SUBSEA COOLER

• US 20100252227A1
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Original Assignee: Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As (TechnipFMC, plc)
• Inventors: Sten-Halvorsen, Vidar, Baggerud, Erik, Hollingsaeter, Terje
• Granted Patent: US 8,739,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/45
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/022 for immersion in a natural body of water, e.g. marine radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0477 the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2015/0291 comprising internal rotor means, e.g. turbine driven by the working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/02 for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12

Abstract

The present invention regards a subsea cooling unit having an inlet for a hot fluid and an outlet for cooled fluid, the cooling unit comprising a number of coils exposed to seawater, and means for generating a flow of seawater past the coils, where the means for generating the flow of seawater comprises a propeller and a rotatable actuator and that the cooler is enclosed in a duct.

Claims

1. :

A subsea cooling unit comprising;

a piping arrangement which includes an inlet for a fluid stream produced from one or more subsea wells, an outlet for the fluid stream, and a number of coils which are connected between the inlet and the outlet and are exposed to seawater;

means for generating a flow of seawater past the coils, said means including a propeller which is rotated by an actuator; and

a duct in which the coils are positioned

wherein as the fluid stream flows through the coils the seawater flows through the duct and over the coils to cool the fluid stream.

2. :

The cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein the duct includes an inlet which comprises a reduced diameter and the propeller (26, 27, 44) is located in the inlet.

3. :

The cooling unit according to claim 1, further comprising a controller which controls the actuator to vary the flow of seawater through the duct.

4. :

The cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor which is powered through a power cable extending from a remote location.

5. :

A cooling unit for cooling a hot fluid which comprises;

a piping arrangement which includes an inlet for the hot fluid, an outlet for the cooled fluid, and a number of coils which are positioned in a duct and are connected between the inlet and the outlet; and

a first propeller which is positioned in the duct and which when rotated generates a flow of cooling fluid past the coils; and

means for rotating the first propeller, said rotating means including a second propeller which is positioned in either the inlet or the outlet.

6. :

The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein the hot fluid is a gas stream.

7. :

The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein the second propeller is operatively connected to a generator which powers a motor that rotates the first propeller.

8. :

The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein the first and second propellers are mechanically connected.

9. :

The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein the hot fluid comprises a fluid stream produced from one or more subsea wells.

10. :

A method for subsea cooling of a fluid stream produced from one or more subsea wells, the method comprising;

directing the fluid stream into an inlet, through a number of coils arranged in a duct, and then through an outlet;

exposing the coils to seawater to thereby absorb heat from the fluid; and

driving the seawater past the coils with a propeller.

11. :

A subsea cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid stream with seawater, the cooling apparatus comprising;

a pipe arrangement through which the fluid stream is directed;

a duct within which the pipe arrangement is positioned;

a first propeller which when rotated generates a flow of seawater through the duct and over the pipe arrangement; and

means for rotating the first propeller.

12. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotating means comprises a motor which is connected to the first propeller.

13. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 12, wherein the motor is powered by a generator which is energized by a second propeller that is positioned in the pipe arrangement and is rotated by the fluid stream flowing through the pipe arrangement.

14. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotating means comprises a second propeller which is positioned in the pipe arrangement and is rotated by the fluid stream flowing through the pipe arrangement.

15. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first propeller is connected to the second propeller via a shaft which extends through a wall of the pipe arrangement.

16. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shaft is rotatably supported in a second generally straight pipe which extends through the wall of the pipe arrangement.

17. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first propeller is magnetically coupled to the second propeller such that rotation of the second propeller induces rotation of the first propeller.

18. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rotating means further comprises a motor which is powered by a generator that is energized by the second propeller.

19. :

The subsea cooling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a controller for controlling the rotation of the first propeller in response to at least one of a pressure or temperature of the fluid stream flowing through the pipe arrangement.