Abstract
The present invention belongs to the field of technologies aimed at production units with difficulties in dispersing gases from pressure relief systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gas dispersion intensifier assembly for a pressure relief system, which comprises: at least one blower; and a gas dispersion pipe with a gas outlet nozzle; wherein at least one blower is arranged externally and in the vicinity of the gas outlet nozzle, and projects an air flow toward the gas flow expelled by the gas outlet nozzle.
Claims
1. A gas dispersion intensifier assembly for a pressure relief system, the assembly comprising: at least one blower; and a gas dispersion pipe with a gas outlet nozzle; wherein the at least one blower is arranged externally and in the vicinity of the gas outlet nozzle, and wherein the at least one blower projects an air flow towards a gas flow expelled by the gas outlet nozzle.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one blower is arranged below or on sides of the gas outlet nozzle.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one blower is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis between 0? and 20? in a direction of gas discharge.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one blower is recessed relative to the pipe.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one blower is arranged below the gas outlet nozzle, with a longitudinal axis of the at least one blower inclined between 0? and 30? with respect to a vertical axis in a direction of gas discharge.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises two or more blowers.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one blower operates with an air flow rate at an outlet of the at least one blower between 4,055 m.sup.3/h and 5,970 m.sup.3/h.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one blower has a frustoconical shape, and wherein a diameter of a blower base is smaller than a diameter of a diffuser end that expels an airflow.
9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a supporting structure including clamping sections to removably couple the at least one blower.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] The previous brief description, as well as the breakdown of the preferred embodiments of the invention under discussion, presented below, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings. However, it must be understood that the invention under discussion is not limited only to the precise arrangements and instruments shown.
[0022] Thus, the present invention will be described below with reference to the typical embodiments thereof and also with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an FPSO with the indication of the location of the gas outlet pipes of a pressure relief system, according to an exemplifying configuration of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2A shows a photograph of the gas outlet nozzle of the gas outlet pipe, according to an illustrative configuration of this invention.
[0025] FIG. 2B shows a model of a gas outlet nozzle of the gas outlet pipe, according to an illustrative configuration of this invention.
[0026] FIG. 3A presents an overview of plumes of 20% and 60% of the LII for critical scenarios in an FPSO without using a gas dispersion intensifying assembly and headwind (south direction) with an intensity of 0.1 m/s, according to an exemplary configuration of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 3B presents an overview of plumes of 20% and 60% of the LII for critical scenarios in an FPSO without using a gas dispersion intensifying assembly and headwind (south direction) with an intensity of 0.5 m/s, according to an exemplary configuration of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 presents a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a first configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 5 presents a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a second configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 6 presents a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a third configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows the use of a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to the third configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 8 presents a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a fourth configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 9 presents a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a fourth configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 10 presents a blower installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a sixth configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 11 presents two blowers installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a seventh configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 12 shows the use of two blowers installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to the seventh configuration of this invention.
[0037] FIG. 13 shows two blowers installed on a supporting structure, according to a configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 14 presents two blowers installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 15 also presents two blowers installed in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle, according to a configuration that exemplifies the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] Reference is made in detail below to the preferred modalities of the present invention illustrated in the attached drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar characteristics. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and are not drawn at precise scale, so slight variations may occur.
[0041] Before describing in detail the characteristics of the gas dispersion intensifier assembly of this invention, it is necessary to elucidate the concept of lower flammability limit (LII). The LII refers to the range of minimum concentration, in the air, of vapors of a substance that can lead to a flammable condition.
[0042] The different configurations, techniques and methodologies that will be described below refer to a gas dispersion intensifier assembly for an FPSO pressure relief system, which provides one or more blowers installed in the vicinity of a gas dispersion nozzle of a vent post system, and the one or more blowers have specific mounting configurations, capable of varying in height and degree, to intensify the dispersion of the expelled gases by the gas dispersion nozzle in the pipeline discharge region, ensuring a mixture between the flow of the expelled gases and the air flow generated by one or more blowers.
[0043] To implement at least one air blower in the vicinity of the pipeline gas discharge region, the present invention also takes into account wind intensity and direction in the unit.
[0044] Thus, the present invention is ideal to be used in situations where the average speed of gases out of the gas outlet nozzle (vent post termination) is low, which also hinders the dispersion of gases in low wind conditions.
[0045] Reference is made to FIG. 1, which presents, as an example, the geometry of an upper portion (topside) of an FPSO 1, and the arrangement of gas outlet pipes 10, where the gas dispersion intensifier assembly will be used according to an embodiment of this invention.
[0046] FIGS. 2A and 2B exemplify the surface of the gas outlet nozzle 11 of a vent post system. It is worth noting that the larger the diameter of the gas outlet nozzle 11 of the vent post, for the same gas flow, the lower the average velocity of gas outlet from the nozzle, promoting greater difficulties in gas dispersion in calm conditions.
[0047] FIGS. 3A and 3B present a representation of a critical scenario for an FPSO 1 under the action of low intensity winds, wherein the pressure relief system does not have a gas dispersion intensifier assembly, so that gas plumes with concentrations equivalent to 20% of the LII (in yellow) and 60% of the LII (in orange) are dumped directly on the deck of the FPSO 1. Specifically, FIG. 3A shows a calm condition (wind intensity close to 0.1 m/s) and FIG. 3B shows a low wind condition (wind intensity around 0.5 m/s).
