Subsea Flowline Trace Heating Cables for Dual Power Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea hydrocarbon flowline systems with electric trace heating face challenges in efficiently providing power to subsea hydrocarbon production systems without the need for additional umbilicals or extra cables, while also requiring effective temperature control to prevent hydrate and wax formation.
Innovation Solution
A subsea hydrocarbon flowline system incorporating a dual three-phase trace heating cable system where the cables are Y-connected at a neutral point, allowing them to power both the flowline and a subsea production system, with optional signal conduits for control and monitoring signals, eliminating the need for separate umbilicals and additional cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate umbilicals and additional cables are used to power subsea production systems, then power supply reliability is improved, but system complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the trace heating function and power transmission function into a single three-phase cable system. The same cables that provide heating power to the flowline also transmit power to the subsea production system, eliminating the need for separate umbilicals and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable power supply to both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-phase trace heating cables are designed to perform multiple functions: heating the hydrocarbon flowline to prevent hydrate formation and simultaneously providing electrical power to the subsea production system. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Power
If additional umbilicals and cables are installed for power transmission, then power delivery capability is improved, but installation cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating cable infrastructure with the power transmission infrastructure. By using the existing three-phase trace heating cables to also carry power to the subsea production system, the patent eliminates the need for additional umbilicals and cables, thereby reducing installation costs and maintenance requirements while maintaining adequate power delivery capability.
3Temperature
If trace heating cables are used solely for heating, then temperature control precision is improved, but system versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The three-phase cables maintain their primary heating function with precise temperature control capability while simultaneously serving as power transmission conduits to the subsea production system. This dual functionality enhances system versatility without compromising the precision of temperature control needed for flow assurance.
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
This configuration enables efficient power distribution to subsea production systems while maintaining temperature control, reducing complexity and cost by utilizing existing trace heating cables for both heating and power transmission, thus enhancing flow assurance and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The working principle of the ETH-PiP technology relies on the Joule resistive effect, which brings active heating of the flowline through the three-phase electric trace heat cables
Implementation Method 2
a first electrical conduit extending between the neutral connection point of the cable termination of the first trace heating cable and the power output connector; and a second electrical conduit extending between the neutral connection point of the cable termination of the second trace heating cable and the power output connector
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea hydrocarbon flowline system (300) is disclosed. The flowline system has a hydrocarbon flowline (302); an electric trace heating system (304) arranged along at least a part-length of the flowline to control the temperature of hydrocarbon fluid flowing in the flowline; and a power input connector (Pin) configured for receiving electrical power from an electrical power providing system for powering the electric trace heating system. The electric trace heating system has a first three-phase trace heating cable (C′) and a second three-phase trace heating cable (C″), each trace heating cable extending between the power input connector and a cable termination (T′; T″) where phase conduits (L1′, L2′, L3′; L1″, L2″, L3″) of the trace heating cable are Y-connected and terminate in a neutral connection point (LN′; LN″). Further, the flowline system has a power output connector (Pout) for providing electrical power to a subsea hydrocarbon production system; a first electrical conduit (306′) extending between the neutral connection point of the cable termination of the first trace heating cable and the power output connector; and a second electrical conduit (306″) extending between the neutral connection point of the cable termination of the second trace heating cable and the power output connector, wherein the first and the second electrical conduits are electrically accessible at the power output connector for powering the subsea hydrocarbon production system.