CA1095274A - Working and method for the storage of a product with a clotting point above ambient temperature - Google Patents
Working and method for the storage of a product with a clotting point above ambient temperatureInfo
- Publication number
- CA1095274A CA1095274A CA308,243A CA308243A CA1095274A CA 1095274 A CA1095274 A CA 1095274A CA 308243 A CA308243 A CA 308243A CA 1095274 A CA1095274 A CA 1095274A
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- Prior art keywords
- product
- storage
- elements
- viscosity
- pump
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G5/00—Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Pipeline Systems (AREA)
- Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
- Polyesters Or Polycarbonates (AREA)
- Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Only a reduced portion of the stored product is permanently maintained in the liquefied state, and a static sepa-rator is provided, using the relation between the viscosity of a fluid and its flowing speed through an orifice. In an application to an underground storage, the separator 6 is formed by a stack of cylindro-conical elements 7 letting between them annular spaces through which the product passes in streamline flow.
Application to the storage of heavy hydrocarbons.
(Figure 3)
Only a reduced portion of the stored product is permanently maintained in the liquefied state, and a static sepa-rator is provided, using the relation between the viscosity of a fluid and its flowing speed through an orifice. In an application to an underground storage, the separator 6 is formed by a stack of cylindro-conical elements 7 letting between them annular spaces through which the product passes in streamline flow.
Application to the storage of heavy hydrocarbons.
(Figure 3)
Description
The inventiGn relates to a working method for the storage of a product, the clotting poin~ of which is above ambient -temperature. The invention has also for its object a device for implern~nting such a method.
Usually, when exploiting such a storage, the product to be stored is sent in a suitable enclvsure, and according to the circumstances, either the product is maintained at teJnperature sufficient to allow the retaking at every time, or the product is allowed to cool and to clot, and later, when the product i5 to be used, it is heated unto a temperature allowing its handling.
These two ways of working the stored product are very costly when the mass of product is very large, as it is the case in underground storagesO For avoiding to keep the temperature up or to heat a very large mass of product, the stored mass is divided into separate units, some uf which are clotted and main-tained at ambient temperature, for rather long periods of time, whilst the others are reheated first, or permanently maintained at an adequate temperature, for easy handling.
This solution is not satisfactory, because when dividing the stored mass it occurs an increase of the complication, of the thermal losses and of the required investment, so that only a reduced number of units can be provided which still remain too big for permitting to reach a homogeneous temperature.
If the temperature of the product is not homogeneous, the viscosity is also not homogeneous and the most viscous parts may impede the operation of the circulating pumps. Then~ it is necessary to provide for a separation of the parts which are fluid enough and the ones which are not so. In French patent 73 25301 .
the applicant has disclosed a method for progressi~ely liquefy heavy products in an underground storage. In this method 3 a heat-ing fluid, preferably water, is made to circulate on the su ~ ce , 527~
of the clotted product.
Due to the difference of density, the liquefied product rises to the surface of the water to form a pellicle, and is so separated from the clotted product~ The criterion of sepa-ration is precisely an adequate fluidity to allow the heated product to be separated from the cold mass, due to the Archimedean thrust.
After that, it remains to separate the fluidified product from the water, by means of a decantation tank.
This method provides for a good solution to the problem of obtaining the product with a sufficient fluidity for its flowing in the pumps, but this solution has some drawbacks~
On the one hand, the s-tored product must not be in a condition to be mixed or to react with wa ter ~ and must have a density sufficiently different from that of water. The product must hav~ a suitable fluidity under 100C~ The use of an auxiliary liquid other than water (e.g. brine) much inoreases the cost of the method. It is also disclosed in this patent to use the stored product itself after it has been heated, ~ut ~he problem of hete~
rogen viseo~ity is not solved in this case~
On the other hand, the decantatlon installations cannot be placed in the extraction well~ due to their bulkîness;
service galleries mus-t be provided for the maintenance of these installations~
It is an object of the invention to provide a storage method allowing to get rid o* these drawbacks, i.~. with no auxi-liary ~luid for bringlng the product to the pumps with a suitable viscosity, and in condition to.run oontinuously without any human help underground.
