Claims
- 1. A heat pipe exchanger for a subsea pipeline conveying a wellstream fluid from a wellhead to an above-surface installation, comprising:
- an annular reservoir surrounding a section of the subsea pipeline conveying the wellstream fluid and sealedly connected thereto;
- at least one heat pipe extending from and in fluidic communication with the annular reservoir; and
- a working fluid contained within one of the annular reservoir and the at least one heat pipe.
- 2. The heat pipe heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid is selected from one of water, methanol and ammonia.
- 3. The heat pipe exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe comprises at least one elongated tube having a first end connected to the annular reservoir, and a sealed second end extending into heat transfer relationship with surrounding seawater.
- 4. The heat pipe exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the at least one elongated tube further comprises a hydrogen getter within the tube adjacent the second end.
- 5. The heat pipe exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe extending from and in fluidic communication with the annular reservoir is oriented substantially above the annular reservoir to remove heat from the wellstream fluid.
- 6. The heat pipe exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe extending from and in fluidic communication with the annular reservoir is oriented substantially below the annular reservoir to introduce heat into the wellstream fluid.
- 7. The heat pipe heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising means for passively controlling a temperature of the wellstream fluid leaving said section of the subsea pipeline.
- 8. The heat pipe heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein said means for passively controlling comprises a known amount of a non-condensible gas in the at least one heat pipe.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/707,787 filed Sep. 4, 1996, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
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Date |
Country |
161391 |
Jul 1986 |
JPX |
1 547 829 |
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GBX |
2 194 324 |
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2 053 456 |
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
United Kingdom Patent Office Combined Search and Examintion Report under Sections 17 and 18(3). Dated Sep. 24, 1997. Entire paper. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
707787 |
Sep 1996 |
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