is installed in the form of fully surrounding the electric heating wire and preserves the generated heat; and a heat insulating cap for isolating the heat insulator from the conduit or the heat insulating layer and is provided so as to increase the temperature of the flow in the pipe to prevent the production of a pipe flow interfering material when the fluid is transported in the conduit.