Subsea Cooler Modular Coil Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea cooling units face challenges in adaptability and efficiency due to the remoteness and harsh conditions of subsea environments, where cooling hydrocarbon well streams can lead to hydrate formation and require efficient cooling solutions that are difficult to assemble and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A modular subsea cooling unit design featuring header pipes with adjustable cooler coils arranged in a serpentine configuration, allowing for easy adaptation of coil length and number, with standardized prefabricated straight pipes and bends that can be easily connected and stacked, enabling efficient cooling and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooler coils are arranged in multiple planes or complex configurations, then cooling efficiency may be improved, but device complexity and difficulty of assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent coil sets, each arranged in a single plane between the header pipes. Each coil set can be independently assembled and connected, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining overall cooling efficiency through the combined effect of multiple coils.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging coils in complex three-dimensional configurations, the invention places all coils in a single plane between two parallel header pipes. This dimensional simplification makes assembly easier while the spacing between header pipes allows sufficient room for multiple coil sets to be stacked or arranged in sequence.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cooling unit is designed with fixed dimensions, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different subsea applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The header pipes are designed with adjustable lengths that can be customized based on the number of coil sets required and the specific application needs. This dynamic dimensioning allows the same basic design to be adapted to different cooling requirements while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes for the core components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is designed as a modular system where standardized coil sets can be combined with header pipes of varying lengths. This segmentation allows manufacturers to produce standardized components in bulk while enabling field customization by adjusting the number of coil sets and header pipe length to match specific subsea application requirements.
3Reliability
If more cooler coils are added to increase cooling capacity, then cooling effect is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system uses multiple independent coil sets rather than one large complex coil. Each coil set is a simple, standardized unit that can be independently assembled and connected to the header pipes. This segmentation allows the cooling capacity to be increased by simply adding more coil sets without proportionally increasing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple simple coil sets are combined between the two header pipes to achieve the required cooling capacity. The header pipes serve as common connections for all coil sets, allowing multiple coils to be integrated into a single unified cooling system with a straightforward assembly process.
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 modular design enhances adaptability and efficiency by allowing for customized cooling solutions, reducing maintenance costs and preventing hydrate formation, while maintaining reliability and fault-free operation in subsea conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The medium to be cooled may then be guided within the header pipes and the coils, to be cooled with seawater on the outside of the pipes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention regards a subsea cooling unit comprising a first header pipe (48), a second header pipe (46) having its longitudinal axis substantially parallel with and in a distance from the first header pipe, and arranged between the first and second header pipe, at least one set of cooler coils (400); where the at least one set is formed such that the coils of the one set is arranged in one plane.