A method of cleaning an evaporator that includes at least one heat transfer element for the evaporation of water, comprising forming a sacrificial layer of a first material on a surface of the heat transfer element (1); evaporating water that includes a second material to deposit the second material on top of the sacrificial layer (2, 3); and cleaning the evaporator by removing both the sacrificial layer formed on the heat transfer element and the second layer formed on top of the sacrificial layer; wherein the first material is more easily removed from the heat transfer element than the second material (4).

Disclosed herein is a pipe assembly comprising: a pipe with an electrically conductive wall with a thermally conductive outer coating; a first electrical connector that is arranged in electrical contact with the wall of the pipe; and a second electrical connector that is arranged in electrical contact with the wall of the pipe; wherein the first and second electrical connectors are arranged to support the flow of an electrical current through the wall of the pipe to thereby heat the wall of the pipe; and in use, the pipe is arranged to allow cooling of the outer surface of the wall of the pipe by the surrounding environment of the pipe when the outer surface of the wall of the pipe is hotter than its surrounding environment. Advantageously, embodiments provide an effective, efficient and less expensive technique for heating the pipe in order to remove deposits for the inner walls of the pipes. Applications include the subsea application of cooling oil well products for cold flow.

An apparatus comprising a heat exchanger and one or more induction heating elements is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a coolant side conduit and a process side conduit, the process side conduit being susceptible to fouling by at least partial desublimation, condensation, crystallization, deposition, or combinations thereof of a fouling component of a circulating process fluid. An electrically conductive first metal is disposed adjacent to the process side conduit. The one or more induction heating elements are disposed proximate to the heat exchanger. The one or more induction heating elements are connected to a source of electrical current. When the electrical current flows through the induction heating elements, eddy currents are induced in the first metal, heating the first metal such that the fouling component sublimates, melts, absorbs, or a combination thereof into the circulating process fluid.

Methods and apparatus for processing fluid from a well are described. A first wall portion may define a first region and a second wall portion may define a second region, fluid from said well being let through those regions. Heating of said first wall portion may be performed to release wax from said first wall portion into said fluid at said first flow region. During said heating, cooling of said fluid at said second flow region may be performed to cause wax from said fluid to deposit on said second wall portion.

The invention relates to a device (1) for generating steam. The device (1) comprises a first plate (2) being inclined at a positive first angle (AO) compared to the horizontal direction (H) to define a first upper end (2a) and a first lower end (2b), a heating element (3) to heat the first plate (2) to a predetermined temperature being at least above water evaporation temperature, a water inlet arrangement (4) for dispensing water onto the first plate (2), a second plate (5) being inclined at a negative second angle (BO) compared to the horizontal direction (H) to define a second upper end (5a) and a second lower end (5b), the second upper end (5a) adjoining the first lower end (2b), and a container (6) extending at least below said first lower end (2b), said container (6) being arranged for collecting scale flakes falling from the first plate (2). This solution allows creating a larger volume for the collection of scale, thus increasing the operating life of the device (1).

The invention provides a cooler apparatus and a method use. The cooler apparatus has at least one heat exchange conduit passing through a cooling medium. The method comprises flowing a fluid to be cooled through the at least one heat exchange conduit from a first cooler inlet to a first cooler outlet, to cool the fluid from an inflow temperature to an exit temperature by heat exchange with the cooling medium. In an aspect of the invention, the flow of the fluid through the at least one heat exchange conduit and the flow of the cooling medium are controlled to cause a local increase in a temperature in a selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit. This causes deposits of solids to be released from an inner surface of the selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit into the flowing fluid. The method may comprise restricting or containing the cooling medium around the selected portion of the at least one heat exchange conduit, and/or controlling the flow of the fluid to be cooled by re-routing the flow path of the fluid through a selected inlet of the at least one heat exchange conduit.

Fluid flow systems can include one or more thermoelectric devices in contact with the fluid flowing through the system. One or more thermoelectric devices can be operated in a temperature control mode and a measurement mode. Thermal behavior of the one or more thermoelectric devices can be analyzed to characterize a level of deposit formed on the thermoelectric device(s) from the fluid flowing through the system. Characterizations of deposition on thermoelectric devices operated at different temperatures can be used to establish a temperature-dependent deposition profile. The deposition profile can be used to determine if depositions are likely to form at various locations in the system, such as at a use device or in a flow vessel. Detected deposit conditions can initiate one or more corrective actions that can be taken to remove deposits, or to prevent or minimize deposit formation before deposits negatively impact operation of the system.

A method for removing a surface foulant is disclosed. An operating heat exchanger is provided. A carrier liquid that contains potential fouling agents is provided to the heat exchanger. The potential fouling agents foul at least a portion of the heat exchanger. The exchanger is operated such that the carrier liquid is at a vapor pressure equal to the operating pressure. Cavitation inducing devices are provided to the exchanger. A condition indicating fouling is detected. The cavitation inducing devices are operated on a portion of the exchanger to cause a localized pressure change, vaporizing a portion of the carrier liquid and forming a transient bubble or bubbles which collapse by cavitation, producing a localized shockwave, a re-entrant microjet, and extreme transient pressures and temperatures. These steps are repeated as necessary to remove the surface foulant. In this manner, the surface foulant is removed from the operating heat exchanger.

A method for semi-continuous operation of a heat exchange process that alternates between two heat exchangers is disclosed. The method comprises, first, providing a contact liquid to a first heat exchanger while the second heat exchanger is on standby. The contact liquid contains a dissolved gas, an entrained gas, or residual small particles that foul the first heat exchanger by condensing or depositing as a foulant onto the first heat exchanger, restricting free flow of the contact liquid. Second, detecting a pressure drop across the first heat exchanger. Third, switching flows of the coolant from the first to the second heat exchanger. Fourth, removing the foulant from the now standby first heat exchanger by providing heat to the heat exchanger, passing a non-reactive gas through the heat exchanger, or a combination thereof. In this manner, the heat exchange process operates semi-continuously.

A method and apparatus for induction heating or vaporization of water, oil, or other fluids. An induction heater system includes a ferrous heat tube, an induction coil extending around the ferrous heat tube, an induction drive, and a controller to regulate the operation of the induction drive or a fluid supply or both, to heat or vaporize the fluid.