Wellhead heating apparatus and method
OwnerRodney T. Beida, Darcy R. Zelmaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for heating and preventing freeze-off of wellhead equipment utilize radiant heat from a flameless heater to heat fluid in a heat exchanger, such as a tank or finned radiator. A pump is used to circulate the heated fluid through a conduit loop deployed in thermal contact with the equipment to be heated, such that the heat from the fluid is transferred to the equipment, maintaining it at sufficient temperature to prevent freeze-off. The apparatus and method may also be used for other purposes, such as for circulating heated fluid through a liquid-cooled engine to facilitate cold weather starting.
Claims9
Heating apparatus, for use in association with a flameless heater having a heat-radiating element, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a heat exchanger having an interior reservoir, a filler opening, a fluid outlet, and a fluid inlet;
- (b) a conduit loop running from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, said conduit loop comprising a supply section originating at and connecting to the fluid outlet, and a return section terminating at and connecting to the fluid inlet;
- and
- (c) a pump associated with the conduit loop;
- wherein the heat exchanger is positioned sufficiently close to the heat-radiating element such that a fluid within the interior reservoir may be heated by radiant heat from the flameless heater, wherein the flameless heater is an infrared catalytic heater.
Heating apparatus comprising:
- (a) a flameless heater having a heat-radiating element;
- (b) a heat exchanger having an interior reservoir, a filler opening, a fluid outlet, and a fluid inlet;
- (c) a conduit loop running from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, said conduit loop comprising a supply section originating at and connecting to the fluid outlet, and a return section terminating at and connecting to the fluid inlet;
- and
- (d) a pump associated with the conduit loop;
- wherein:
- (e) the heat exchanger is positioned sufficiently close to the heat-radiating element such that a fluid within the interior reservoir may be heated by radiant heat from the flameless heater;
- and
- (f) the conduit loop is deployed in thermal contact with an object to be heated, wherein the flameless heater is an infrared catalytic heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.