WO2017089558A1 - A pipe insulation system, an insulated pipe, a method of insulating a pipe, and a method for detecting theft of fluids from an insulated pipe - Google Patents

A pipe insulation system, an insulated pipe, a method of insulating a pipe, and a method for detecting theft of fluids from an insulated pipe Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017089558A1
WO2017089558A1 PCT/EP2016/078836 EP2016078836W WO2017089558A1 WO 2017089558 A1 WO2017089558 A1 WO 2017089558A1 EP 2016078836 W EP2016078836 W EP 2016078836W WO 2017089558 A1 WO2017089558 A1 WO 2017089558A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pipe
outer jacket
bulkheads
insulating
lengthwise direction
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2016/078836
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Anders ØSTERBALLE
Karsten Tranberg NIELSEN
Jørgen KRISTENSEN
Original Assignee
Scantech International Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Scantech International Ltd. filed Critical Scantech International Ltd.
Publication of WO2017089558A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017089558A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L59/00—Thermal insulation in general
    • F16L59/14—Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L59/16—Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like
    • F16L59/166—Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like covering the end of an insulated section
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L59/00—Thermal insulation in general
    • F16L59/12—Arrangements for supporting insulation from the wall or body insulated, e.g. by means of spacers between pipe and heat-insulating material; Arrangements specially adapted for supporting insulated bodies
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L59/00—Thermal insulation in general
    • F16L59/14—Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D5/00—Protection or supervision of installations
    • F17D5/02—Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/04—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
    • G01M3/24—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
    • G01M3/243—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations for pipes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/26—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
    • G01M3/28—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds
    • G01M3/2807—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds for pipes

Definitions

  • a PIPE INSULATION SYSTEM AN INSULATED PIPE, A METHOD OF INSULATING A PIPE, AND A METHOD FOR DETECTING THEFT OF FLUIDS FROM AN INSULATED PIPE
  • the present invention relates to a pipe assembly, to an assembly for insulating a pipe, to a method of insulating a pipe, and to a method for detecting theft of fluids from an insulated pipe.
  • the invention relates to a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, e.g. an oil pipe, a water pipe, or a pipe for other chemical compounds etc.
  • pipes are often insulated.
  • an outer jacket encloses the pipe, and an insulating material fills out a space between the pipe and the outer jacket.
  • chemical transport pipes require such insulation to maintain a minimum temperature of the transported fluid. If an insulated pipe leaks, it can be very difficult to estimate the location of the leak because the leaking fluid can flow along the pipe in the space within the outer jacket. This makes leak detection difficult and repair costly.
  • the invention in a first aspect, provides a pipe assembly comprising a pipe, an outer jacket, and an insulating material.
  • the pipe forms a central tubular fluid conduit which extends in a lengthwise direction.
  • the pipe can be used in connection with any kind of fluid, it can be used to convey substances from one location to another, and it may be designed such that it provides an efficient transport of said fluids.
  • Fluids to be transported may e.g. be liquids (hot or cold water, petroleum, oil, etc.), slurries, powder, or gasses.
  • the temperature of the transported fluids may be low, e.g. below 20°C, or the temperature may be high, e.g. above 30°C.
  • the system may be made for temperatures below 20°C or for temperatures in the range of 60°C to 140°C, or even up to 250°C.
  • the pipe can be made of a number of different materials including concrete, ceramic, glass, fiber reinforced polymer materials, steel, aluminium, and combinations of different metals such as steel and aluminium alloys, plastic etc.
  • the choice of the material depends on the application or requirements e.g. related to weight.
  • steel or fiber reinforced polymer materials may typically be used.
  • the outer jacket enclosing the pipe serves primarily to protect the insulation material, and it further serves to prevent spreading of leaking fluids. It can be made of different materials including different ceramic materials, fiber reinforced polymer materials, steel, aluminium, and combinations of different metals such as steel and aluminium alloys, or plastic etc. According to one embodiment of the invention, polymer materials, e.g. in combination with fiber reinforcement material may typically be used. Typically, thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), or high- density polyethylene (HD-PE) may be used for the outer jacket. Depending on the size of the pipe, size of the outer jacket is determined accordingly. More specifically, the outer jacket may be made from black coloured PE, e.g. virgin or rework material containing anti-oxidants, UV-stabilizers and carbon black may be added. The PE material may be extruded to form a closed circular pipe shape and subsequently cut open by a longitudinally cut slit.
  • PE polypropylene
  • PA polyamide
  • HD-PE
  • the thermal stability of the outer jacket may be determined by oxygen induction time (OIT) of the black coloured PE material and may be at least 20 min when tested at 210°C.
  • OIT oxygen induction time
  • longer pipe systems are assembled from pipes of e.g. 6, 12 or 16 meters in length.
  • the outer jacket and insulation material can be attached to pipes which are already assembled into very long pipes, e.g. several kilometres in length, and it may be used for insulation of pipes already in use.
  • the outer jacket may be attached to a pipe which is already in use. Accordingly, the free ends of the pipe are not accessible and the outer jacket may therefore not be attached axially onto the pipe.
  • the outer jacket may form an elongated slit extending in the lengthwise direction so that it can be easily attached about the pipe in a radial direction.
  • the slit When attached to the pipe, the slit may be sealed by welding.
  • the longitudinal edge along the slit may be bevelled to facilitate the welding.
  • the outer jacket may preferably be made from an elastically deformable material, and at least sufficiently elastically deformable to allow the slit to be opened enough for the pipe to enter into the outer jacket through the slit. That may allow radial displacement of the outer jacket onto the pipe.
  • the insulating material in the space between the pipe and the outer jacket may be directly in contact with an outer surface of the pipe. In this way air between the pipe and the insulating material is prevented.
  • the insulating material may completely fill out the space between the pipe and the outer jacket.
  • Different kinds of insulation materials can be used such as mineral wool, glass wool, flexible elastomeric foam, rigid foam, polyethylene, cellular glass, or aerogel.
