Subsea cooler

Abstract

A subsea cooler has at least one pipe ( 1 ) and a housing ( 4 ). The pipe has an inlet ( 2 ) and an outlet ( 3 ) for a fluid to be cooled and comprises straight sections ( 5 ) connected by bend sections ( 6 ). The housing ( 4 ) encloses at least a part of the pipe and comprises an inner surface forming a flow channel ( 8 ) extending along and surrounding the pipe. The flow channel ( 8 ) is fluidly connected to an inlet ( 9 ) and an outlet ( 10 ) for a cooling fluid and a pumping element for driving the cooling fluid through the flow channel ( 8 ). At least one sacrificial anode ( 11 ) is positioned in the flow channel ( 8 ) such that the sacrificial anode is in electrical contact with the pipe ( 1 ).

1 : A subsea cooler comprising:
 at least one pipe for a fluid to be cooled, the pipe comprising a pipe inlet and a pipe outlet and being formed of a number of straight sections connected by bend sections;   a housing which encloses at least a part of the pipe and which comprises an inner surface that together with an outer surface of the pipe forms a flow channel extending along and surrounding the pipe;   the flow channel being fluidly connected to an inlet and an outlet for a cooling fluid and to a pumping element for driving the cooling fluid through the flow channel;   at least one sacrificial anode which is positioned in the flow channel in electrical contact with the pipe;   wherein the flow channel comprises at least one cavity which is configured to receive corrosion products from the sacrificial anode.   
     
     
         2 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is formed by at least a first and second inner surfaces of the housing, wherein the first inner surface extends along a straight section of the pipe and the second inner surface extends along at least part of a bend section on the outside of the bend section, and wherein said sacrificial anode is arranged at the second inner surface. 
     
     
         3 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is formed by at least first and second inner surfaces of the housing, wherein the first inner surface extends along a straight section of the pipe and the second inner surface extends along at least part of a bend section on the outside of the bend section, and wherein said sacrificial anode is arranged at the first inner surface. 
     
     
         4 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein each bend section of the pipe is in electrical contact with a sacrificial anode. 
     
     
         5 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sacrificial anode is electrically connected to the pipe. 
     
     
         6 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one sacrificial anode is electrically connected to the pipe via the housing. 
     
     
         7 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is arranged below a bend section. 
     
     
         8 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 1 , further comprising a number of longitudinally extending fins which are positioned between the straight sections and the housing to thereby support the pipe against the housing. 
     
     
         9 : A subsea cooler according to  claim 3 , wherein said anode is at least partly embedded in the first inner surface.