In a storage method according to the invention 3 a difference of temperature is permanently maint~ined in the product, so that only a portion of this product has a low enough vis~osity .
a~lowing its extraction and this portion is ~eparated from the remnant by means of a stat;c device using the relation between the viscosity of a fluid and its flowing speed through an orifice.
In a storage comprising an extraction well common to a number of galleries 3 it is possible to apply a method according to the invention for the operation of the storage in one or several ; galleries, the stored mass in the other galleries being kept out of the circuit, for example completely clotted.
The conventional theory of mechanics of fluids provides, for the flow through a ~ylindrical orifice :
v = 0,097 ~ m q ~ 0~076 d3 ~ hm these equations being valid, if Re = o,097 d _~hm < 5 in which v = flow speed :
q = discharge rate of fluid through a cylindrical orifice Re = Reynolds number d - diame*er of the orifice g - gravity acceleration hm = power load on said ori*ice v ~ viscosity of the product when z ~ H-h9 then hm = h+ fH ~ ~ (Tl-T)dzy in which:
z = altitude o.~ an orifice~ with regard to the bot-tom of the storage gallery (see fig. 4 ) H = height of the product in the gallery h = level difference in the gallery and inside the stack of elements ( shroud) ;~
~ - modulus of thermal volumic expansion of the stored product .
-27~
T - temperature ~C~ at the coh~idered orifiee Tl- average temperature inside the stack of element6 (shroud) The separation d~vice must evidently b~ placed on the way of the stored product towards the pump, and close enough to this pump. According to the invention, the device comprises a wall which, on a major par* of the height of the storage, is provided with passages so that the product passes through with a substantially streamline flow. In a preferred embodl~nent, the device is ma~e o~ a tube provided with holes and dispo~ed in the extraction well, so that it is possible *o bring it out without manual intervention underground.
The orifices can be circular hioles, and in this oase, the recknoning shows that for obtaining a total discharge vf 560 m3/h with a liquid having a viscosity of 200 cs, it is nece~-sary to provide 100.000 holes of 0,8 mm in diameter for each meter in the height of the device. This is technically difficult, as the height in the well is comprised between 10 and 20 meters. It would :.
be necessary to have a tube of this length~ with a diameter of 0,80 m, provided with 100.000 holes of 0,B mm on each meterO
It is possible to use a wire-netting instead of a tube, the passages in which should have an equivalent section.
In another solution, there is provided tubes with Poiseuille flowing, in which the ratio length/diameter is chosen as great as possible. Bundles of such tubes are mounted perpen-dicularly on the orifices provided for this,purpose on the vertical tubing. The number of these tubes for each meter should Ai ~,ueh as to ensure the required discharge rate with a pressure loss allowing the desired separation.
In a prefer~ed embodiment, the separation device is formed by superimposed annular passages, and the devlce compri-. .
.
ses a series of aylindro-conieal annular elem~nts with vertical axe~, the elements being fitted in one another so as to let bet-ween two superimposed elements an annular spaae forming a passage through which the product passes with a substantially streamline flow.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein :
- fig. 1 is a schemat.ic view partly in ~ection of an embodiment of the separation device according to the invention, - fig. 2 is a schematic view in saction of a detail illustrating the operation of the device of fig. l;
~ figo 3 is a schematic general view o~ an under-ground storage installation; and ~ fig. 4 is a more detailed view of a part of fig. 3.
Referring now to fig. 1, the device comprises a shroud formed by a stack of cylindro-conical elements 7 spaced by annular passages through w~ich the produet passes in streamline flow, and more specific~ally :
- a submerged pump 1 dependent of the discharge tube 2 and a protecting casing 3 for the motor, lying under the pump. The pump is enclosed in an impervious casing 4, which is tightly attached in 5 to the casing 3 of the ~motor;
- the pressure losses separation device 6, having 16 m in height, comprising 46 annular elements 7, each 23 cm long and 80 cm in diameter. These elements may be formed in two halves for their setting around the discharge tube of the pump;
- a ~uard 8, 1 m high~ covering at least four ele-ments. Both this guard and the annular devioe are tightly attached~
in 9, to the casing 4 of the pump.
In the case of an underground s~orage, the above ~S~7~1L
assembly is placed in the well 14, above tlle sunk draining trap 25 so that the casings 3 and 4 are completely in the trap. The guard 8 is only partially in the trap 25, so that its upper edge 10 is slightly above the highest level of exhaust water.
