THERMAL INSULATION BLANKET FOR UNDERSEA LINES

Abstract

The present invention addresses to a blanket for thermal insulation of submarine pipelines to favor the maintenance of temperatures above the desired minimum in the respective designs, since the fluids internally transported tend to lose heat to the environment. It solves problems that occur with the formation of paraffins or scales, the increase in oil viscosity and the formation of hydrate, among others. The invention must be launched at greater depths (where the external temperature is lower) and close to the origin of the fluids, where these will have the maximum temperature and, as this variation will be maximum, the thermal exchange potential will be more intense. The blanket then keeps the water heated by the pipeline confined to the surroundings thereof, acting as additional insulation. In addition, it is installed longitudinally on the pipelines in which it operates, by being unwound (to facilitate installation).

Claims

1. A BLANKET FOR THERMAL INSULATION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES, having thermo-insulating materials and high elasticity, characterized in that it has a width compatible with the diameter of the pipeline (2), being unwound longitudinally over the pipeline (2), contains side weights (6), being completely watertight, and optionally has flexible reinforcements or spacers.

2. THE BLANKET FOR THERMAL INSULATION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral weights (6) prevent the blanket (1) from being removed by the forces of undercurrents and convection (5) of the water heated under the same.

3. THE BLANKET FOR THERMAL INSULATION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES according to claim 1, characterized in that the water heated by the pipeline itself (2) is confined in the vicinity of the pipeline (2) and acts as an additional insulator.

4. A BLANKET FOR THERMAL INSULATION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES, characterized in that it has tensile strength to allow its launching and support its own weight for the adopted lengths of each section.

5. A BLANKET FOR THERMAL INSULATION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES, characterized in that it has attachment means between sections.

6. THE BLANKET FOR THERMAL INSULATION OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES according to claim 1, characterized in that flexible reinforcements or spacers keep the blanket (1) assembled and prevent contact between the blanket (1) and the pipeline (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the attached figures which, in a schematic way and not limiting the inventive scope, represent examples of the same. In the drawings, there are:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates the typical configurations (isolated and buried pipeline) and the proposed configuration of the blanket;

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the proposed invention in perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Preliminarily, it is emphasized that the description that follows will start from preferred embodiments of the invention. As will be apparent to any technician skilled on the subject, however, the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments, but rather to the scope defined in the claims.

[0020] The present invention addresses to a blanket (1) for thermal insulation of submarine pipelines (2) to favor the maintenance of temperatures above the desired minimum in the respective designs, since the fluids internally transported tend to lose heat to the environment. In FIG. 1, it is possible to see the typical configurations, isolated (4) and buried (3) pipeline, the blanket (1) of the present invention isolating the pipeline (2) and the representation of the convection (5) in the site, smaller in the situations of buried pipeline and in the use of the blanket, when compared to the isolated pipeline. The blanket (1) is installed longitudinally over the pipeline (2) in which it will act, being unwound (to facilitate the installation). It has a width compatible with the diameter of the pipeline (2) and the sizing must be done according to the specific design. The blanket (1) has built-in weights (6) on both sides (which may be reservoirs of sand, cement or other high-density and low-cost material) that serve to prevent the blanket (1) from being removed by undercurrents or the water heated and confined thereunder. The blanket (1) has tensile strength to allow its launching, supporting its own weight for the lengths to be adopted for each section. It also has ways of attachment to the launch and recovery tools, containing means of attachment between sections, to facilitate installation and recovery. The blanket (1) keeps the water heated by the pipeline (2) confined in its surroundings, acting as an additional insulation. The blankets (1) are watertight, in order to hinder the convection formed by the difference in temperature of the water, heated by the pipeline itself (2). It is desirable, but not necessary, that the blanket (1) has reinforcements or spacers that keep the same “assembled” in order to prevent it from being in contact with the pipeline (2), reducing the efficiency of its use. Such reinforcements must be sufficiently flexible so that the blanket (1) can be loaded in coils, facilitating its installation.

[0021] Finally, the material used in the thermal blanket is the same used by several other techniques, which may be the same as described in application PI 0402391-9A, or provided that they have low thermal conductivity, preferably equivalent to polystyrene or polyurethane and have low mechanical stiffness and high zone of elasticity (high creep point/limit). The combination of material chosen is directly proportional to the thickness of the blanket. Accordingly, the overall heat transfer coefficient has low values to ensure thermal insulation.