Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
A8147190CA
APPARATUS FOR HEATING A GAS BURNER UNIT
TECHNICAL FIELD
1000111 This disclosure generally relates to production of oil and/or
gas. In
particular, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for heating a gas burner
unit.
BACKGROUND
100021 Oil and gas producers often use a gas-burning unit (GBU) to
burn off
gas, such as produced gas, that originates from a subterranean reservoir. The
burned
off gas can be used as a source of heat for warming tanks that house produced
fluids
and solids and to heat other features present on a wellsite. Because the
reservoir can
also contain water, the produced gas itself may contain water and/or water may
become
entrained in the produced gas. In cold climates, the water that comes to the
surface
with the produced gas can freeze within the GBU, causing the GBU to
malfunction and
require maintenance or replacement.
100031 Typically, the problem of having water freeze within the GBU
is
addressed by placing a heat radiator unit close to an orifice of an intake
member of the
GBU. As shown in FIG. 2, a GBU 8 has a main burner barrel 10 with an intake
member 12. The main burner barrel 10 can receive a gas, such as produced gas,
and
perform a controlled combustion of the received gas will occur within the
barrel 10.
The intake member 12 receives air from outside the GBU 8 for mixing with a
fuel gas,
often times the produced gas, for maintaining control over the combustion of
the
received gas. A radiator heater 14, such as a pre-air radiator heater, is
shown a
predetermined distance X from a side of the barrel 10 and the intake member
12.
Additionally or alternatively, the radiator heater 14 can be positioned
proximal the end
of the barrel 10 where the intake member 12 is located, shown as a
predetermined
distance of X1 . Typically, the radiator heater 14 is positioned a
predetermined distance
of about 6-15 inches (1 inch equals about 2.54 cm) from the outer surface of
the barrel
10 and/or the intake member 12. With this known approach, the air that enters
the
GBU 8 by the intake member12 is warmed in an effort to prevent freezing of the
produced-gas water content. However, if the ambient temperature drops
substantially
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below the freezing point of water the heat radiator 14 may not provide
sufficient heat
that can travel the predetermined distance to heat the GBU 8. As such water
present in
the intake member 12 or elsewhere in the GBU 8 can freeze.
[0004] Additionally, the GBU 8 may also include a glycol heating
system (not
shown) and often times a heat radiator 14 can impart flow restrictions in the
glycol flow
lines, which in turn can strain fittings and connectors of the glycol heating
system.
SUMMARY
[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heater
block for
transferring heat from a heat transfer fluid to an intake of a gas burner
unit. The heater
block comprises a body and the body defines: an input port for receiving a
heat transfer
fluid and an output port for egress of the heat transfer fluid. The body also
defines a
first internal fluid conduit that extends between the first port and the
second port
through the heater block. The body also defines a fuel inlet port for
receiving a fuel
fluid; a fuel outlet port for egress of the fuel fluid; and, a second internal
fluid conduit
that extends between the fuel inlet port and the fuel outlet port. Due to the
design of
the heater block, the first internal fluid conduit and the second internal
fluid conduit are
fluidly separated so that there is no mixing of the heat transfer fluid and
the received
fuel fluid.
[0006] Without being bound by any particular theory, the heater block
of the
present disclosure can transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the
received fuel
fluid, air passing in proximity to the heater block or combinations thereof.
These heat
transfers can reduce, substantially prevent or prevent the freezing of water
within the
received fuel fluid and/or the air as it enters an intake member of a gas
burning unit.
[0007] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features of the present disclosure will become more
apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to
the
appended drawings.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a well site with a produced fluid tank system.
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100101 FIG. 2 shows as schematic of a known radiator heater
arrangement for
warming intake air, fuel fluids or both of a produced gas burner.
100111 FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a heater system according to
embodiments of the present disclosure, with internal fluid conduits shown in
dashed
lines and fluid flow directions shown with arrows.
100121 FIG. 4 shows two sides of two embodiments of a heater block
according
to the embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 4A is an isometric
view
that shows a front side and a left side of a heater block; FIG. 4B is an
isometric view
that shows a back side and a right side of the heater block of FIG. 4A; FIG.
4C is an
isometric view that shows a front side and a left side of another embodiment
of a heater
block; and, FIG. 4D is an isometric view that shows a back side and a right
side of the
heater block of FIG. 4C.
