The present invention relates to a system for facilitating the extraction of hydrocarbons. Tubular protection for an extraction system is provided using the RF heating of highly viscous hydrocarbons in situ by means of an antenna having a coaxial array of mode converters.

An apparatus for a coaxial transmission line is provided. The apparatus can include a first and a second section of a conductor of the coaxial transmission line and a connector for connecting the first and the second sections in end-to-end relation. Each of the first and the second sections of the conductor have an exterior lateral surface and an interior lateral surface. For inner conductors, the connector is connected to the interior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. For outer conductors, the connector is connected to the exterior lateral surfaces of the first and second sections of the conductor. The connector allows the inner and outer diameters of the annulus between the inner and outer conductors line to be substantially uniform along the length of the coaxial transmission line.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for heating a fluid or other material. The apparatuses may include a container (e.g., tube) in which a susceptor material is disposed. The susceptor material may convert microwave energy to heat, which may increase the temperature of a fluid or material in or adjacent the tube.

A hybrid heater system for an aircraft air data sensor includes a voltage source and a first hybrid heater set. The first hybrid heater set includes a carbon nanotube (CNT) heater, a first positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater disposed in parallel with the CNT heater to form a parallel formation, and a second PTC heater disposed in series between the voltage source and the parallel formation.

An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The apparatus includes an electrical power source; at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating alternating current; at least two transmission line conductors positioned in the hydrocarbon formation; at least one waveguide for carrying the alternating current from the at least one electromagnetic wave generator to the at least two transmission line conductors; and a producer well to receive heated hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation. The transmission line conductors are excitable by the alternating current to propagate a travelling wave within the hydrocarbon formation. At least one of the transmission line conductors include a primary arm and at least one secondary arm extending laterally from the primary arm. The at least one secondary arm includes at least one electrically isolatable connection for electrically isolating at least a portion of the secondary arm.

A device (110) for heating a fluid is proposed. The device comprises at least one electrically conductive pipeline (112) and/or at least one electrically conductive pipeline segment (114) for receiving the fluid, and at least one DC current and/or DC voltage source (126), wherein respectively one DC current or DC voltage source (126) is assigned to each pipeline (112) and/or each pipeline segment (114), said DC current and/or DC voltage source being connected to the respective pipeline (112) and/or the respective pipeline segment (114), wherein the respective DC current and/or DC voltage source (126) is embodied to produce an electric current in the respective pipeline (112) and/or in the respective pipeline segment (114), said electric current warming up the respective pipeline (112) and/or the respective pipeline segment (114) by Joule heating, which arises when the electric current passes through conductive pipe material, for the purposes of heating the fluid.

An SCR dosing pump assembly for conveying and providing a liquid exhaust gas purification additive includes: a plastic housing; a multi-part aluminum frame having first part and a second part; and at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element configured as an electrically conductive contact between the first part and the second part of the aluminum frame. No further electrically conductive contacts exist between the first part and the second part of the aluminum frame. The multi-part aluminum frame is molded into the plastic housing of the SCR dosing pump assembly.

There is described a system comprising an outer conduit; an inner conduit positioned within the outer conduit such that an annular space is defined between the outer conduit and the inner conduit; and a resistive heating material occupying at least a portion of an annular volume within the annular space and having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance.

A subsea installation for heating a two-phase liquid/gas effluent circulating within a subsea casing, includes a plurality of heated pipe sections which are successively connected to one another by curved pipe sections to form a heating coil, each heated pipe section being inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle comprised between 2 and 10° in order to promote a distributed flow regime of the two-phase effluent and being provided with an induction heating system.

An insulated conductor (250) may be positioned inside a conduit (312) extending along a length of an opening (312) in a subsurface formation (304). Two or more spring members (318) may be attached to an inside surface of the conduit and electrically coupled to the conduit. The spring members may be attached to the conduit in a portion of the opening distal from a surface (308) of the subsurface formation. The spring members may contact an electrically conductive end termination (316) coupled to a core (252) of the insulated conductor when the end termination is inserted between the spring members. The spring members may exert multi-directional forces on the end termination to maintain contact between the spring members and the end termination. The spring members may electrically couple the core of the insulated conductor to the conduit when the spring members are in contact with the end termination.