The pressure losses separation device 6 is shown at a larger scale on flg. 2. It is formed of a series of cylindro-conical annular elements 71 one of which is shown entirely, the two adjacent elements being partially shown. Each elemen-t 7 comprises two cylindrical por~ions 11 a 12 of different diameters, 1o oonnected by a conical portion 13. The elements are fitted in one another~ the larger cylindrical portion 11 of an element sur~ound-ing the narrower cylindrical portion 12 of the element which is disposed adjacent underneath. Between two adjacent elements is so formed an annular space of length 1 and width e It is easy, knowing 1 and e as well as the inner diameter of the portion 11, and the viscosity (or temperature T)ofthe product in front of the entrance of the annular space,and the level differenae h between the outside and the inside of the separator, to reckon the discharge rate of each annular space 3 and consequently the to~al discharge rate 3f the separator1 and the average viscosity tor temperature Tl) of the stream flowing through the separation device.
As an example, in which the viscosity is bound to the temperature in the following rate:
temperature (C) 20 40 60 80 viseosi-ty (cs) 22000 2640 55G 165 the discharge rat~ of the pump is 680 m3th and the maximum possible viscosity is 440 cs.
The outer and inner diameters of the annular spaces are 800 mm and 780 mm, i.e. a width e = 10 mm; the length 1 is 230 mm and the distance I. betwe~n two adjacent annular spaces is 345 mm.
It has also been ascertained that in view of obtain 6 ~
,: ;, ,, ~ ., : . .
, ~ .
~5~Z7~
ing the required discharge rate of the pump, at least four annular spaces must be able to flow; it is the reason for which is provi-ded near the bottom of the separator a guard 8 formed by a cylindri-cal collar tightly attached on the casing 4 of the pump 5 and ~ur rounding the base of the separator along a height corresponding to four annular spaces, i.e. a little more of one meter, So, the pump stops when the product level is under the guard levelc In operation, there is created in the product a low vis008ity zone around the separator~ and the equal vi~cosity surfaces have a conical shape with the head down, so that the viscosity o~ the product arriving at ~he pump is practically indep~ndent from the level of the product.
EXAMPLES
1) Height of the product (H on fig~ 4) : 15,2 m;
temperature: 80C over three meters downwards from the upper sur-face, decreasing regularly unto 20C at the base. The average temperature of the product passing through the separator is 71,7C ~Tl)7
Usually, when exploiting such a storage, the product to be stored is sent in a suitable enclvsure, and according to the circumstances, either the product is maintained at teJnperature sufficient to allow the retaking at every time, or the product is allowed to cool and to clot, and later, when the product i5 to be used, it is heated unto a temperature allowing its handling.
These two ways of working the stored product are very costly when the mass of product is very large, as it is the case in underground storagesO For avoiding to keep the temperature up or to heat a very large mass of product, the stored mass is divided into separate units, some uf which are clotted and main-tained at ambient temperature, for rather long periods of time, whilst the others are reheated first, or permanently maintained at an adequate temperature, for easy handling.
This solution is not satisfactory, because when dividing the stored mass it occurs an increase of the complication, of the thermal losses and of the required investment, so that only a reduced number of units can be provided which still remain too big for permitting to reach a homogeneous temperature.
If the temperature of the product is not homogeneous, the viscosity is also not homogeneous and the most viscous parts may impede the operation of the circulating pumps. Then~ it is necessary to provide for a separation of the parts which are fluid enough and the ones which are not so. In French patent 73 25301 .
the applicant has disclosed a method for progressi~ely liquefy heavy products in an underground storage. In this method 3 a heat-ing fluid, preferably water, is made to circulate on the su ~ ce , 527~
of the clotted product.
Due to the difference of density, the liquefied product rises to the surface of the water to form a pellicle, and is so separated from the clotted product~ The criterion of sepa-ration is precisely an adequate fluidity to allow the heated product to be separated from the cold mass, due to the Archimedean thrust.
After that, it remains to separate the fluidified product from the water, by means of a decantation tank.