[0048] In a first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for the pressure relief system comprises a blower 20 and a pipe 10 with gas outlet nozzle 11, in which the blower 20 is arranged externally and in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, preferably the blower 20 is arranged below and parallel to the nozzle 11, with the air flow expelled by the blower 20 being parallel to the gas flow expelled by the gas outlet nozzle 11. This embodiment is applied in the event that the gas released by the gas outlet nozzle 11 tends to fall on the air flow and be propelled away from the rig and diluted by it.
[0049] In a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for the pressure relief system comprises a blower 20 and a pipe 10 with gas outlet nozzle 11, in which the blower 20 is arranged externally and in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, preferably the blower 20 is arranged below and parallel to the nozzle 11, being further positioned on one side of the gas dispersion pipe 10 containing the gas outlet nozzle 11. In this configuration, the blower 20 can protect the modules near the pipe 10, in the event that the plume is carried by the wind in a certain direction.
[0050] In a third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for pressure relief system comprises a blower 20 and a pipe 10 with gas outlet nozzle 11, in which the blower 20 is arranged externally and in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, and preferably, the blower 20 is placed below the nozzle 11, and is also positioned on one side of the pipe 10 containing the gas outlet nozzle 11. Moreover, the blower 20 is configured to rotate around its longitudinal axis between 0? and about 10?, preferably about 10?, in the gas discharge direction. In this configuration, the effectiveness of the air jet form the blower 20 inclined in the direction of the gas jets is evidenced, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0051] In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for pressure relief system comprises a blower 20 and a pipe 10 with gas outlet nozzle 11, in which the blower 20 is arranged externally and in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, and preferably, the blower 20 is placed below the nozzle 11, and is also recessed and positioned on one side of the gas dispersion pipe 10 containing the gas outlet nozzle 11. Moreover, the blower 20 is configured to rotate around its longitudinal axis between 0? and about 10?, preferably about 10?, in the gas discharge direction.
[0052] In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for pressure relief system comprises a blower 20 and a pipe 10 with gas outlet nozzle 11, in which the blower 20 is arranged externally and in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, and preferably, the blower 20 is placed below the gas outlet nozzle 11, and is also recessed and positioned on one side of the pipe 10 containing the gas outlet nozzle 11. Moreover, the blower 20 is configured to rotate around its longitudinal axis between 0? and about 20?, preferably about 20?, in the gas discharge direction.
[0053] In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for the pressure relief system comprises a blower 20 and a duct 10 with a gas outlet nozzle 11, in which the blower 20 is arranged externally and in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, and preferably, the blower 20 is arranged below the gas outlet nozzle 11, with the longitudinal axis of the blower 20 inclined between 0? and about 30?, preferably about 30?, relative to the vertical in the gas discharge direction. In this configuration, the airflow expelled by the blower 20 is directed from the bottom to the top, meeting the gas flow expelled by the gas outlet nozzle 11 and out of the FPSO. In addition, this position of the blower 20 in the assembly favors the adequate dispersion of the plume, which tends to perform a downward movement when it is expelled through the nozzle 11 of the pipe 10, especially in cases of low gas flow.
[0054] In a seventh embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, the gas dispersion intensifier assembly for pressure relief system comprises two blowers 20 and a pipe 10 with a gas outlet nozzle 11, in which each blower 20 is arranged below the gas outlet nozzle 11, with the longitudinal axis inclined between 0? and about 30?, preferably about 30?, in relation to the vertical in the gas discharge direction. The blowers 20 can be parallel, or divergent, to each other. FIG. 12 shows the two blowers in use, according to this configuration, projecting the airflow towards the gas flow to promote their dispersion.
[0055] It should be noted that, although the embodiments described above have one or two blowers 20, the present invention can be adapted to work with three or more blowers 20, depending on the design conditions and implementation, so that the objective of dispersing gases in a more efficient and safe manner is achieved.
[0056] In addition, the blowers 20 of the intensifier assembly of the present invention are connected to a compressed air supply source, and supplied by it with a compressed air flow rate between approximately 211 m.sup.3/h and approximately 844 m.sup.3/h, with the compressed air pressure ranging from approximately 300 kPa (3 bar) to approximately 550 kPa (5.5 bar). The blowers 20 being configured to operate with an air flow rate at the output of the blower 20 between about 4,055 m.sup.3/h and about 5,970 m.sup.3/h. It is important to highlight that the blower of the present invention provides high air flow at the outlet of the diffuser end, since the blower uses the compressed air supply flow as the driving fluid to generate Venturi effect locally and suck ambient air close to the airflow disposal point.
[0057] The air blower, according to an embodiment of the present invention, has a frustoconical shape, with the diameter of the base of the blower being smaller than the diameter of the diffuser end that expels the airflow.
[0058] Also, as shown as an example in FIG. 13, the dispersion intensifier assembly also comprises a supporting structure 30 including clamping sections 31 to removably couple one or more blowers 20.
[0059] FIGS. 14 and 15 show, for example, the positioning of the two blowers 20 in the vicinity of a gas outlet nozzle 11, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] The present invention further provides that each blower 20 may be moved or tilted, in any direction, to direct the airflow in the direction of the gas flow coming from the gas outlet nozzle 11 in order to intensify the dispersion of the gases, depending on the intensity and direction of the winds and the flow rate of expelled gas.
[0061] Therefore, one person skilled in the art will understand that each blower 20 described above of the dispersion intensifier assembly of the present invention may be positioned at any location in the vicinity of the gas outlet nozzle 11 of the vent post system and tilted in any direction, without departing from the purpose of the present invention to intensify the dispersion of the expelled gases and maintain the safety and productivity of the operation in an FPSO.
[0062] The skilled in the art will value the knowledge presented herein and can reproduce the invention in the presented embodiments and their variants, which are covered in the scope of the claims below.
