Self-Powered Pipeline Hydrate Prevention System
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsSameeh Batarseh, Nabeel Al Habib, Talha Jamal Ahmad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for preventing hydrate formation in a pipeline includes a heater housing. The heater housing has an outer diameter sized to travel within the pipeline. A turbine assembly is located within the heater housing. The turbine assembly has a blade that is rotatable by a flow of fluid within the pipeline. An electric heater is located within the heater housing and is electrically connected to the turbine assembly. The electric heater is selectively contacted by the flow of fluid within the pipeline.
Claims22
A system for preventing hydrate formation in a pipeline, the system comprising:
- a heater housing, the heater housing having an outer diameter sized to travel within the pipeline, the pipeline operable to transport a fluid;
- a turbine assembly located within the heater housing, the turbine assembly having a blade that is rotatable by a flow of the fluid within the pipeline;
- and
- an electric heater located within the heater housing and electrically connected to the turbine assembly, the electric heater selectively contacted by the flow of fluid within the pipeline, where the flow of fluid is operable to move the heater housing axially along a distance through the pipeline during operation of the electric heater.
A method for preventing hydrate formation in a pipeline, the method comprising:
- providing a heater housing, the heater housing having an outer diameter sized to travel within the pipeline;
- locating a turbine assembly within the heater housing, the turbine assembly having a blade that is rotatable by a flow of fluid within a central bore of the pipeline;
- locating an electric heater within the heater housing and electrically connecting the electric heater to the turbine assembly;
- inserting the heater housing into the pipeline so that the electric heater contacts and heats the flow of fluid within the central bore of the pipeline and the flow of fluid in the pipeline causes a rotation of the blade;
- and
- moving the heater housing axially along a length of the pipeline to heat the flow of fluid within the central bore of the pipeline along the length of the pipeline during operation of the electric heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.