This method provides for a good solution to the problem of obtaining the product with a sufficient fluidity for its flowing in the pumps, but this solution has some drawbacks~
On the one hand, the s-tored product must not be in a condition to be mixed or to react with wa ter ~ and must have a density sufficiently different from that of water. The product must hav~ a suitable fluidity under 100C~ The use of an auxiliary liquid other than water (e.g. brine) much inoreases the cost of the method. It is also disclosed in this patent to use the stored product itself after it has been heated, ~ut ~he problem of hete~
rogen viseo~ity is not solved in this case~
On the other hand, the decantatlon installations cannot be placed in the extraction well~ due to their bulkîness;
service galleries mus-t be provided for the maintenance of these installations~
It is an object of the invention to provide a storage method allowing to get rid o* these drawbacks, i.~. with no auxi-liary ~luid for bringlng the product to the pumps with a suitable viscosity, and in condition to.run oontinuously without any human help underground.
In a storage method according to the invention 3 a difference of temperature is permanently maint~ined in the product, so that only a portion of this product has a low enough vis~osity .
a~lowing its extraction and this portion is ~eparated from the remnant by means of a stat;c device using the relation between the viscosity of a fluid and its flowing speed through an orifice.
In a storage comprising an extraction well common to a number of galleries 3 it is possible to apply a method according to the invention for the operation of the storage in one or several ; galleries, the stored mass in the other galleries being kept out of the circuit, for example completely clotted.
The conventional theory of mechanics of fluids provides, for the flow through a ~ylindrical orifice :
v = 0,097 ~ m q ~ 0~076 d3 ~ hm these equations being valid, if Re = o,097 d _~hm < 5 in which v = flow speed :
q = discharge rate of fluid through a cylindrical orifice Re = Reynolds number d - diame*er of the orifice g - gravity acceleration hm = power load on said ori*ice v ~ viscosity of the product when z ~ H-h9 then hm = h+ fH ~ ~ (Tl-T)dzy in which:
z = altitude o.~ an orifice~ with regard to the bot-tom of the storage gallery (see fig. 4 ) H = height of the product in the gallery h = level difference in the gallery and inside the stack of elements ( shroud) ;~
~ - modulus of thermal volumic expansion of the stored product .
-27~
T - temperature ~C~ at the coh~idered orifiee Tl- average temperature inside the stack of element6 (shroud) The separation d~vice must evidently b~ placed on the way of the stored product towards the pump, and close enough to this pump. According to the invention, the device comprises a wall which, on a major par* of the height of the storage, is provided with passages so that the product passes through with a substantially streamline flow. In a preferred embodl~nent, the device is ma~e o~ a tube provided with holes and dispo~ed in the extraction well, so that it is possible *o bring it out without manual intervention underground.
The orifices can be circular hioles, and in this oase, the recknoning shows that for obtaining a total discharge vf 560 m3/h with a liquid having a viscosity of 200 cs, it is nece~-sary to provide 100.000 holes of 0,8 mm in diameter for each meter in the height of the device. This is technically difficult, as the height in the well is comprised between 10 and 20 meters. It would :.
be necessary to have a tube of this length~ with a diameter of 0,80 m, provided with 100.000 holes of 0,B mm on each meterO
It is possible to use a wire-netting instead of a tube, the passages in which should have an equivalent section.
In another solution, there is provided tubes with Poiseuille flowing, in which the ratio length/diameter is chosen as great as possible. Bundles of such tubes are mounted perpen-dicularly on the orifices provided for this,purpose on the vertical tubing. The number of these tubes for each meter should Ai ~,ueh as to ensure the required discharge rate with a pressure loss allowing the desired separation.
In a prefer~ed embodiment, the separation device is formed by superimposed annular passages, and the devlce compri-. .
.
ses a series of aylindro-conieal annular elem~nts with vertical axe~, the elements being fitted in one another so as to let bet-ween two superimposed elements an annular spaae forming a passage through which the product passes with a substantially streamline flow.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein :
- fig. 1 is a schemat.ic view partly in ~ection of an embodiment of the separation device according to the invention, - fig. 2 is a schematic view in saction of a detail illustrating the operation of the device of fig. l;
~ figo 3 is a schematic general view o~ an under-ground storage installation; and ~ fig. 4 is a more detailed view of a part of fig. 3.