  • Flexible polymer foam e.g. polyurethane (PUR and PU) or similar may preferably be used.
  • the space may be filled with PU foam having a compressive strength or a compressive stress at 10 % relative deformation as defined in ISO 844 and being not less than 0,3 MPa in a radial direction. This will be suitable in combination with the sealing bulkheads and outer jacket.
  • the insulating material is composed of a multitude insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads.
  • the insulating bodies may be made by injecting a liquid material such as PUR or PU into the space between the pipe and the jacket. Particularly, it may be a two component mixture configured to create foam upon mixing just before being injected into the spaces between the pipe and the outer jacket.
  • a liquid material such as PUR or PU
  • the bulkheads provide a leak proof sealing, propagation of the liquid insulating material along the length of the pipe is prevented, and the separate bodies are formed with help from the bulkheads.
  • the bulkheads ensure foaming in spaces of well-known volume and therefore increase the chances of obtaining completely filled spaces.
  • the bulkheads provide a leak proof sealing, propagation of contaminants such as oil or other chemicals along the length of the pipe is prevented, and the insulating layer can effectively reduce spreading of chemicals from a leaking pipe. This is especially important for effective detection of a possible leakage of the transported substances.
  • the bulkheads and the leak proof sealing therefore serve two purposes, one purpose is to form separate bodies of insulating material by foaming, particularly bodies which completely fill out the separate spaces, and another purpose to prevent spreading of leaking fluids from the pipe.
  • the bulkheads may be made from separate bulkhead elements being assembled about the pipe. This may enable easy fitting of the bulkheads about long pipes without access to the free ends of the pipe.
  • an existing pipe e.g. a pipe which is already in use is exposed and optionally cleaned or otherwise prepared for insulation.
  • the pipe can be coated with a protective coating, e.g. containing bitumen, epoxy, etc.
  • the outer jacket is wrapped about the pipe, and the slit is welded to form a closed outer jacket.
  • a liquid material is injected into the space between the pipe and the outer jacket between two adjacent bulkheads, through one or more injection openings in the outer jacket.
  • the liquid material is allowed to harden, e.g., to create a foam material.
  • the formation of the foam material typically starts no earlier than the liquid material has been injected. Due to the leak proof sealing provided by the bulkheads, the liquid material is maintained between two bulkheads, and it becomes possible to fill out the space completely without voids and without overfilling the space.
  • the volume of the space may be calculated based on the distance between the adjacent bulkheads.
  • the liquid material is injected in one continuous shot. That will further improve the ability to completely fill out the space with foam. Injection speed is preferred to be as high as possible.
  • injection speed of the liquid material is up to 100 litres/min.
  • total injection time is 45 seconds, i.e. for the injection of the liquid in the space between two adjacent bulkheads.
  • the distance between the bulkheads would be the same for all bulkheads, however, in case that the volume of the insulation material slightly differs from the volume of the space between the adjacent bulkheads, the density of the created foam may be different from one insulating body to another.
  • the bulkheads may comprise an inner ring and an outer ring.
  • both the inner and outer ring of the bulkheads may be made of the same material e.g. PE, PU, polyvinyl-chloride (PVC), aluminium, steel, iron, etc.
  • PVC polyvinyl-chloride
  • the advantage of having the same material is that the entire bulkhead will have the same thermal expansive properties, same resistance against corrosion, can be assembled by identical methods, e.g. by welding etc.
  • Each ring is divided into at least two separate ring elements which can be assembled about the pipe.
  • the parts of the rings are identical, and further connected e.g. by geometric interlocking features or by use of screws, bolts, rivet, or other means.
  • the inner ring may form an inner surface facing the pipe and preferably arranged in direct contact against an outer surface of the pipe, preferably such that axial displacement of the inner ring relative to the pipe is prevented.
  • the inner surface of the inner ring may form a plurality of protrusions making the inner surface of the inner ring discontinuous. This may reduce thermal spreading from the pipe through the inner ring.
  • the inner ring also forms an opposite outer surface facing an inner surface of the outer ring.
  • the contact between the outer surface of the pipe and the inner surface of the inner ring, and the contact between the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring may be leak proof, and leakage of fluids axially along the pipe along the interfaces between the rings is thereby prevented.
  • At least one of the outer surface of the inner ring and inner surface of the outer ring may be non-perpendicular to the lengthwise direction, thereby forming a wedge shape.
  • the inner ring and outer ring can be wedged into engagement and axial displacement of the outer ring relative to the pipe can be prevented by the engagement between the inner ring and the pipe.
  • the outer surface of the inner ring is non perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.
  • the outer ring can be displaced axially along the pipe and relative to the inner ring, until an inner surface of the outer ring contacts the wedge shaped outer surface of the inner ring and the two rings are thus wedged onto each other and further axial displacement of the outer ring along the pipe can therefore be prevented by the inner ring.
  • the pipe assembly may further comprise a plurality of spacers arranged about the pipe.
  • the spacers ensure a minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket and thus ensure a minimum insulation layer thickness. This distance is determined by various standards and regulations depending on the application.
  • the advantage of both the bulkheads and spacers is that those can be made in various sizes and therefore be suitable for all different sizes of the pipes.
  • the spacers may be made from separate spacer sections which are assembled about the pipe which can already be installed and therefore have no free ends. Spacers form an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer jacket. Furthermore, at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the spacer may be discontinuous to reduce thermal spreading from the pipe through the spacer.
  • the entire insulation structure can be assembled in situ about a pipe which can be already fully installed so that the free ends cannot be accessed.
  • the pipe assembly may comprise a cable for transmission of data signals.
  • Data signals are mainly related to the pipe and the substance therein. These data signals may be obtained from a number of sensors positioned along the pipe or the cable itself may form a sensor or the sensors may be imprinted into the cable.
  • the cable is a fiber-optic cable positioned within the insulating bodies. In one embodiment, a single fiber may extend throughout a plurality of insulating bodies.