100131 FIG. 5 shows portions of a system according to embodiments of
the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
100141 FIG. 1 shows a wellsite 1000 with one or more produced fluid
tanks
300. Each tank 300 can receive produced fluids from a wellhead (not shown) via
one
or more produced-fluid conduits 310. According to the embodiments of the
present
disclosure, the wellsite 1000 can include a housing 200 for housing one or
more
components of a gas-burning unit (GBU), where the housing 200 is positioned on
or
proximal a sidewall of a tank 300. As discussed further below, a burner barrel
of the
GBU can extend into a portion of a sidewall of the tank 300 and contain a
controlled
combustion process therein for heating the contents of the tank 300.
100151 The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an
apparatus and
system for heating an intake member of a GBU 100. The GBU 100 comprises a main
burner barrel 102, an intake member 104 and a heater block 106. The GBU 100
can
receive fuel gas and perform a controlled combustion of the received fuel gas
to
generate heat. The main burner barrel 102 can be of various designs and
dimensions,
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depending on the type and amount of gas it will receive and burn through the
controlled
combustion process. The main burner barrel 102 can be positioned within a
portion of
a produced-fluid tank 300, where such portion may be an inward extension of
the
sidewall, to transfer heat to a mixture of produced fluids housed within the
tank 300.
The received fuel gas may be produced gas from a subterranean oil and/or gas
reservoir. Due to the presence of water in the reservoir, the received gas
also includes
water.
[0016] The intake member 104 draws gas, such as air, from outside
the GBU
100 into the barrel 102 and fuel gas from a fuel source, wherein the fuel
source can be a
source of produced gas such as a wellhead or another fluid conduit. As will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, the air may also contain water that
can freeze
inside the intake member 104 when ambient temperatures are cold enough. The
intake
member 104 has a first end 104A and a second end 104B and it defines an
internal fluid
conduit therebetween (not shown). The first end 104A has a first connector
105A that
is connectible to the heater block 106 according to the embodiments of the
present
disclosure. The second end 104B has a second connector 105B that is
connectible to
the barrel 102. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the first
connector
105A and the second connector 105B can be any type of industry approved and
safety
rated connector for connecting fluid conduits that convey flammable fluids.
For
example, the first connector 105A and the second connector 105B may be
threaded
connectors or connectors that are welded together. The first connector 105A
and the
second connector 105B may have the same outer diameters, or different outer
diameters. Proximal the first end 104A, the intake member 104 defines one or
more
intake apertures 107 for drawing air into the internal conduit. In some
embodiments of
the present disclosure, the intake member 104 can be made of a thermally
conductive
material, such as a metal or metal alloy including but not limited to: copper,
aluminum,
brass, steel, bronze, stainless steel and steel. In some embodiments of the
present
disclosure, the intake member 104 is made of a material with a greater
potential to
conduct thermal energy as compared to the materials that the barrel 102 is
made of.
[0017] The heater block 106 transfers heat to a received fuel fluid, the
intake
member 104, air entering the intake member 104 or both to reduce,
substantially
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prevent or prevent freezing of any of the water content of the received gas,
any air
entering the intake member 104 or combinations thereof. The heater block 106
is made
of a thermally conductive material. For example, the heater block 106 may be
made of
a metal or an alloy. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heater
block
106 is made of a material with a greater potential to conduct thermal energy
as
compared to the materials that the barrel 102 is made of. In some embodiments
of the
present disclosure, the heater block 106 can be made of a thermally conductive
material, such as a metal or metal alloy including but not limited to: copper,
aluminum,
brass, steel, bronze, stainless steel and steel.
100181 The heater block 106 defines a first internal conduit X and a second
internal conduit Y, each for conveying a fluid through different flow paths
within the
heater block 106. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first
internal
conduit X (shown in FIG. 3 by the larger the dashed lines with the flow
direction
indicated by the larger solid arrows) can convey a heat transfer fluid through
the heater
block 106 between a first side 106A and a second opposite side 106B. In some
embodiments of the present disclosure, the second internal conduit Y (shown in
FIG. 3
by the smaller dashed lines with the flow direction indicated by the squiggled
arrows)
can convey a fluid fuel through the heater block 106 between a third side 106C
and a
fourth side 106D that is opposite to the third side 106C and the fourth side
106D is
connectible to the intake member 104. In some embodiments of the present
disclosure,
the second internal conduit Y can convey a fluid fuel through the heater block
106 from
the first side 106A or the second side 106B to the fourth side 106D that is
opposite to
the third side 106C (as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B). The first internal
conduit X
and the second internal conduit Y are fluidly separated, meaning there is no
fluid
communication therebetween so that within the heater block 106 any fluid
within the
first internal conduit X does not mix with any fluid in the second internal
conduit Y and
vice versa. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first internal
conduit X
is substantially straight, without any curves or bends. In some embodiments of
the
present disclosure, the second internal conduit Y is substantially straight
(as shown in
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4B and FIG. 4D), or it may have define a turn, for example,
when the
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second internal conduit Y extends from the first or second side 106A, 106B to
the
fourth side 106D (as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B).