Referring now to fig. 1, the device comprises a shroud formed by a stack of cylindro-conical elements 7 spaced by annular passages through w~ich the produet passes in streamline flow, and more specific~ally :
- a submerged pump 1 dependent of the discharge tube 2 and a protecting casing 3 for the motor, lying under the pump. The pump is enclosed in an impervious casing 4, which is tightly attached in 5 to the casing 3 of the ~motor;
- the pressure losses separation device 6, having 16 m in height, comprising 46 annular elements 7, each 23 cm long and 80 cm in diameter. These elements may be formed in two halves for their setting around the discharge tube of the pump;
- a ~uard 8, 1 m high~ covering at least four ele-ments. Both this guard and the annular devioe are tightly attached~
in 9, to the casing 4 of the pump.
In the case of an underground s~orage, the above ~S~7~1L
assembly is placed in the well 14, above tlle sunk draining trap 25 so that the casings 3 and 4 are completely in the trap. The guard 8 is only partially in the trap 25, so that its upper edge 10 is slightly above the highest level of exhaust water.
The pressure losses separation device 6 is shown at a larger scale on flg. 2. It is formed of a series of cylindro-conical annular elements 71 one of which is shown entirely, the two adjacent elements being partially shown. Each elemen-t 7 comprises two cylindrical por~ions 11 a 12 of different diameters, 1o oonnected by a conical portion 13. The elements are fitted in one another~ the larger cylindrical portion 11 of an element sur~ound-ing the narrower cylindrical portion 12 of the element which is disposed adjacent underneath. Between two adjacent elements is so formed an annular space of length 1 and width e It is easy, knowing 1 and e as well as the inner diameter of the portion 11, and the viscosity (or temperature T)ofthe product in front of the entrance of the annular space,and the level differenae h between the outside and the inside of the separator, to reckon the discharge rate of each annular space 3 and consequently the to~al discharge rate 3f the separator1 and the average viscosity tor temperature Tl) of the stream flowing through the separation device.
As an example, in which the viscosity is bound to the temperature in the following rate:
temperature (C) 20 40 60 80 viseosi-ty (cs) 22000 2640 55G 165 the discharge rat~ of the pump is 680 m3th and the maximum possible viscosity is 440 cs.
The outer and inner diameters of the annular spaces are 800 mm and 780 mm, i.e. a width e = 10 mm; the length 1 is 230 mm and the distance I. betwe~n two adjacent annular spaces is 345 mm.
It has also been ascertained that in view of obtain 6 ~
,: ;, ,, ~ ., : . .
, ~ .
~5~Z7~
ing the required discharge rate of the pump, at least four annular spaces must be able to flow; it is the reason for which is provi-ded near the bottom of the separator a guard 8 formed by a cylindri-cal collar tightly attached on the casing 4 of the pump 5 and ~ur rounding the base of the separator along a height corresponding to four annular spaces, i.e. a little more of one meter, So, the pump stops when the product level is under the guard levelc In operation, there is created in the product a low vis008ity zone around the separator~ and the equal vi~cosity surfaces have a conical shape with the head down, so that the viscosity o~ the product arriving at ~he pump is practically indep~ndent from the level of the product.
EXAMPLES
1) Height of the product (H on fig~ 4) : 15,2 m;
temperature: 80C over three meters downwards from the upper sur-face, decreasing regularly unto 20C at the base. The average temperature of the product passing through the separator is 71,7C ~Tl)7
2~ Height of the product : ~,2lm; temperature: 80C
over one meter downwards from the upper sur~a2e, decreasing regu-larly unto 21,4C at the base. The average temperature of the product passing through the separator is 72,1~C (Tl).
The elements 7 of the separator are formed each by two half elements, in abutment in an axial vertical plane. Each half element is formed by a cylindro-conical shell, corresponding to the portions 11, 12 and 13, one half-collar of diameter subs- , tantially equal to that of the pump discharge tube 2, and one cross member connecting the half collar to the portion 12 of reduced diameter. -Quick clamping means are provided for pressing together -the two ~hells of each element~ and on -the discharge tube 2 which provides a support means.
7~
The diameter of the separator, with guard 8 9 i~
chosen so ~hat it is possible to take the assembly out of the well unto the surface, by hoisting it together with the pump along the well or along a tubing placed in th2 well, without having to go down the well.