  • different sensors may collect information about the temperature, humidity, pressure, flow rate, vibrations or any other parameter which is relevant for the substance transported through the pipe. This information is sent to a signal processing unit in which it is further processed and serves as an input to different in-line components, such as valves, fittings, and other devices which control the state or transport of the fluid.
  • the assembly may comprise sensor means capable of providing sensing data for each section between adjacent bulkheads, separately. In that way, a leakage may be detected separately in each body of insulating material.
  • the sensing data for each section should preferably be uniquely identifiable such that a section, for which leakage has been detected, can be identified. This can be obtained by one single cable, e.g. a fiber-optic cable, which runs along the pipe in the insulation material and which passes through the bulkheads and form liquid tight penetration there through. Accordingly, each bulkhead may form a passage formed and sized to receive the cable in a liquid tight manner. Accordingly, a combination with bulkheads and matching cables may be provided to thereby allow liquid tight passing of cables across bulkheads.
  • Sensing can also be obtained by a number of separate cables, e.g. fiber-optic cables ending in different spaces between different bulkheads.
  • the data cable may be formed from a plurality of fiber-optic patch cords which length corresponds to the distance between two adjacent bulkheads.
  • a cable may comprise sensors for detecting mechanical vibrations created both inside and/or outside of the insulated pipe. Information obtained from sensors which detect mechanical vibration may be compared with a reference, so that it can be determined if the vibrations are above a predefined level.
  • the data cable may also facilitate sensing for detection of the fluid flow rate.
  • Information obtained from these sensors may again be compared with another reference related to the flow rate.
  • a change in the flow through the pipe may be determined.
  • theft of the substance transported by the pipe may be detected.
  • a sound signal may, for example, be generated, indicating a potential theft.
  • the sensors may be implemented in each section between adjacent bulkheads so that, if theft occurs, the exact location of the theft can be identified.
  • the cable carrying the data and/or comprising the sensors may be supported by the bulkheads and the spacers, and it may be integrated into the bodies of an insulating material.
  • the data cable forms a sealing penetration through the bulkheads preventing leakage along the cable from one insulating body to another adjacent insulating body.
  • the invention provides an assembly for insulating pipes forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction.
  • the assembly comprises an outer jacket, at least two transversal bulkheads, and a plurality of spacers.
  • the outer jacket forms oblong tubular shape with an elongate slit which allows the outer jacket to be opened and then radially arranged about the pipe, so that there is no need for the access of a pipe free end.
  • the assembly further comprises the transversal bulkheads which are configured to interact with the pipe and outer jacket. Such a configuration provides a leak proof sealing between the pipe and outer jacket.
  • Each bulkhead comprises at least two separate sections that can be joined, so that they can be also arranged around the pipe without a need for the access of a pipe free end, as in the case of the outer jacket.
  • the assembly also comprises a plurality of spacers configured to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket.
  • Each spacer comprises an opening, so that it can also be arranged around the pipe without a need for the access of a free pipe end.
  • the outer jacket may form a plurality of injection openings for injecting the insulation material into a space between the outer jacket and the pipe between two adjacent bulkheads. During the injection, the insulation material may be in a liquid state.
  • the invention provides a method of insulating a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction and exposing no free pipe ends, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the liquid insulating material may particularly be a material which creates solid foam, e.g., PU foam.
  • each space between two adjacent bulkheads is filled with an amount of liquid which is exactly sufficient for filling that space with foam.
  • the sufficient amount is preferably injected in a single injection cycle.
  • the sufficient amount of insulated material is determined based on the distance between the bulkheads.
  • a single injection cycle is herein meant that the injection continuous such that the entire necessary amount of liquid material is injected before the foaming process ends.
  • the injection is finished as fast as possible, typically in less than 45 seconds, or even in less than 40 seconds.
  • the method may further comprise the step of inspecting the insulating bodies, e.g. by thermal sensing, and the step of arranging sensors in the spaces prior to the injection of the liquid material into the spaces.
  • the invention provides a method for detecting theft of fluids from a supply pipe.
  • the method comprises the steps of:
  • the data cable is a fiber-optic cable and the sensors may be integrated into the fiber-optic cable.
  • the sensors may detect mechanical vibrations and/or flow rate of the fluid transported through the pipe.
  • the method for theft detection further comprises a step of comparing the data obtained by a vibrational sensor with reference data and determining if the vibrations are above a predefined level.
  • the method may further comprise a step of comparing the data obtained by a flow rate sensor with reference data to determine if the flow rate has been changed compared to predefined flow ranges.
  • the fiber-optic sensors may be implemented in each section between adjacent bulkheads so that, if theft occurs, the exact location of the theft may be identified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pipe with bulkheads and spacers.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a pipe assembly with (a) an outer jacket (b) an elongate slit and an opening in the outer jacket (c) insulation material under the outer jacket.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates (a) a perspective view of a bulkhead (b) cross-section of the bulkhead (c) a perspective view of a part of an inner ring forming a bulkhead.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates (a) first example of a perspective view of a part of an inner ring forming a bulkhead (b) a perspective view of zoom-in edge of (a), (c) second example of a perspective view of a part of an inner ring forming a bulkhead (d) a perspective view of zoom-in edge of (c), and (e) a cross-section of a pipe assembly showing arrangement of lips of adjacent bulkheads.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a spacer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tubular pipe extending in a lengthwise direction and forming a central fluid conduit 101.
  • the pipe is to be insulated.
  • FIG. 1 also shows two bulkheads 102 and 6 spacers 103 mounted about the pipe, as well as a data cable 104 extending longitudinally along the pipe and being supported by both, the bulkheads and spacers.
  • the number of bulkheads and spacers may vary. Also, the distance between two bulkheads or spacers may vary, e.g. depending on the entire length of the pipe system. The number of spacers being mounted between two adjacent bulkheads can also vary.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tubular pipe extending in a lengthwise direction and forming a central fluid conduit 101.
