scispace - formally typeset
Patent

Apparatus for freezing a slug of liquid in a section of a large diameter fluid transmission line

TLDR
In this article, an ice plug is formed by transferring thermal energy from the slug of water through the walls of the pipeline to a cryogenic cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen, and the liquid nitrogen is agitated by discharging a stream of nitrogen vapor through the pool.
Abstract
Apparatus for freezing a slug of water to form an ice plug in a section of a pipeline for hydrostatic testing purposes. The ice plug is formed by transferring thermal energy from the slug of water through the walls of the pipeline to a cryogenic cooling fluid such as liquid nitrogen. A section of the pipeline is filled with water and is enclosed by an insulated chamber. The chamber is filled with liquid nitrogen to form a pool around the pipeline. The liquid nitrogen is agitated by discharging a stream of nitrogen vapor through the pool. Heat exchange occurs as a result of heat transfer directly from the surface of the pipeline to the liquid nitrogen by the action of convection currents produced by the vigorous agitation of the liquid associated with the motion of the nitrogen vapor. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid nitrogen is diffused over the surface of the pipeline by means of a permeable layer of material which is easily wetted by the liquid nitrogen.

read more

Citations
More filters
Patent

Methods, devices and systems for extraction of thermal energy from a heat conducting metal conduit

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a thermal transfer device that can be adapted to be in thermal communication with a thermal conducting metal conduit containing a fluid, particularly a flowing fluid, allowing for controlled re-heating of the conduit without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit.
Patent

Freeze isolation seal

TL;DR: In this article, cold gas is used to freeze liquid in a pipe without directly encountering the pipe wall, which is surrounded and reinforced by a clamp assembly within a housing through which the gas flows.
Patent

Method for forming a temporary plug in a fluid conduit

TL;DR: A flow stopping plug is formed in a conduit such as a fluid transmission pipeline by tapping a relatively small hole in the side of the pipe directly adjacent the desired location of the plug and inserting a flexible bag through the hole using a radially extendable bag insertion apparatus having a tube containing the bag initially in a collapsed or folded condition as discussed by the authors.
Patent

Apparatus and method for forming a temporary plug in a fluid conduit

TL;DR: A flow stopping plug is formed in a conduit such as a fluid transmission pipeline by tapping a relatively small hole in the side of the pipe directly adjacent the desired location of the plug and inserting a flexible bag through the hole using a radially extendable bag insertion apparatus having a tube containing the bag initially in a collapsed or folded condition.
Patent

Method and apparatus for forming a temporary plug in a submarine conduit

TL;DR: In this paper, a temporary ice plug within the interior of the line using a housing forming a cryogenic fluid circulation chamber installed around the exterior of the transmission line is described, where remote controlled valves are interposed in separate conduits for supplying fluid to chambers formed within the housing, venting fluid vapor from the chambers, recirculating liquid Cryogenic fluid back to a reservoir and for purging sea water from the containers formed by the housing.
References
More filters
Patent

Method and means for impeding the seepage or flow of water

Bechtner Paul
TL;DR: In this article, improved methods and means for impeding the flow of water and for reinforcing structures to prevent the seepage of water there through. But this method is not suitable for water embankments.
Patent

Installation, hydrostatic testing, repair, and modification of large diameter fluid transmission lines

TL;DR: In this paper, a pipeline freeze pig is used to prevent the flow of products by means of an expandable chamber which is filled with water, and the water within the expandable enclosure is frozen by circulating a refrigerant through the refrigeration unit.
Patent

Method and apparatus of freezing a plug in a pipe for pressure testing

TL;DR: In this paper, a method and apparatus for freezing a plug in a pipe to provide a closure for pressure testing the pipe, consisting of positioning a heat exchanger about the pipe and closing off a section of the pipe inside the heat exchange to prevent thermal circulation of fluid in the pipe outwardly of the area enclosed by the heat exchangers, to thereby lower the freezing time of the ice plug and assure more uniform freezing thereof.
Patent

Apparatus and method for pipeline testing

TL;DR: In this paper, an apparatus and method of freezing a section of fluid-filled pipeline is described, which consists of a cylindrical body which is pumped down the pipeline to the section to be frozen.