U-bends with the reduced pressure losses to fluid distributing networks

Abstract

Provided herein are components for a fluid network modified for one or more objective functions of interest such as pressure drop, erosion rate, fouling, coke deposition and operating costs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A U-bend for a fluid network said U-bend having individually or in co-operative arrangement an internal flow passage having a continuously smooth and differentiable perimeter and centerline and a smoothly varying cross-section along the flow passage such that in the 5% of the flow passage from the inlet and the 5% of the flow passage from the outlet ARQ is from 1.0 to 1.02 and over the remaining 90% of the length of the flow passage not less than 5% of the flow passage has an ARQ from 1.02 to 1.15 and further wherein the presence of one or more of the U-bends reduces the overall pressure drop within the fluid network by 10% or more when compared to the calculated pressure drop for fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         2 . The U-bend of  claim 1  wherein the bend between about 90 and about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The U-bend of  claim 1  wherein the bend between about 95 and about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The U-bend of  claim 1  wherein the bend between about 90 and about 175 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The U-bend of  claim 1  wherein the fluid network comprises one or more U-bends connected by pipes. 
     
     
         6 . The U-bend of  claim 1  wherein the fluid network comprises 5 or more U-bends connected by pipes. 
     
     
         7 . The U-bend of  claim 1  wherein the fluid network comprises 50 or more U-bends connected by pipes. 
     
     
         8 . The U-bend of  claim 5  wherein L is the pipe length and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein L/D of the pipe connecting the U-bend is greater than 0 and less than 55. 
     
     
         9 . The U-bend of  claim 5  wherein L is the pipe length and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein L/D of the pipe connecting the U-bend is greater than 0 and less than 45. 
     
     
         10 . The U-bend of  claim 5  wherein L is the pipe length and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein L/D of the pipe connecting the U-bend is greater than 0 and less than 20. 
     
     
         11 . The U-bend of  claim 5  wherein Rb is half the distance between the center of two pipes being connected by the U-bend and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein Rb/D is greater than 1 and less than 4. 
     
     
         12 . The U-bend of  claim 5  wherein Rb is half the distance between the center of two pipes being connected by the U-bend and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein Rb/D is greater than 1 and less than 3. 
     
     
         13 . The U-bend according to  claim 1 , wherein over the remaining 90% of the length of the flow passage not less than 10% of the flow passage has an ARQ from 1.02 to 1.15 
     
     
         14 . The U-bend according to  claim 1 , wherein erosion rate of the fluid network is decreased by not less than 10% compared to the erosion rate for a fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         15 . The U-bend according to  claim 1 , wherein fouling or sedimentation rate of the fluid network is decreased by not less than 10% compared to the fouling or sedimentation rate for a fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         16 . The U-bend according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow passage has smoothly varying walls in its flow direction which although may change rapidly, does not include abrupt, sharp changes of internal section (steps). 
     
     
         17 . A fluid network comprising at least one pipe connected to at least one U-bend, wherein said U-bend has individually or in co-operative arrangement an internal flow passage having a continuously smooth and differentiable perimeter and centerline and a smoothly varying cross-section along the flow passage such that in the 5% of the flow passage from the inlet and the 5% of the flow passage from the outlet ARQ is from 1.0 to 1.02 and over the remaining 90% of the length of the flow passage not less than 5% of the flow passage has an ARQ from 1.02 to 1.15 and wherein the presence of one or more of the U-bends reduces the overall pressure drop within the fluid network by 10% or more when compared to the calculated pressure drop for fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the overall pressure drop within the fluid network is 15% or more. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the overall pressure drop within the fluid network is 20% or more. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the pipes are straight or essentially straight. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is a fluid transporting network. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is a fluid transporting network selected from pipelines and hydraulic systems. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is fluid processing equipment or is a fluid processing device wherein fluid condenses or evaporates when in contact with the fluid network. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is fluid processing equipment or is a fluid processing device wherein fluid changes its temperature when in contact with the fluid network. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is fluid processing equipment or is a fluid processing device wherein fluid undergoes a chemical reaction with or without participation of other substances/components when in contact with the fluid network. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the fluid network is a fluid distribution network. 
     
     
         28 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the bend in the U-tube is between about 90 and about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein L is the pipe length and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein L/D of the pipe connecting the U-bend is greater than 0 and less than 55. 
     
     
         30 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein Rb is half the distance between the center of two pipes being connected by the U-bend and D is the inner diameter of the pipe and further wherein Rb/D is greater than 1 and less than 4 where. 
     
     
         31 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein erosion rate of the fluid network is decreased by not less than 10% compared to the erosion rate for a fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         32 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein fouling or sedimentation rate of the fluid network is decreased by not less than 10% compared to the fouling or sedimentation rate for a fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         33 . The fluid network of  claim 17  wherein the flow passage has smoothly varying walls in its flow direction which although may change rapidly, does not include abrupt, sharp changes of internal section (steps). 
     
     
         34 . A method to reduce the overall pressure drop within a fluid network by 10% or more when compared to the calculated pressure drop for fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02, the method comprising using in the fluid network comprising at least one pipe connected to at least one U-bend, wherein said U-bend has individually or in co-operative arrangement an internal flow passage having a continuously smooth and differentiable perimeter and centerline and a smoothly varying cross-section along the flow passage such that in the 5% of the flow passage from the inlet and the 5% of the flow passage from the outlet ARQ is from 1.0 to 1.02 and over the remaining 90% of the length of the flow passage not less than 5% of the flow passage has an ARQ from 1.02 to 1.15. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the fluid network is a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the fluid network is a fluid transporting network. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the overall pressure drop within the fluid network is 15% or more. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the overall pressure drop within the fluid network is 20% or more. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  further wherein erosion rate of the fluid network is decreased by not less than 10% compared to the erosion rate for a fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  further wherein fouling or sedimentation rate of the fluid network is decreased by not less than 10% compared to the fouling or sedimentation rate for a fluid network having a flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02.