Heat transfer apparatuses for oil and gas applications

Abstract

A heat transfer apparatus includes a tubular wall defining a lumen and multiple pipe elements arranged about a circumference of the tubular wall and passing through the tubular wall. The lumen is configured such that fluid flows through the lumen of the heat transfer apparatus. Each pipe element of the multiple pipe elements includes an interior portion located within the lumen of the tubular wall and configured to absorb heat from the fluid that flows through the lumen and includes an exterior portion located exterior to the tubular wall and configured to release at least a portion of the heat absorbed at the interior portion to an ambient environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat transfer apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular wall defining a lumen configured such that fluid flows through the lumen of the heat transfer apparatus; and   a plurality of pipe elements arranged about a circumference of the tubular wall and passing through the tubular wall, wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements comprises:
 an interior portion located within the lumen of the tubular wall and configured to absorb heat from the fluid that flows through the lumen, and 
 an exterior portion located exterior to the tubular wall and configured to release at least a portion of the heat absorbed at the interior portion to an ambient environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pipe element of a subset of the plurality of pipe elements is arranged in a circumferential row at a same axial position along the tubular wall. 
     
     
         3 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pipe elements comprises a plurality of circumferential rows of pipe elements arranged at different axial positions along the tubular wall. 
     
     
         4 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements comprises a working fluid that evaporates upon absorbing heat from the fluid flowing through the lumen of the tubular wall along the interior portion of the pipe element and that condenses upon releasing heat along the exterior portion of the pipe element to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         5 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements is configured such that the working fluid flows in a gas phase from the interior portion to the exterior portion upon absorbing heat from the fluid flowing through the lumen of the tubular wall. 
     
     
         6 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements is configured such that the working fluid flows in a liquid phase from the exterior portion to the interior portion upon releasing heat to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements further comprises a layer of material that facilitates flow of the fluid in the liquid phase via capillary action. 
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements comprises an adiabatic portion that spans the tubular wall between the interior and exterior portions. 
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements comprises a plurality of fins that facilitates heat transfer from the pipe element to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         10 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements extends in a radial direction with respect to a central axis of the tubular wall. 
     
     
         11 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pipe elements is configured such that an exit temperature of the fluid flowing out of the heat transfer apparatus is about 30° C. to about 70° C. cooler than an entry temperature of the fluid flowing into the heat transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pipe elements is made of one or more materials including coated carbon steel, copper, and alloys. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises water, methanol, or acetone. 
     
     
         14 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow obstruction arranged coaxially with the tubular wall. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the flow obstruction is configured to divert fluid flowing through the heat transfer apparatus radially outward towards the plurality of pipe elements. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lumen has a substantially annular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the lumen is equal to a cross-sectional area of a flow line to which the heat transfer apparatus is installed. 
     
     
         18 . The heat transfer apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the flow obstruction has a smooth surface profile that prevents a pressure drop in the fluid as the fluid flows through the tubular wall. 
     
     
         19 . A fluid management system, comprising:
 a heat transfer apparatus configured to be installed to a first fluid flow line, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:
 a tubular wall defining a lumen configured such that fluid flows through the heat transfer apparatus, and 
 a plurality of pipe elements arranged about a circumference of the tubular wall and passing through the tubular wall, wherein each pipe element of the plurality of pipe elements comprises,
 an interior portion located within the lumen of the tubular wall and configured to absorb heat from the fluid that flows through the lumen, and 
 an exterior portion located exterior to the tubular wall and configured to release at least a portion of the heat absorbed at the interior portion to an ambient environment; 
 
   a second fluid flow line by which fluid flowing through the first fluid flow line can bypass the heat transfer apparatus; the second fluid flow line configured to be installed to the first fluid flow line in parallel with the heat transfer apparatus;   a third fluid flow line by which fluid can be drained from the heat transfer apparatus, the third fluid flow line configured to be installed to the heat transfer apparatus; and   a plurality of valves by which fluid can be managed with respect to the heat transfer apparatus, the first fluid flow line, the second fluid flow line, and the third fluid flow line.   
     
     
         20 . A method of cooling a fluid flowing through a heat transfer apparatus, the method comprising:
 flowing the fluid through a lumen of a tubular wall carrying a plurality of pipe elements arranged about a circumference of the tubular wall and passing through the tubular wall;   absorbing heat from the fluid along interior portions of the plurality of pipe elements that are located within the lumen as the fluid flows through the lumen; and   releasing heat from exterior portions of the plurality of pipe elements that are located exterior to the tubular wall as the fluid flows through the lumen.