CONDUIT SEAL ASSEMBLY

• US 20200132228A1
• Filed: 12/31/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Original Assignee: Conocophillips Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: DAVIES, Paul R., THOMAS, Emery Jay, HARRIS, James L.
• Application Number:
  US16/732,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20200132228A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/20 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2255/06 Use of seals
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/00 Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/00 Closures not otherwise provided for covers or similar closures as engineering elements for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 53/00 Sealing or packing elements sealings in general F16J15/00; Sealings formed by liquid or plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/00 Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties B65D81/03
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/30 Detecting leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/16 with sealing or securing means using fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/18 characterised by the use of additional sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/02 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/00 Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems the preceding groups and groups F16L57/00, F16L59/00 take precedence; repairing or joining pipes on or under water F16L1/26; nozzles B05B; cleaning of pipes B08B9/02; arrangements of draining devices for water main or service pipe systems E03B7/08; devices for preventing bursting of water pipes by freezing E03B7/10; draining devices for hydrants E03B9/14; for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/00; steam traps for draining of liquids from enclosures containing gases or vapours F16T; arrangements for sealing leaky tubes or conduits of heat-exchangers F28F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/02 Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment measuring in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0311 Closure means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0022 Hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0261 Details of cold box insulation, housing and internal structure buildings forming parts of cooling plants E04H5/10
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/30 Details about heat insulation or cold insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/42 Modularity, pre-fabrication of modules, assembling and erection, horizontal layout, i.e. plot plan, and vertical arrangement of parts of the cryogenic unit, e.g. of the cold box
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/60 Details about pipelines, i.e. network, for feed or product distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/62 Details of storing a fluid in a tank
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0295 : Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used, e.g. sieve plates, packings
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04945 : Details of internal structure; insulation and housing of the cold box
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/0695 : Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 : Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 : Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings

Abstract

A conduit seal assembly includes an outer conduit having a first end with a first opening and a second end, opposite the first end, with a second opening. A first seal is positioned in the first opening for resisting a first temperature, and a second seal is positioned in the second opening for resisting a second temperature less than the first temperature. The first and second seals define a cavity and provide an air-tight seal of the cavity, and the assembly includes a monitoring assembly configured to sense a characteristic in the cavity.

Claims

1. ) A gas processing container for liquefying gases, comprising:

a) a plurality of walls configured to form a chamber having an air-tight seal;

b) gas liquification equipment inside said chamber; and

c) a conduit seal assembly extending through a first wall of the plurality of walls and allowing transmission of a fluid or power or a signal in or out of said chamber, the conduit seal assembly comprising;

i) an outer conduit having a first end with a first opening and a second end, opposite the first end, with a second opening;

ii) a first seal in the first opening for resisting a first range of temperatures;

iii) a second seal in the second opening for resisting a second range of temperatures that extends below the first range of temperatures, the first and second seals defining a cavity and providing an air-tight seal of the cavity; and

iv) an external boot to further protect said first end, said external boot resisting said first range of temperatures;

v) an internal boot to further protect said second end, said internal boot resisting said second range of temperatures; and

vi) a monitoring assembly on said outer conduit and operably connected to a sensor for sensing a characteristic inside said cavity, said monitoring assembly including an outlet from said cavity, said outlet having a valve.

2. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the first range of temperatures is from 1000°

C. and above and said second range of temperatures is −

100°

C. and below.

3. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the outer conduit includes a first portion and a second portion that is axially aligned with the first portion such that the first and second portions together define outer walls of the cavity, the first portion comprising stainless steel and the second portion comprising at least one of carbon and stainless steel, the first portion located entirely inside the chamber and the second portion extending from inside the chamber through the first wall.

4. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a strain sensor, or an optical sensor.

5. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the monitoring assembly is configured to detect a leak in the cavity.

6. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the monitoring assembly is attached to an outer surface of the outer conduit.

7. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the monitoring assembly includes a sensor located inside the cavity.

8. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the monitoring assembly extends through a wall of the outer conduit.

9. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the conduit seal assembly further comprises at least one inner conduit extending through the first opening and the second opening, the first and second seals surrounding the inner conduit to maintain the air-tight seal.

10. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls include a carbon or stainless steel outer layer, a stainless steel inner layer, and one of an insulation layer and a splash curtain membrane layer on the stainless steel inner layer.

11. ) The gas processing container of claim 1, wherein the first range of temperatures is about 1500°

C. to 1700°

C. and the second range of temperatures is about −

150°

C. to −

170°

C.

12. ) A gas liquification apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of walls forming a chamber having an air-tight seal, wherein equipment to convert a gaseous material to a liquid is in the chamber;

b) a conduit seal assembly extending through a first wall of the plurality of walls and allowing transmission of a fluid or power or a signal in or out of said chamber, the conduit seal assembly comprising;

i) an outer conduit having a first end with a first opening and a second end, opposite the first end, with a second opening;

ii) a first seal in the first opening, wherein said first seal resists a first range of temperatures;

iii) a second seal in the second opening, wherein said second seal resists a second range of temperatures below the first range of temperatures, the first and second seals defining a cavity and providing an air-tight seal of the cavity;

iv) an external boot to further protect said first end, said external boot formed of a material capable of resisting said first range of temperatures;

v) an internal boot that further protects the second end, wherein the internal boot maintains flexibility at said second range of temperatures; and

vi) a monitoring assembly on said outer conduit, said monitoring assembly comprising a sensor for sensing a characteristic inside said cavity.

13. ) The gas processing container of claim 12, wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a strain sensor, or an optical sensor.

14. ) The gas processing container of claim 12, wherein the sensor is inside said cavity.

15. ) The gas processing container of claim 12, wherein the sensor is operably connected to a venting conduit for venting fluid from said cavity, said venting conduit comprising a valve.

16. ) The gas processing container of claim 15, wherein the sensor is operably connected to said venting conduit.

17. ) The gas processing container of claim 15, said valve being controlled by said sensor.

18. ) The gas processing container of claim 15, said valve being controlled by a processor operably connected to said sensor, wherein said processor receives sensor data from sensor, analyzes said sensor data, and generates a control signal to control said valve to control a flow of fluid out of said cavity.

19. ) The gas processing container of claim 12, wherein the conduit seal assembly further comprises at least one inner conduit inside said outer conduit and extending through the first opening and the second opening, the first and second seals surrounding the inner conduit to maintain the air-tight seal.

20. ) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the conduit seal assembly further comprises at least one inner conduit coaxial to said outer conduit and extending through the first opening and the second opening, the first and second seals surrounding the inner conduit to maintain the air-tight seal.

21. ) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first seal is configured to resist an external pressure of around 1 gauge bar and the second seal is configured to resists an internal pressure of around 500 mbars.