; If the device is used in a surface storage~ the : pUJnp 1 can be placed at the bottom of the tank, the bottom level corresponding either to the lower or to the upper edge o~ the guard 8.
If the discharge tube 2 is disposed in another manner~
ther~ must be provided instead a suitable support for supporting the separator elements.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an underground storage installation according to the invention. The pump 1 and separator 6 are disposed in the sunk draining trap 25 at the bottom o~ a well 14; connected to a storage gallery 15 containlng the ætored product. The dot-and-dash line 16 is the symbolic separa~
tion between the clotted product 17, obliqueiy hachured, and the li~uefied product 18. It is to be noted that the separation is purely arbitrary ~ this line corresponds to an isotherm surface which is substantially horizontal in the greater part of the gal~
lery 15, and is curved down adjacent to the separator 6 as above explained.
The discharge tube 2 of the pump is connected outside to a distributor 19~ which receives also through a duct 20 the product arriving from the production plant. The distributor 19 dispatches a portion of the pumped product in a duct 21, connected to the consumer plant, and the re~ant in a duct 22 connected to a heater 23, formed cOg. by a steam supplied exchanger. The pro-duct flowing out of heater 23 is sent through a pipe 24 in thestoring gallery 15, at an end opposite well 14.
-~4 99P5;27~L
The pump 1 is working with a discharge rata subs-tantially constant.
If the production and consumer plants are stoppedg all the pumped product is permanently recycled, and the heater 23 : supplies only the amount of heat required to balance the losses and keep the liquefied product portion up to a suitable value.
If part of the product is sent to the storage, the ~; amount of heat given by the heater 23 is reduced, so as to take into account the clotting heat of the product so stored ln excess.
On the contr~ry~ if the storage is reduced, the amount of heat given by the hea~er 23 is increased proport;onally to th~ amoun~ ;
of product to be liquefied~
In this way, the amount of product 18 with a low -, viscosity, remaining above the clotted product 17~ is reduoed and has only small variations, and the pump 1 operates in good condi~
tions in spite of the level variations of the product in the storage.
The invention ~y advantageously be applied to the storage of heavy hydrocarbonsO
Although one preferred embodiment is specifically illus~rated and described therein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and varlations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and inten-ded scope of the invention.
I
_ g _ :
over one meter downwards from the upper sur~a2e, decreasing regu-larly unto 21,4C at the base. The average temperature of the product passing through the separator is 72,1~C (Tl).
The elements 7 of the separator are formed each by two half elements, in abutment in an axial vertical plane. Each half element is formed by a cylindro-conical shell, corresponding to the portions 11, 12 and 13, one half-collar of diameter subs- , tantially equal to that of the pump discharge tube 2, and one cross member connecting the half collar to the portion 12 of reduced diameter. -Quick clamping means are provided for pressing together -the two ~hells of each element~ and on -the discharge tube 2 which provides a support means.
7~
The diameter of the separator, with guard 8 9 i~
chosen so ~hat it is possible to take the assembly out of the well unto the surface, by hoisting it together with the pump along the well or along a tubing placed in th2 well, without having to go down the well.
; If the device is used in a surface storage~ the : pUJnp 1 can be placed at the bottom of the tank, the bottom level corresponding either to the lower or to the upper edge o~ the guard 8.
If the discharge tube 2 is disposed in another manner~
ther~ must be provided instead a suitable support for supporting the separator elements.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an underground storage installation according to the invention. The pump 1 and separator 6 are disposed in the sunk draining trap 25 at the bottom o~ a well 14; connected to a storage gallery 15 containlng the ætored product. The dot-and-dash line 16 is the symbolic separa~
tion between the clotted product 17, obliqueiy hachured, and the li~uefied product 18. It is to be noted that the separation is purely arbitrary ~ this line corresponds to an isotherm surface which is substantially horizontal in the greater part of the gal~
lery 15, and is curved down adjacent to the separator 6 as above explained.
The discharge tube 2 of the pump is connected outside to a distributor 19~ which receives also through a duct 20 the product arriving from the production plant. The distributor 19 dispatches a portion of the pumped product in a duct 21, connected to the consumer plant, and the re~ant in a duct 22 connected to a heater 23, formed cOg. by a steam supplied exchanger. The pro-duct flowing out of heater 23 is sent through a pipe 24 in thestoring gallery 15, at an end opposite well 14.
