Solar heating for site located oil storage or separation

Abstract

A system for providing supplemental or auxiliary heat to a crude oil separator is provided. The system includes a primary circuit carrying a fluid heated by a solar panel and a secondary circuit carrying a fluid heated by heat exchangers engaged with the primary circuit. The secondary circuit includes heat exchangers engaging the separator to provide auxiliary heat. The system may also include a source of off-grid electrical energy, such as a wind turbine and/or photoelectric cell.

1 . A system for engaging a heater treater, the heater treater including a housing, the housing defining a heater treater interior, the heater treater including a first opening, the heater treater adapted to receive oil well product in the interior thereof, and heating oil well product at an oil well site to assist the separation or the maintenance of separation of the oil well product into at least clean oil, water, and gas components, the system comprising:
 a primary circuit, the primary circuit including a solar panel, a first heat transfer medium, and a primary/secondary circuit heat exchanger, a primary circuit pump, and a first fluid flow pathway, the pump for engaging the first fluid flow pathway for circulating the first heat transfer medium between the solar panel and the primary/secondary circuit heat exchanger; and   a secondary circuit comprising a buffer tank to receive the primary/secondary heat exchanger, a second heat transfer medium at least partly contained within the buffer tank, a secondary circuit pump adapted to pump the second heat transfer medium therethrough, an outlet pipe engaging the buffer tank, and an inlet pipe engaging the buffer tank, the secondary circuit including a heat exchange assembly engaging the first opening of the heater treater for heating the oil well product within the heater treater;
 wherein the secondary circuit pump circulates the second heat transfer medium through the buffer tank, the outlet pipe, and the heat exchange assembly engaging the first opening, to transfer heat from the buffer tank to the oil well product in the interior of the heater treater; and 
 wherein the first and second heat transfer mediums are chosen to maintain a liquid phase. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary circuit includes an electric heater located so as to provide heat to the second heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further including at least two temperature sensors for turning the electric heater on and off. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary circuit includes an electric heater to heat the first heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         5 . The system in  claim 4 , further including at least two temperature sensors for turning the electric heater on and off. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary circuit includes a vented reservoir for holding the first and/or the second heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further including a pump for engaging the reservoir and maintaining slight pressure in the primary circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further including a pump for engaging the reservoir and maintaining slight pressure in the secondary circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , further including a solenoid valve between the buffer tank and the heat exchanger assembly to control the temperature of the second heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one temperature sensor engaging the primary circuit to control the primary circuit pump. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one temperature sensor engaging the secondary circuit to control the secondary circuit pump. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one temperature sensor engaging the primary circuit to control the primary circuit pump, and further including at least one temperature sensor engaging the secondary circuit to control the secondary circuit pump. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an expansion tank engaging the secondary circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange assembly includes a tube with a coil, adapted to engage the first opening so as to place the coil into the interior of the heater treater. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchange assembly includes a coil and a tube for containing a working fluid, the coil immersed in the working fluid and the tube for engaging the first opening and being placed into the interior of the heater treater. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heater treater includes a second opening; wherein the second opening engages a second opening heat exchange assembly which includes a tube with a coil 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a temperature responsive proportional valve in the secondary circuit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the proportional valve may assume at least a recirculation or a return condition. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one air bleed valve. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange assembly includes flow guides. 
     
     
         21 . A system for engaging a heater treater, the heater treater including a housing, the housing defining a heater treater interior, the heater treater including a first opening, the heater treater adapted to receive oil well product in the interior thereof, and heating oil well product at an oil well site to assist the separation or the maintenance of separation of the oil well product into at least clean oil, water, and gas components, the system comprising:
 a primary circuit, the primary circuit including a solar panel, a first heat transfer medium, and a primary/secondary circuit heat exchanger, a primary circuit pump, and a first fluid flow pathway, the pump for engaging the first fluid flow pathway for circulating the first heat transfer medium between the solar panel and the primary/secondary circuit heat exchanger;   a secondary circuit comprising a buffer tank to receive the primary/secondary heat exchanger, a second heat transfer medium at least partly contained within the buffer tank, a secondary circuit pump adapted to pump the second heat transfer medium therethrough, an outlet pipe engaging the buffer tank, and an inlet pipe engaging the buffer tank, the secondary circuit including a heat exchange assembly engaging the first opening of the heater treater for heating the oil well product within the heater treater;
 wherein the secondary circuit pump circulates the second heat transfer medium through the buffer tank, the outlet pipe, and the heat exchange assembly engaging the first opening, to transfer heat from the buffer tank to the oil well product in the interior of the heater treater; 
 wherein the first and second heat transfer mediums are chosen to maintain a liquid phase; 
   further including at least one electric heater in the secondary circuit; and   further including a temperature responsive proportional valve in the secondary circuit.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchange assembly includes a tube with a coil, adapted to engage the first opening so as to place the coil into the interior of the heater treater. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchange assembly includes flow guides.