100191 In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heater
block 106
defines an input port 108 (shown defined on the first side 106A) and an output
port 110
(shown defined on the second side 106B) and the first internal conduit X
extends
therebetween. The input port 108 is connectible to a fitting 112 and the port
110 is
connectible to a fitting 114. The internal conduit X extends between the input
port 108
and the output port 110 for providing fluid communication therebeween and
between
fitting 112 and fitting 114. The heater block 106 can receive a heat transfer
fluid via
the input port 108 and egress the heat transfer fluid via the output port 110
while
passing through the first internal conduit X of the heater block 106. In some
embodiments of the present disclosure, the fittings 112, 114 are made of a
thermally
conductive material.
100201 The heater block 106 also defines a fuel inlet port 116
(shown defined
on the third face 106C) and a fuel outlet port 117 (shown defined on the
fourth face
106D).
100211 FIG. 5 shows a non-limiting example of the heating block 106
as part of
the GBU 100 installed within the housing 200 that is secured on an exterior
wall of a
produced fluid tank 300. The housing 200 may have four sidewalls and a top and
bottom wall. Optionally, one sidewall may include a flame arrestor 202.
Another
sidewall may define one or more ports for receiving fittings to permit fluid
communication of the fuel fluid (via conduit 120, which may be one or more
lengths of
suitable conduit for conveying a flammable fuel fluid) and the heat transfer
fluid (via
fitting 112B and conduit 112A and conduit 114A and fitting 114B) from outside
the
housing 200 to inside the housing 200 and vice versa. The housing 200 may
house an
electrical spark and/or flame control system 202 that includes an ignition
control line
204 that can contribute towards the controlled combustion process that can
occur inside
the barrel 102. Another sidewall of the housing 200 may define an aperture
through
which the barrel 102 extends out of the housing 200 for heating the contents
of the
produced fluid tank 300.
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100221 The heat transfer fluid may ingress into the housing 200 via
conduit 210,
fitting 112B and then be conveyed to fitting 112 via the conduit 112A. The
heat
transfer fluid may then pass through the first internal conduit X of the
heating block
106, transfers from the heat transfer fluid to heat the heater block 106. The
heat
transfer fluid may then egress from the first internal conduit X and travel
between
fitting 114 and 114B, via the conduit 114A, for egress from the housing 200.
The flow
rates and volume of the heat transfer fluid within the conduits 112A and 114A
and,
therefore, within the first internal conduit X of the heating block 106 may be
controlled
by a pump and controller system, as known in the art, outside the housing 200
(not
shown). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat transfer fluid
can be a
liquid, a gas or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments of the present
disclosure, the
heat transfer fluid may be oil-based or water-based. In some embodiments of
the
present disclosure, the heat transfer fluid may be a substantially pure fluid
or it may be
a mixture of constituent fluids. In some embodiments of the present
disclosure, the
heat transfer fluid has a freezing point that is sufficiently low so that it
can be used in
climates with temperatures that can reach below 0 C or below -5 C or below -
10 C
or below -15 C or colder. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the
heat
transfer fluid may be glycol or a mixture of glycol and water. For example,
further
conduits may be fluidly connected to the pump and controller system for
providing heat
conducting fluid to warm one or more of the production conduits 310. In some
embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat transfer fluid may be heated
to a
temperature of between about 50 C and 110 C so that when the heat transfer
fluid
enters the heating block 106 the thermally conductive material of the heating
block 106
will facilitate a transfer of heat from the heat transfer fluid through the
heating block
106 and at least a portion of that transferred heat will transfer into the
received fuel
fluid.
100231 Without being bound by any particular theory, the heating
block 106
may transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the received fuel fluid by
conduction.
The heating block 106 may transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the
received fuel
fluid by convection. The heating block 106 may transfer heat from the heat
transfer
fluid to air that is passing by the heating block 106 before it enters the
intake member
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104. Additionally, the heating block 106 may transfer heat from the heat
transfer fluid
to the intake member 104 by conduction, convection or a combination thereof.
Heating
of the received fuel fluid that is conducted through the heating block 106,
heating of the
air that is passing in proximity to the heating block 106, heating of the
intake member
104 or combinations thereof may reduce, substantially prevent or prevent
freezing of
water within the received fuel fluid and/or the air passing in proximity to
the heating
block 106.
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