-~4 99P5;27~L
The pump 1 is working with a discharge rata subs-tantially constant.
If the production and consumer plants are stoppedg all the pumped product is permanently recycled, and the heater 23 : supplies only the amount of heat required to balance the losses and keep the liquefied product portion up to a suitable value.
If part of the product is sent to the storage, the ~; amount of heat given by the heater 23 is reduced, so as to take into account the clotting heat of the product so stored ln excess.
On the contr~ry~ if the storage is reduced, the amount of heat given by the hea~er 23 is increased proport;onally to th~ amoun~ ;
of product to be liquefied~
In this way, the amount of product 18 with a low -, viscosity, remaining above the clotted product 17~ is reduoed and has only small variations, and the pump 1 operates in good condi~
tions in spite of the level variations of the product in the storage.
The invention ~y advantageously be applied to the storage of heavy hydrocarbonsO
Although one preferred embodiment is specifically illus~rated and described therein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and varlations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and inten-ded scope of the invention.
I
_ g _ :
Claims (5)
1) A working method for the storage of a product with a clotting point above ambient temperature, characterized in that a temperature difference is permanently maintained in the stored product, so that only a portion of the product has an adequate viscosity to allow the extraction of this portion, and this portion is separated from the remnant by means of a static device using the relation between the viscosity of a fluid and its flowing speed through an orifice.
2) A method according to claim 1 characterized in that a substantially constant flow rate is extracted through the static separating device, the extracted product is separated into two portions in a variable ratio, one of these portions being perma-nently recycled after having passed through a heater in which this product portion receives the amount of heat required for maintaining in the storage the temperature conditions allowing the operation of this storage.
3) A static separator device for the implementing of the method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a wall which, on a major part of the height of the storage, is provided with passages so that the product passes through with a substantially streamline flow.
4) A device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a series of cylindro-conical annular elements with vertical axes, the elements being fitted in one another so as to let between two superimposed elements an annular space forming a passage through which the product passes with a substantially streamline flow.
5) A device according to claim 4 particularly adapted to an underground storage device, characterized in that it is mounted above an extraction pump disposed in a well, and in that the elements are attached to the discharge tube of the pump, and have an outer diameter little enough to allow to hoist the assembly outside in one piece.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR7728509A FR2403955A1 (en) | 1977-09-21 | 1977-09-21 | Setting material storage system - maintains temperature difference to make part sufficiently viscous for handling |
| FR7728509 | 1977-09-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1095274A true CA1095274A (en) | 1981-02-10 |
Family
ID=9195626
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA308,243A Expired CA1095274A (en) | 1977-09-21 | 1978-07-27 | Working and method for the storage of a product with a clotting point above ambient temperature |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5451175A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1095274A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2829908A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI65597C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2403955A1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO782364L (en) |
| SE (1) | SE423702B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA784149B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS58197103A (en) * | 1982-05-13 | 1983-11-16 | Energ Eng Kk | Underground storing method of high pour point oil |
-
1977
- 1977-09-21 FR FR7728509A patent/FR2403955A1/en active Granted
-
1978
- 1978-06-30 SE SE7807424A patent/SE423702B/en unknown
- 1978-07-05 FI FI782165A patent/FI65597C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1978-07-06 NO NO782364A patent/NO782364L/en unknown
- 1978-07-07 DE DE19782829908 patent/DE2829908A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-07-21 ZA ZA00784149A patent/ZA784149B/en unknown
- 1978-07-27 CA CA308,243A patent/CA1095274A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-09 JP JP9716778A patent/JPS5451175A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2403955B1 (en) | 1981-02-20 |
| NO782364L (en) | 1979-03-22 |
| FI65597B (en) | 1984-02-29 |
| FI782165A (en) | 1979-03-22 |
| ZA784149B (en) | 1979-08-29 |
| FR2403955A1 (en) | 1979-04-20 |
| SE7807424L (en) | 1979-03-22 |
| DE2829908A1 (en) | 1979-03-29 |
| FI65597C (en) | 1984-06-11 |
| SE423702B (en) | 1982-05-24 |
| JPS5451175A (en) | 1979-04-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |