System and method for a pre-fabricated heat-traced header

#The present invention generally relates to heat-traced headers, and more particularly, to pre-fabricated heat-traced headers for use in industrial applications.

#When the surrounding environment is sufficiently cold, some fluids, such as water, may freeze in certain conveying pipes. To address this issue, freeze protection is often added to the pipes in the form of a heat tracing tape which heats the pipe and the fluid within the pipe. The pipe and heat trace are usually further protected by suitable insulation surrounding the pipe and heat trace tape. In this manner, heat tracing is often used in association with piping found in scrubbers, power plants, and other industrial applications which can be subjected to freezing temperatures.

#In an industrial setting, it is typically desirable to replace or repair segments of piping in a relatively short time period. For example, during an overhaul, workers have a limited amount of time to work on the systems in the plant. The time period available for repair may be even shorter when repairs are made during non-planned outages. However, it is typically very time consuming to complete the multiple steps often required for heat tracing a pipe. Also, prior art heat tracing systems and methods occasionally fail thereby leaving piping systems unprotected from freezing temperatures. Therefore, it is desirable to have a method and apparatus that facilitates fast and reliable installation and repairs of freeze protected piping in industrial applications.

#A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, where like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross sectional view of an exemplary heat traced pipe in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of an exemplary heat traced pipe in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in general, a flexible heat traced pipe is pre-fabricated for quick and easy installation. Moreover, heat traced pipe 100, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is a header.

#In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, heat traced pipe 100 is configured to be flexible. A flexible heat traced pipe may be prefabricated to allow, for example, bending to permit a single length of pipe to accommodate various distances between pipe connections. A flexible heat traced pipe may also support installation around obstacles by bending to avoid obstructions. Furthermore, flexible heat traced pipe may be useful in installations which have curved piping specifications. Flexible heat traced pipe may also be advantageous in installations which may be impacted by the thermal expansion properties of the pipe or surrounding structure. The flexible heat traced pipe may also be configured to limit the bending to certain parameters, such as, for example, a bending radius that is no smaller than four times the diameter of the pipe. More particularly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and with reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat traced pipe 100 includes an inner structure 110, an outer structure 120, and a heat trace 130.

#In an exemplary embodiment, inner structure 10 includes any material of any shape or composition which is capable of suitably conveying a fluid. In one embodiment, inner structure 110 is comprised of any suitable flexible material, and in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the flexible inner structure 110 comprises a flexible rubber, such as pure gum rubber. Furthermore, other suitable flexible inner structures 110 may be selected based on the conveyed fluid and/or surrounding environment wherein the structure allows for suitable flows and will not substantially degrade from environmental conditions.