  • the pipe is to be insulated.
  • FIG. 1 also shows two bulkheads 102 and 6 spacers 103 mounted about the pipe, as well as a data cable 104 extending longitudinally along the pipe and being supported by both
  • FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of a pipe assembly where only an outer jacket 201, a pipe 101, and a part of a bulkhead 102 are shown.
  • the outer jacket enclosing the pipe, completely hides the bulkheads, the insulation material, spacers, and other parts of the pipe assembly. In this way all the parts are fully protected by the outer jacket.
  • the outer jacket forms an elongate slit 202, illustrated in FIG. 2b, for arrangement about the already installed pipe having no free ends. When attached to the pipe, the slit is sealed by welding.
  • one or more injection openings 203 are comprised in the outer jacket.
  • FIG. 2c illustrates an insulating material 204 which fills out the space between the pipe 101 and the outer jacket 201.
  • FIG. 3a illustrates a perspective view of the bulkhead 102 arranged about the pipe 101.
  • the bulkhead 102 is formed of two separate rings, an inner ring 301 and an outer ring 302.
  • the inner ring 301 and the outer ring 302 are configured to form a leak proof sealing between adjacent insulating bodies.
  • the rings 301 and 302 are divided into at least two, preferably identical, parts which can be assembled about the pipe 101.
  • the parts of the rings 301 and 302 can be connected using for instance screws 304, as shown in FIG. 3a. Since the rings of the bulkheads are in separate pieces, fitting of the bulkheads onto the pipe is particularly simplified.
  • FIG. 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bulkhead 102 fitted onto the pipe 101.
  • the outer surface of the inner ring 301 and inner surface of the outer ring 302 are non-perpendicular to the lengthwise direction, as can be seen in FIG. 3b, thereby forming a wedge shape. Due to the wedge shape, the inner ring 301 and outer ring 302 are wedged onto each other and axial displacement of the outer ring along the pipe 101 can therefore be prevented by the inner ring 301.
  • FIG. 3c A perspective view of a part of the inner ring 301 is illustrated in FIG. 3c.
  • the inner ring 301 forms an inner surface arranged against the pipe. This inner surface is formed by a plurality of identical equidistant protrusions 305. Therefore, the inner surface of the inner ring 301 is discontinuous, and the thermal spreading through the inner ring 301 from the pipe is reduced.
  • the end portion of the inner ring 301 forms a circumferential sealing flange 307.
  • the inner ring 301 also forms an opposite outer surface 306 to be arranged against an inner surface of the outer ring 302 shown in FIG. 3b.
  • FIG. 4a illustrates two different perspective views of a part of the outer ring 302.
  • the upper illustration shows a hole 401 for holding a data cable.
  • the inner surface 402 of the outer ring 302 When assembled about the pipe, the inner surface 402 of the outer ring 302 will be arranged against the outer surface 306 of the inner ring 301 in a way that the leak proof sealing is formed by the leak proof sealing contact.
  • On both upper and lower illustration a number of equidistantly arranged plates 403 are shown. These plates stiffen the construction and support the fixation of the ring 302 in the foam material.
  • Edge plates have a hole 404 to enable connection between the parts of the outer rings.
  • FIG. 4c illustrates the same, i.e., perspective view of the outer ring 302. The only difference with respect to 4a is that in this example, edge plates have two holes 404 enabling stronger connection between parts of the outer rings.
  • FIG. 4b illustrates an enlarged view of the edge of the part of the outer ring 302.
  • the spacing 405 facilitates radial displacement of the elastically deformable lip 406 which may be moved outwards when the insulation material expands. This provides sealing engagement with the outer jacket and thus adaptation of tolerances.
  • FIG. 4d illustrates an enlarged view of the edge of the outer ring 302 comprising two holes 404.
  • FIG. 4e illustrates a cross-section of a pipe assembly showing an arrangement of lips 406 of adjacent bulkheads.
  • the outer ring of a bulkhead forms an elastically deformable sealing lip 406 which may be moved both outwardly and inwardly relative to the lengthwise direction 407 when the insulating body 204 expands. More precisely, the lips of two adjacent outer rings extend oppositely relative to the lengthwise direction 407 when the insulating body 204 expands and in this way a sealing engagement between the outer ring and the outer jacket is provided.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the spacer 103 to be arranged about the pipe.
  • the spacer 103 is formed from an open ring 501 with an open section 502 which enables the spacer to be assembled about the already installed pipe having no free ends.
  • a number of inner protrusions 503 are arranged equidistantly forming an inner surface of the spacer 103. This inner surface will be arranged against an outer surface of the pipe.
  • Inner side of the ring 501 also comprises a plurality of cable holders 507 to accommodate possibly existing copper cables.
  • a number of outer protrusions 504, 505, and 506 are also arranged equidistantly forming an outer surface of the spacer 103. This outer surface will be arranged against an inner surface of the outer jacket. By this formation both the inner surface and the outer surface of the spacer 103 are discontinuous.
  • the outer protrusions 505 are of a T shape, to create good abutting contact with the inner surface of the outer jacket.
  • Protrusions 506 form a hole in the central part so that the ends of the spacers can be screwed for each other, closing the spacer and fixing its diameter.
  • the spacer 103 also comprises a holder 508 for holding a data cable.
  • a cable forms a sealing penetration through the bulkheads so that leakage is prevented along the cable from one insulating body to another adjacent insulating body.
  • the role of the spacer 103 is to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket. This distance may e.g. be specified in various standards and regulations depending on the application.
  • the advantage of both the bulkheads and spacers is that those can be made in various sizes and therefore be suitable for all different sizes of the pipes. In the case of the spacers this is enabled by different length of the inner and outer protrusions 503-506.
  • a pipe assembly comprising a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, an outer jacket enclosing the pipe, and an insulating material in a space between the pipe and the outer jacket, wherein the insulating material is composed of a multitude of insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies.
