초록 ▼

A heat pipe heat exchanger for regulating the temperature of a wellstream fluid conveyed in a subsea pipeline from a wellhead has an annular reservoir surrounding a section of pipeline adjacent the wellhead. One or more heat pipes extend from the annular reservoir into the seawater. In a heat remova

A heat pipe heat exchanger for regulating the temperature of a wellstream fluid conveyed in a subsea pipeline from a wellhead has an annular reservoir surrounding a section of pipeline adjacent the wellhead. One or more heat pipes extend from the annular reservoir into the seawater. In a heat removal configuration, a working fluid is contained within the annular reservoir. The working fluid boils and is evaporated by heat from the wellstream fluid and forms a vapor, which rises upwardly into and is condensed within the heat pipes, releasing heat into the surrounding seawater. The recondensed working fluid flows back down into the reservoir to repeat the cycle. In a heat providing configuration, the working fluid is contained in the heat pipes, where it is boiled by heat transferred from the surrounding seawater. The resulting vapor rises upwardly into the annular reservoir and the heat is transferred to the cooler wellstream fluids. Other embodiments involve having the one or more heat pipes inserted through the pipeline wall.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A heat pipe exchanger for a subsea pipeline conveying a wellstream fluid from a wellhead to an above-surface installation, comprising:an annular reservoir surrounding a section of the subsea pipeline conveying the wellstream fluid and sealedly connected thereto;at least one heat pi

[ We claim:] [1.] A heat pipe exchanger for a subsea pipeline conveying a wellstream fluid from a wellhead to an above-surface installation, comprising:an annular reservoir surrounding a section of the subsea pipeline conveying the wellstream fluid and sealedly connected thereto;at least one heat pipe extending from and in fluidic communication with the annular reservoir; anda working fluid contained within one of the annular reservoir and the at least one heat pipe.