A pipe-in-pipe assembly with thermally-insulating spacers positioned in an annulus to act radially between inner and outer pipes is disclosed. The spacers have at least one circumferentially-extending array of circumferentially-spaced ribs that define longitudinally-extending passageways in gaps between neighbouring ribs of the array. Cables including heating elements extend longitudinally along, the annulus outside the inner pipe. The cables extend longitudinally along the passageways. At least one insulation layer disposed radially outboard of the cables has insulating elements disposed in the gaps between the ribs and/or an insulating layer extending around the inner pipe, positioned radially outboard of the ribs and bridging the gaps. Bands encircle and retain components of the insulation layer. Insulation may also be disposed on the inner pipe between first and second arrays of ribs, those arrays being spaced longitudinally from each other.

A hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF source, and an RF antenna assembly coupled to the RF source and within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator, and first and second electrical contact sleeves respectively coupled between the first and second tubular conductors and the dielectric isolator so that the first and second tubular conductors define a dipole antenna. The RF antenna assembly may include a thermal expansion accommodation device configured to provide a sliding arrangement between the second tubular conductor and the second electrical contact sleeve when a compressive force therebetween exceeds a threshold.

A hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF source, and an RF antenna assembly coupled to the RF source and within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, a dielectric isolator coupled between the first and second tubular conductors, an RF transmission line having an inner conductor and an outer conductor extending within the first tubular conductor, the outer conductor being coupled to the first tubular conductor, and a feed structure coupled to the second tubular conductor. The inner conductor may have a distal end being slidable within the outer conductor and cooperating with the feed structure to define a latching arrangement having a latching threshold lower than an unlatching threshold.

A method for deploying a fiber optic line from a surface to a desired location in a wellbore includes the steps of identifying a heater cable deployed in the wellbore, where the heater cable includes one or more conductors and a first capillary tube. The method continues with the step of loading a terminal end of the fiber optic line into the first capillary tube from the surface. Next, the method includes the step of pumping a working fluid into the first capillary tube from the surface to inject the fiber optic line through a portion of the first capillary tube. The method concludes with the step of stopping the injection of the fiber optic line when the terminal end of the fiber optic line reaches the desired location in the wellbore.

Aspects and embodiments of inductively heated tank cars are described. In one embodiment, an inductive heating system includes an inductive heating module with a radially-curved pancake coil. The heating module can be positioned by an actuator assembly to inductively heat the contents of a tank car. In one example, the actuator assembly includes an assembly base including at least one base pole, an extension channel, and an extension actuator. The actuator assembly also includes an extension arm to retract into and extend out from the extension channel based on the extension actuator, an inductive heating module pivotally secured about an end of the extension arm, and a heating module lift actuator to lift the inductive heating module about the pivot at the end of the extension arm. By lifting and/or pivoting the inductive heating module, it can be positioned proximate to the tank car for inductive heat transfer.

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.

The present application discloses a high-performance far-infrared surface heating element of carbon composite material and application thereof. The surface heating element comprises: a carbon composite material layer comprising a film-like material consisted of an sp.sup.2 hybrid structure carbon material; and thermal stable electronic insulating layer provided on opposite sides of the carbon composite material layer. The surface heating element of the present application has the characteristics of flexibility, high strength, high stability, high safety, etc., and has excellent flame retardancy, no harmful electromagnetic, no circuit protection module, economical, safe and practical characteristics, and no safety hazard; it can be used as a direct surface heating source in the field of low-voltage electric heating, such as a civil heating device used in the preparation of a floor heating device, an electric heating carpet, an electric heating mattress or a heater, as well as an industrial heating device for lithium battery modules and industrial pipe heating elements.

Aspects and embodiments of inductively heated tank cars are described. In one embodiment, an inductive heating system for tank cars includes a radially-curved pancake coil, a coil housing that surrounds at least a portion of the radially-curved pancake coil, and a frame structure comprising at least one attachment mechanism to secure the frame structure to an exterior surface of a tank car. The system can also include an induction heating power supply to supply power for inductively heating the tank car using the radially-curved pancake coil. When installed to the tank car, the coil housing is assembled with the frame structure to secure the radially-curved pancake coil to the exterior surface of the tank car. Any number of radially-curved pancake coils can be secured to the exterior surface of the tank car to heat the contents of the tank car through inductive heating.

A method for heating materials by application of radio frequency (RF) energy is disclosed. For example, the disclosure concerns a method for RF heating of petroleum ore, such as bitumen, oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, or heavy oil. Petroleum ore is mixed with a substance comprising susceptor particles that absorb RF energy. A source is provided which applies RF energy to the mixture of a power and frequency sufficient to heat the susceptor particles. The RF energy is applied for a sufficient time to allow the susceptor particles to heat the mixture to an average temperature greater than about 212 F. (100 C.). Optionally, the susceptor particles can be removed from the mixture after the desired average temperature has been achieved. The susceptor particles may provide for anhydrous processing, and temperatures sufficient for cracking, distillation, or pyrolysis.

An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors. The radiofrequency electromagnetic current radiates to a hydrocarbon formation surrounding the transmission line conductors.