  • a pipe assembly according to embodiment 1 or 2, where the bulkheads comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring forming an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer ring, where at least one of the outer surface of the inner ring and inner surface of the outer ring is non perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.
  • a pipe assembly according to embodiment 3-5 where both the inner ring and the outer ring each comprises at least two separate ring elements which can be assembled about the pipe.
  • a pipe assembly according to embodiment 9 or 10 where the spacers forms an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer jacket.
  • the outer jacket forms a slit welding extending in the lengthwise direction.
  • An assembly for insulating pipes forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, the assembly comprising an outer jacket, a plurality of transversal bulkheads, and a plurality of spacers, the outer jacket forming an elongate slit allowing the outer jacket to be opened for being radially arranged about the pipe, the transversal bulkheads being configured to interact with the pipe and outer jacket to provide a leak proof sealing there between, and the spacers being configured to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket, where each bulkhead and each spacer comprises at least two separate sections which can be joined about the pipe.
  • a method for detecting theft of fluids from a supply pipe comprising :

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe assembly comprising a pipe (101) forming a central fluid conduit, an outer jacket (201) enclosing the pipe (101), and an insulating material (204) in a space between the pipe (101) and the outer jacket (201). To prevent the spread of liquid along the tube the insulating material (204) is composed of a multitude insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads (102) providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies. Transversal bulkheads (102) are formed in such a way that the assembling and reparation is possible in situ.

Description

A PIPE INSULATION SYSTEM, AN INSULATED PIPE, A METHOD OF INSULATING A PIPE, AND A METHOD FOR DETECTING THEFT OF FLUIDS FROM AN INSULATED PIPE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pipe assembly, to an assembly for insulating a pipe, to a method of insulating a pipe, and to a method for detecting theft of fluids from an insulated pipe. Particularly, the invention relates to a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, e.g. an oil pipe, a water pipe, or a pipe for other chemical compounds etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To avoid energy loss and reduced efficiency in, e.g., transportation of high viscous fluids such as crude oil, pipes are often insulated. In different kinds of pipe insulation systems, an outer jacket encloses the pipe, and an insulating material fills out a space between the pipe and the outer jacket. Often, chemical transport pipes require such insulation to maintain a minimum temperature of the transported fluid. If an insulated pipe leaks, it can be very difficult to estimate the location of the leak because the leaking fluid can flow along the pipe in the space within the outer jacket. This makes leak detection difficult and repair costly.
There is a general need for a system for insulating pipes which would make leak detection easier and which, additionally, is easy to assemble and repair in situ, on already installed pipes. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of embodiments of the invention to enable insulation of pipes without preventing effective leak detection and to provide a more efficient way of insulating pipes, particularly in situ on pipes which are already in use. It is a further object to improve the quality of the insulation and particularly, to ensure consistent insulation along the entire length of a pipe and over time.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an efficient process for insulating existing pipes, particularly with respect to leak detection, and repair. It is a further object to facilitate retrofitting of existing pipes with insulation which forms a predictable thermal encapsulation and leak prevention and which meets the requirements of the standards e.g. within the oil industry. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for detecting possible theft of a substance transported by a pipe.
Accordingly, the invention, in a first aspect, provides a pipe assembly comprising a pipe, an outer jacket, and an insulating material.
The pipe forms a central tubular fluid conduit which extends in a lengthwise direction. According to the invention, the pipe can be used in connection with any kind of fluid, it can be used to convey substances from one location to another, and it may be designed such that it provides an efficient transport of said fluids. Fluids to be transported may e.g. be liquids (hot or cold water, petroleum, oil, etc.), slurries, powder, or gasses.
The temperature of the transported fluids may be low, e.g. below 20°C, or the temperature may be high, e.g. above 30°C. Particularly, the system may be made for temperatures below 20°C or for temperatures in the range of 60°C to 140°C, or even up to 250°C.
The pipe can be made of a number of different materials including concrete, ceramic, glass, fiber reinforced polymer materials, steel, aluminium, and combinations of different metals such as steel and aluminium alloys, plastic etc. The choice of the material depends on the application or requirements e.g. related to weight. According to one embodiment of the invention, steel or fiber reinforced polymer materials may typically be used.
The outer jacket enclosing the pipe serves primarily to protect the insulation material, and it further serves to prevent spreading of leaking fluids. It can be made of different materials including different ceramic materials, fiber reinforced polymer materials, steel, aluminium, and combinations of different metals such as steel and aluminium alloys, or plastic etc. According to one embodiment of the invention, polymer materials, e.g. in combination with fiber reinforcement material may typically be used. Typically, thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), or high- density polyethylene (HD-PE) may be used for the outer jacket. Depending on the size of the pipe, size of the outer jacket is determined accordingly. More specifically, the outer jacket may be made from black coloured PE, e.g. virgin or rework material containing anti-oxidants, UV-stabilizers and carbon black may be added. The PE material may be extruded to form a closed circular pipe shape and subsequently cut open by a longitudinally cut slit.
The thermal stability of the outer jacket may be determined by oxygen induction time (OIT) of the black coloured PE material and may be at least 20 min when tested at 210°C. Usually, longer pipe systems are assembled from pipes of e.g. 6, 12 or 16 meters in length. According to the invention, the outer jacket and insulation material can be attached to pipes which are already assembled into very long pipes, e.g. several kilometres in length, and it may be used for insulation of pipes already in use. According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer jacket may be attached to a pipe which is already in use. Accordingly, the free ends of the pipe are not accessible and the outer jacket may therefore not be attached axially onto the pipe. For that reason, the outer jacket may form an elongated slit extending in the lengthwise direction so that it can be easily attached about the pipe in a radial direction. When attached to the pipe, the slit may be sealed by welding. The longitudinal edge along the slit may be bevelled to facilitate the welding. The outer jacket may preferably be made from an elastically deformable material, and at least sufficiently elastically deformable to allow the slit to be opened enough for the pipe to enter into the outer jacket through the slit. That may allow radial displacement of the outer jacket onto the pipe. The insulating material in the space between the pipe and the outer jacket may be directly in contact with an outer surface of the pipe. In this way air between the pipe and the insulating material is prevented.
