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US 10,125,576 B2Granted
System for controlling temperature of subsea equipment
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsEdmund Peter McHugh, Kevin Peter Minnock, David Francis Anthony Quin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An underwater assembly includes a flow control device and an actuator coupled to the flow control device, where the actuator is configured to actuate the flow control device. The underwater assembly further includes an insulated housing surrounding the flow control device and the actuator, where the insulated housing is configured to retain heat. The underwater assembly also includes a thermal control system comprising a heat exchanger configured to control a temperature of the actuator.
Claims22
A system, comprising:
- a flow control device;
- an actuator coupled to the flow control device, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the flow control device;
- a housing comprising a wall defining an interior volume, wherein the flow control device and the actuator are entirely within the interior volume, wherein the housing is configured to retain heat in a liquid filled to a depth in the interior volume defined by the wall of the housing, with the liquid in direct contact with the wall and at least partially surrounding the flow control device and the actuator;
- and
- a thermal control system comprising a temperature control component and a controller, wherein the temperature control component is disposed inside the housing, wherein the temperature control component is coupled to and disposed about the actuator, wherein the temperature control component is configured to maintain a temperature of the actuator between a lower temperature and an upper temperature based on control by the controller.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a thermal control system, comprising:
- a temperature control component configured to control a temperature of an actuator disposed entirely within an interior volume of a housing, wherein the temperature control component is coupled to and disposed about the actuator;
- an inlet passage configured to pass a flow of a first liquid from an exterior of the housing into the temperature control component;
- an outlet passage configured to pass the flow of the first liquid from the temperature control component to the exterior of the housing;
- a sensor configured to obtain a temperature measurement of a second liquid inside the housing at least partially surrounding the temperature control component and the actuator;
- and
- a valve coupled to the outlet passage, wherein the valve is configured to open and close to control circulation of the flow of the first liquid through the inlet passage, the temperature control component, and the outlet passage based on the temperature measurement to maintain the temperature of the actuator within a temperature range.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- sensing a temperature at or above an upper threshold temperature within a housing that contains an actuator coupled to a flow control device;
- initiating a flow of water through a temperature control component within the housing if the temperature is at or above the upper threshold temperature, wherein the temperature control component is disposed about the actuator, wherein initiating the flow of water comprises opening a valve to enable the flow by natural buoyancy and temperature differences between the temperature control component and water surrounding the housing;
- sensing the temperature at or below a lower threshold temperature within the housing;
- and
- terminating the flow of water through the temperature control component if the temperature is at or below the lower threshold temperature.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.