Flexible, compression resistant and highly insulating systems
OwnerDaniel Leeser, Christopher Blair +1inventors
InventorsDaniel Leeser, Christopher Blair, Brian Betty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for insulating and providing structural support to pipelines is presented. The system is lightweight and can be constructed to withstand large compressive forces and is applicable to transport of hydrocarbons such as crude oil, gas and LNG including sub-sea applications.
Claims24
A method for thermally insulating a flow line comprising:
- providing a flow line;
- providing an outer carrier pipe that is concentrically aligned with the flow line so as to create an annular space between the flow line and carrier pipe, wherein a spacer is in said annular space;
- providing an insulation system comprising an aerogel material, the insulation system substantially filing void volumes outside the spacer in the annular space between the flow line and carrier pipe;
- and
- flowing a fluid through the flow line.
A method for thermally insulating a flow line comprising:
- providing a flow line;
- providing at least one spacer around the flow line;
- providing an outer carrier pipe that is concentrically aligned with the flow pipe so as to create an annular space between the flow line and carrier pipe, wherein the spacer is in that annular space;
- providing an insulation system that comprises an aerogel material, the insulation system substantially filing void volumes outside the spacer in the annular space between the flow line and carrier pipe;
- and
- flowing a fluid through the flow line.
A pipe-in-pipe apparatus for thermally insulating a flow line comprising:
- a flow line;
- a carrier pipe that is concentrically aligned with the flow line so as to create an annular space between the flow line and carrier pipe;
- an aerogel material within the annular space between the flow line and the carrier pipe;
A pipe-in-pipe apparatus for thermally insulating a flow line comprising:
- a flow line;
- at least one spacer;
- a carrier pipe that is concentrically aligned with the flow line so as to create an annular space between the flow line and carrier pipe, wherein the spacer is in said annular space;
- and
- an aerogel material within the annular space between the flow line and the carrier pipe, said aerogel material being compression resistant.
A method for thermally insulating a flow line comprising:
- providing a flow line;
- providing an outer layer such that the overall structure is flexible and an annular space is created between said outer layer and flow line;
- providing an aerogel material within said annular space;
- and
- flowing a fluid through the flow line.
A pipe-in-pipe apparatus for thermally insulating a flow line comprising:
- a flow line;
- an outer layer such that the overall structure is flexible an and annular space is created between said outer layer and the flow line;
- and
- an aerogel material positioned within said annular space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.