The insulating material may completely fill out the space between the pipe and the outer jacket. Different kinds of insulation materials can be used such as mineral wool, glass wool, flexible elastomeric foam, rigid foam, polyethylene, cellular glass, or aerogel. Flexible polymer foam, e.g. polyurethane (PUR and PU) or similar may preferably be used.
In one example, the space may be filled with PU foam having a compressive strength or a compressive stress at 10 % relative deformation as defined in ISO 844 and being not less than 0,3 MPa in a radial direction. This will be suitable in combination with the sealing bulkheads and outer jacket.
According to the invention, the insulating material is composed of a multitude insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads.
The insulating bodies may be made by injecting a liquid material such as PUR or PU into the space between the pipe and the jacket. Particularly, it may be a two component mixture configured to create foam upon mixing just before being injected into the spaces between the pipe and the outer jacket. In this process, since the bulkheads provide a leak proof sealing, propagation of the liquid insulating material along the length of the pipe is prevented, and the separate bodies are formed with help from the bulkheads. In the foaming process, the bulkheads ensure foaming in spaces of well-known volume and therefore increase the chances of obtaining completely filled spaces.
Since the bulkheads provide a leak proof sealing, propagation of contaminants such as oil or other chemicals along the length of the pipe is prevented, and the insulating layer can effectively reduce spreading of chemicals from a leaking pipe. This is especially important for effective detection of a possible leakage of the transported substances.
The bulkheads and the leak proof sealing therefore serve two purposes, one purpose is to form separate bodies of insulating material by foaming, particularly bodies which completely fill out the separate spaces, and another purpose to prevent spreading of leaking fluids from the pipe.
The bulkheads may be made from separate bulkhead elements being assembled about the pipe. This may enable easy fitting of the bulkheads about long pipes without access to the free ends of the pipe.
The process of insulating existing pipes may be described as follows: 1) Firstly, an existing pipe, e.g. a pipe which is already in use is exposed and optionally cleaned or otherwise prepared for insulation. In this process step, the pipe can be coated with a protective coating, e.g. containing bitumen, epoxy, etc.
2) The bulkheads and optionally spacers are attached to the pipe by assembling of separate elements about the pipe. In that way, it is not necessary to access the free ends of the pipe.
3) The outer jacket is wrapped about the pipe, and the slit is welded to form a closed outer jacket. Preferably, several outer jacket sections are assembled in the longitudinal direction of the pipe.
4) A liquid material is injected into the space between the pipe and the outer jacket between two adjacent bulkheads, through one or more injection openings in the outer jacket. The liquid material is allowed to harden, e.g., to create a foam material. The formation of the foam material typically starts no earlier than the liquid material has been injected. Due to the leak proof sealing provided by the bulkheads, the liquid material is maintained between two bulkheads, and it becomes possible to fill out the space completely without voids and without overfilling the space. For this purpose, the volume of the space may be calculated based on the distance between the adjacent bulkheads. Preferably, the liquid material is injected in one continuous shot. That will further improve the ability to completely fill out the space with foam. Injection speed is preferred to be as high as possible. However the speed may dependent on the type of liquid material to be injected, its specification, or even on the manufacturer. Typically, injection speed of the liquid material is up to 100 litres/min. According to the invention, total injection time is 45 seconds, i.e. for the injection of the liquid in the space between two adjacent bulkheads. Typically, the distance between the bulkheads would be the same for all bulkheads, however, in case that the volume of the insulation material slightly differs from the volume of the space between the adjacent bulkheads, the density of the created foam may be different from one insulating body to another.
In one embodiment, the bulkheads may comprise an inner ring and an outer ring. Preferably, both the inner and outer ring of the bulkheads may be made of the same material e.g. PE, PU, polyvinyl-chloride (PVC), aluminium, steel, iron, etc. The advantage of having the same material is that the entire bulkhead will have the same thermal expansive properties, same resistance against corrosion, can be assembled by identical methods, e.g. by welding etc. Each ring is divided into at least two separate ring elements which can be assembled about the pipe. Preferably, the parts of the rings are identical, and further connected e.g. by geometric interlocking features or by use of screws, bolts, rivet, or other means.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the inner ring may form an inner surface facing the pipe and preferably arranged in direct contact against an outer surface of the pipe, preferably such that axial displacement of the inner ring relative to the pipe is prevented.
The inner surface of the inner ring may form a plurality of protrusions making the inner surface of the inner ring discontinuous. This may reduce thermal spreading from the pipe through the inner ring. The inner ring also forms an opposite outer surface facing an inner surface of the outer ring.
The contact between the outer surface of the pipe and the inner surface of the inner ring, and the contact between the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring may be leak proof, and leakage of fluids axially along the pipe along the interfaces between the rings is thereby prevented.
At least one of the outer surface of the inner ring and inner surface of the outer ring may be non-perpendicular to the lengthwise direction, thereby forming a wedge shape.
Due to the wedge shape, the inner ring and outer ring can be wedged into engagement and axial displacement of the outer ring relative to the pipe can be prevented by the engagement between the inner ring and the pipe. In one example, the outer surface of the inner ring is non perpendicular to the lengthwise direction. In this example, the outer ring can be displaced axially along the pipe and relative to the inner ring, until an inner surface of the outer ring contacts the wedge shaped outer surface of the inner ring and the two rings are thus wedged onto each other and further axial displacement of the outer ring along the pipe can therefore be prevented by the inner ring.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the pipe assembly may further comprise a plurality of spacers arranged about the pipe. The spacers ensure a minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket and thus ensure a minimum insulation layer thickness. This distance is determined by various standards and regulations depending on the application. The advantage of both the bulkheads and spacers is that those can be made in various sizes and therefore be suitable for all different sizes of the pipes.
