Cryogenic pipeline system
AssigneeFoundation Cryogenic Joint Venture
InventorBernard C. Hanley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pipeline system particularly designed for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising a plurality of pipe sections connected together as by welding, each section having an outer pipe or jacket and an inner liquid carrier pipe which is in compression when installed and which is secured at opposite end portions to the outer pipe by connector cones, the outer pipe being placed in tension by the connector cones. To reduce the thermal stress in the carrier pipe and heat leak from the outer to the inner pipe, each of the cones is connected to the inner pipe through a fiber reinforced plastic insulating member, preferably a polyester fiberglass cylinder. Thermal insulation such as polyurethane foam is placed in the annular space between the inner and outer pipes for further resistance to heat flow into the system.
Claims32
A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a first inner pipe means, a second outer pipe means disposed concentrically about said inner pipe means, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe means and said outer pipe means, a plurality of connector cones disposed in said annular space, each of said cones being connected at one end portion to said outer pipe means, and a plastic axially extending insulating member in the annular space around the inner pipe means and connected at one end to the other end portion of said connector cones and positioned between said other end portion of said connector cones and said inner pipe means, and means connecting the other end of said insulating member to said inner pipe means, said insulating member being mounted in spaced relation to said inner pipe means and having a high coefficient of thermal contraction, high compressive strength, and a high modulus of elasticity.
A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of pipe sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said pipe section including a first inner pipe for passage of a cryogenic liquid therethrough, said inner pipe formed of a metal having high strength characteristics at low temperature, a second outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of connector cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each of said pipe sections, said connector cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, one end of each of said connector cones being connected to said outer pipe, a fiber reinforced plastic insulator member of substantial axial length connected at one end to the other end of each of said connector cones and positioned between said other end of each of said connector cones and said inner pipe, a support member connecting the other end of said insulator member to said inner pipe, and mounting said insulator member in spaced relation to said inner pipe, and having a high coefficient of thermal contraction, high compressive strength, and a high modulus of elasticity.
A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a pipe section including a first inner carrier pipe and a second outer jacket pipe, said outer pipe being disposed concentrically about said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of connector cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of said pipe section, said connector cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, the outer large end of said connector cones being connected to said outer pipe, a stiffener ring positioned around and connected to said large end of said connector cones, and a pair of insulator members positioned in said annular space and positioned within said connector cones adjacent opposite end portions of said pipe section, said insulator members each being a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin in the form of a cylinder having compressive load-carrying capacity, the fiberglass in said cylinder being in the form of a circumferential spiral, said cylinders being disposed around and coaxial with said inner pipe and spaced therefrom, a support structure mounted on the outer side of each of said insulator cylinders, the small end of each of said stress cones being connected to said support structure, a ring plate mounted on the opposite inner side of each of said insulator cylinders, said ring plate being disposed around and connected to said inner pipe, said inner pipe between said ring plates being prestressed in compression, and said insulator members and said connector cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe to a tension load in said outer pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.