Crude oil heat treatment apparatus, system and method

A method for heating a crude oil portion comprising:

• providing a heat exchanger having a plurality of heat exchanger tubes;
• and
• providing an electric immersion vacuum steam heating system external to and fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger, the electric immersion vacuum steam heating system including a steam boiler configured for enclosing an electric immersion element and a first water portion;
• generating, under vacuum or negative pressure, a steam portion having a steam temperature lower than the 212° F. when power is selectively supplied to the electric immersion element immersed in the first water portion contained within the steam boiler;
• providing the steam portion to the heat exchanger;
• and
• transferring heat energy released from condensation of the steam portion to the crude oil portion via the plurality of heat exchanger tubes.

A heating system for the heat treatment of a crude oil portion comprising:

• a steam tube heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger tubes, the steam tube heat exchanger being configured for installation within a heating vessel and being surrounded by the crude oil portion contained within the heating vessel;
• and
• an electric immersion vacuum steam heating system external to and fluidically coupled to the steam tube heat exchanger and configured for providing a steam portion to the plurality of heat exchanger tubes;
• wherein the electric immersion vacuum steam heating system includes a steam boiler enclosing an electric immersion element and a first water portion, the electric immersion vacuum steam heating system being configured for generating, under vacuum or negative pressure, the steam portion having a steam temperature lower than the 212° F. when power is selectively supplied to the electric immersion element immersed in the first water portion contained within the steam boiler;
• and
• wherein the steam tube heat exchanger is configured for transferring heat energy released from condensation of the steam portion within the plurality of heat exchanger tubes to the crude oil portion contained within the heating vessel.

A heating system for the heat treatment of a crude oil portion comprising:

• a shell and tube heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger tubes enclosed within an internal volume of a shell, the shell and tube heat exchanger being configured for receiving the crude oil portion in the plurality of heat exchanger tubes and for receiving a steam portion in the internal volume of the shell;
• and
• an electric immersion vacuum steam heating system external to and fluidically coupled to the shell and tube heat exchanger and configured for providing the steam portion to the internal volume of the shell;
• wherein the electric immersion vacuum steam heating system includes a steam boiler enclosing an electric immersion element and a first water portion, the electric immersion vacuum steam heating system being configured for generating, under vacuum or negative pressure, the steam portion having a steam temperature lower than the 212° F. when power is selectively supplied to the electric immersion element immersed in the first water portion contained within the steam boiler;
• and
• wherein the shell and tube heat exchanger is configured for transferring heat energy released from condensation of the steam portion to the crude oil portion via the plurality of heat exchanger tubes.