The spacers may be made from separate spacer sections which are assembled about the pipe which can already be installed and therefore have no free ends. Spacers form an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer jacket. Furthermore, at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the spacer may be discontinuous to reduce thermal spreading from the pipe through the spacer.
According to above description, it can be understood that the entire insulation structure can be assembled in situ about a pipe which can be already fully installed so that the free ends cannot be accessed.
In one embodiment, the pipe assembly may comprise a cable for transmission of data signals. Data signals are mainly related to the pipe and the substance therein. These data signals may be obtained from a number of sensors positioned along the pipe or the cable itself may form a sensor or the sensors may be imprinted into the cable. Preferably, the cable is a fiber-optic cable positioned within the insulating bodies. In one embodiment, a single fiber may extend throughout a plurality of insulating bodies.
In general, different sensors may collect information about the temperature, humidity, pressure, flow rate, vibrations or any other parameter which is relevant for the substance transported through the pipe. This information is sent to a signal processing unit in which it is further processed and serves as an input to different in-line components, such as valves, fittings, and other devices which control the state or transport of the fluid.
In one embodiment, the assembly may comprise sensor means capable of providing sensing data for each section between adjacent bulkheads, separately. In that way, a leakage may be detected separately in each body of insulating material. The sensing data for each section should preferably be uniquely identifiable such that a section, for which leakage has been detected, can be identified. This can be obtained by one single cable, e.g. a fiber-optic cable, which runs along the pipe in the insulation material and which passes through the bulkheads and form liquid tight penetration there through. Accordingly, each bulkhead may form a passage formed and sized to receive the cable in a liquid tight manner. Accordingly, a combination with bulkheads and matching cables may be provided to thereby allow liquid tight passing of cables across bulkheads.
Sensing can also be obtained by a number of separate cables, e.g. fiber-optic cables ending in different spaces between different bulkheads. In one embodiment, the data cable may be formed from a plurality of fiber-optic patch cords which length corresponds to the distance between two adjacent bulkheads.
Additionally, different sensors may serve for theft detection. In particular, a cable may comprise sensors for detecting mechanical vibrations created both inside and/or outside of the insulated pipe. Information obtained from sensors which detect mechanical vibration may be compared with a reference, so that it can be determined if the vibrations are above a predefined level.
Furthermore, the data cable may also facilitate sensing for detection of the fluid flow rate. Information obtained from these sensors may again be compared with another reference related to the flow rate. By comparing the detected signal with the reference, a change in the flow through the pipe may be determined. By determining changes in the flow rate and vibrations, theft of the substance transported by the pipe may be detected.
In one embodiment, a sound signal may, for example, be generated, indicating a potential theft. According to the embodiment, the sensors may be implemented in each section between adjacent bulkheads so that, if theft occurs, the exact location of the theft can be identified.
The cable carrying the data and/or comprising the sensors may be supported by the bulkheads and the spacers, and it may be integrated into the bodies of an insulating material. According to one embodiment of the invention, the data cable forms a sealing penetration through the bulkheads preventing leakage along the cable from one insulating body to another adjacent insulating body.
In another aspect, the invention provides an assembly for insulating pipes forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction. The assembly comprises an outer jacket, at least two transversal bulkheads, and a plurality of spacers. The outer jacket forms oblong tubular shape with an elongate slit which allows the outer jacket to be opened and then radially arranged about the pipe, so that there is no need for the access of a pipe free end. The assembly further comprises the transversal bulkheads which are configured to interact with the pipe and outer jacket. Such a configuration provides a leak proof sealing between the pipe and outer jacket. Each bulkhead comprises at least two separate sections that can be joined, so that they can be also arranged around the pipe without a need for the access of a pipe free end, as in the case of the outer jacket. The assembly also comprises a plurality of spacers configured to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket.
Regulations as set out e.g. in EN 489 and EN 253 or the ASTM standard may be used for setting the requirements to the insulation, e.g. related to the minimum distance depending on the cross-section of the pipe which further determine appropriate dimensions of the spacers. Each spacer comprises an opening, so that it can also be arranged around the pipe without a need for the access of a free pipe end.
In one embodiment, the outer jacket may form a plurality of injection openings for injecting the insulation material into a space between the outer jacket and the pipe between two adjacent bulkheads. During the injection, the insulation material may be in a liquid state.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of insulating a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction and exposing no free pipe ends, the method comprising the steps of:
I. Assembling sections of the bulkheads and spacers about the pipe to thereby form a plurality of bulkheads and support sections separated in the lengthwise direction at axially displaced positions along the pipe, and extending radially outwards from the pipe. Each bulkhead is attached by assembling at least two bulkhead sections in a seam intersecting the pipe.
II. Enclosing the pipe, the bulkheads and the support sections by an outer jacket by forming an elongated slit in the outer jacket and attaching the outer jacket about the pipe in a radial direction. The position of the outer jacket relative to the pipe is fixed by the at least two bulkheads, determining a volume of a space enclosed axially between the bulkheads and radially between the outer jacket and the pipe.
III. Injecting a liquid insulating material into a plurality of spaces between the pipe, the outer jacket, and two adjacent bulkheads. The liquid insulating material may particularly be a material which creates solid foam, e.g., PU foam. Preferably, each space between two adjacent bulkheads is filled with an amount of liquid which is exactly sufficient for filling that space with foam. The sufficient amount is preferably injected in a single injection cycle. The sufficient amount of insulated material is determined based on the distance between the bulkheads.
