Adjustable Jumper Insulation for Subsea Heat Retention and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea cooling systems are inadequate for managing high-temperature production fluids, leading to issues like upheaval buckling, lateral buckling, pipeline walking, and accelerated corrosion in subsea flowlines and jumpers.
Innovation Solution
A system with adjustable insulation elements surrounding subsea conduits, allowing for control of heat transfer between the conduit and seawater, enabling both cooling and heat retention modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If insulation elements are added to subsea conduits to retain heat, then heat loss to seawater is reduced, but the ability to cool high-temperature production fluids is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation elements are designed to be adjustable between extended and retracted positions, allowing the thermal insulation properties of the conduit to be dynamically changed. When extended, the insulation elements provide thermal retention; when retracted, they allow heat dissipation to seawater, thus adapting to different operational temperature requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal insulation parameter of the conduit by physically moving the insulation elements between extended and retracted positions. This parameter change allows the conduit to switch between heat retention mode and heat dissipation mode, resolving the contradiction between maintaining heat and cooling fluids
2Device complexity
If fixed insulation is applied to subsea conduits, then thermal management is simplified, but adaptability to varying temperature requirements is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a complex fixed insulation system with multiple components, the invention employs adjustable insulation elements that can be dynamically positioned. This dynamic approach achieves adaptability through a single adjustable component rather than through complex fixed structures
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable insulation elements serve multiple functions: they provide thermal insulation when extended, allow heat dissipation when retracted, and can be positioned at different locations along the conduit. This multi-functionality achieves adaptability without requiring separate systems for each function
3Reliability
If subsea cooling systems are implemented to manage high-temperature fluids, then thermal damage is prevented, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cold seawater environment, which is normally a harmful factor causing heat loss, as a beneficial cooling resource. By retracting the insulation elements, the conduit directly utilizes seawater for cooling high-temperature fluids, converting the previously harmful thermal loss into a useful cooling function
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable insulation elements act as intermediaries between the production fluids and the seawater environment. They control the thermal interaction between these two, allowing heat transfer to seawater when cooling is needed while preventing heat loss when insulation is required
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 system effectively manages thermal conditions in subsea conduits, preventing adverse effects from high-temperature fluids and extending the life of subsea infrastructure while reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one adjustable insulation element surrounding the conduit that can be adjusted between at least a first position in which the conduit is relatively less insulated with respect to seawater surrounding the conduit and a second position in which the conduit is relatively more insulated with respect to seawater surrounding the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for thermal management of subsea conduits such as jumpers provide the ability to alternate between cooling and heat retention of production fluids within the conduit as needed depending on the phase of operation. Adjustable insulation elements are provided on the conduits so that convective heat transfer between surrounding seawater and the conduit can be allowed or reduced. A control system can activate an alarm indicating the need to adjust the insulation depending on the temperature and/or flow rate of fluids in the conduit. Conventional conduits can be retrofitted by adding adjustable insulation elements to enable thermal management.