By a single injection cycle is herein meant that the injection continuous such that the entire necessary amount of liquid material is injected before the foaming process ends. Preferably, the injection is finished as fast as possible, typically in less than 45 seconds, or even in less than 40 seconds. The method may further comprise the step of inspecting the insulating bodies, e.g. by thermal sensing, and the step of arranging sensors in the spaces prior to the injection of the liquid material into the spaces.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting theft of fluids from a supply pipe. The method comprises the steps of:
I. providing an outer jacket enclosing the pipe;
II. providing an insulating material in a space between the pipe and the outer jacket, wherein the insulating material is composed of a multitude insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies;
III. arranging a data cable extending lengthwise through the multitude of insulating bodies; and
IV. applying data evaluation to a data signal obtained from the data cable to thereby detect theft.
Typically, the data cable is a fiber-optic cable and the sensors may be integrated into the fiber-optic cable. The sensors may detect mechanical vibrations and/or flow rate of the fluid transported through the pipe. According to the invention, the method for theft detection further comprises a step of comparing the data obtained by a vibrational sensor with reference data and determining if the vibrations are above a predefined level. The method may further comprise a step of comparing the data obtained by a flow rate sensor with reference data to determine if the flow rate has been changed compared to predefined flow ranges. According to the invention, the fiber-optic sensors may be implemented in each section between adjacent bulkheads so that, if theft occurs, the exact location of the theft may be identified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in further details with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pipe with bulkheads and spacers. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a pipe assembly with (a) an outer jacket (b) an elongate slit and an opening in the outer jacket (c) insulation material under the outer jacket.
FIG. 3 illustrates (a) a perspective view of a bulkhead (b) cross-section of the bulkhead (c) a perspective view of a part of an inner ring forming a bulkhead.
FIG. 4 illustrates (a) first example of a perspective view of a part of an inner ring forming a bulkhead (b) a perspective view of zoom-in edge of (a), (c) second example of a perspective view of a part of an inner ring forming a bulkhead (d) a perspective view of zoom-in edge of (c), and (e) a cross-section of a pipe assembly showing arrangement of lips of adjacent bulkheads.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a spacer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and specific examples. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tubular pipe extending in a lengthwise direction and forming a central fluid conduit 101. The pipe is to be insulated. FIG. 1 also shows two bulkheads 102 and 6 spacers 103 mounted about the pipe, as well as a data cable 104 extending longitudinally along the pipe and being supported by both, the bulkheads and spacers. The number of bulkheads and spacers may vary. Also, the distance between two bulkheads or spacers may vary, e.g. depending on the entire length of the pipe system. The number of spacers being mounted between two adjacent bulkheads can also vary. FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of a pipe assembly where only an outer jacket 201, a pipe 101, and a part of a bulkhead 102 are shown. When installed, the outer jacket enclosing the pipe, completely hides the bulkheads, the insulation material, spacers, and other parts of the pipe assembly. In this way all the parts are fully protected by the outer jacket. The outer jacket forms an elongate slit 202, illustrated in FIG. 2b, for arrangement about the already installed pipe having no free ends. When attached to the pipe, the slit is sealed by welding. To allow liquid material to be injected into the space between the pipe and the outer jacket between two adjacent bulkheads, one or more injection openings 203 are comprised in the outer jacket. FIG. 2c illustrates an insulating material 204 which fills out the space between the pipe 101 and the outer jacket 201.
FIG. 3a illustrates a perspective view of the bulkhead 102 arranged about the pipe 101. In the entire insulated pipe assembly the bulkheads are arranged between the pipe 101 and the outer jacket (not shown). The bulkhead 102 is formed of two separate rings, an inner ring 301 and an outer ring 302. The inner ring 301 and the outer ring 302 are configured to form a leak proof sealing between adjacent insulating bodies. The rings 301 and 302 are divided into at least two, preferably identical, parts which can be assembled about the pipe 101. The parts of the rings 301 and 302 can be connected using for instance screws 304, as shown in FIG. 3a. Since the rings of the bulkheads are in separate pieces, fitting of the bulkheads onto the pipe is particularly simplified. FIG. 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bulkhead 102 fitted onto the pipe 101. The outer surface of the inner ring 301 and inner surface of the outer ring 302 are non-perpendicular to the lengthwise direction, as can be seen in FIG. 3b, thereby forming a wedge shape. Due to the wedge shape, the inner ring 301 and outer ring 302 are wedged onto each other and axial displacement of the outer ring along the pipe 101 can therefore be prevented by the inner ring 301.
A perspective view of a part of the inner ring 301 is illustrated in FIG. 3c. According to the invention, the inner ring 301 forms an inner surface arranged against the pipe. This inner surface is formed by a plurality of identical equidistant protrusions 305. Therefore, the inner surface of the inner ring 301 is discontinuous, and the thermal spreading through the inner ring 301 from the pipe is reduced. To obtain the leakage proof seal between the inner ring 301 and the pipe, the end portion of the inner ring 301 forms a circumferential sealing flange 307. The inner ring 301 also forms an opposite outer surface 306 to be arranged against an inner surface of the outer ring 302 shown in FIG. 3b.
FIG. 4a illustrates two different perspective views of a part of the outer ring 302. The upper illustration shows a hole 401 for holding a data cable. When assembled about the pipe, the inner surface 402 of the outer ring 302 will be arranged against the outer surface 306 of the inner ring 301 in a way that the leak proof sealing is formed by the leak proof sealing contact. On both upper and lower illustration, a number of equidistantly arranged plates 403 are shown. These plates stiffen the construction and support the fixation of the ring 302 in the foam material. Edge plates have a hole 404 to enable connection between the parts of the outer rings. FIG. 4c illustrates the same, i.e., perspective view of the outer ring 302. The only difference with respect to 4a is that in this example, edge plates have two holes 404 enabling stronger connection between parts of the outer rings.
FIG. 4b illustrates an enlarged view of the edge of the part of the outer ring 302. The spacing 405 facilitates radial displacement of the elastically deformable lip 406 which may be moved outwards when the insulation material expands. This provides sealing engagement with the outer jacket and thus adaptation of tolerances. FIG. 4d illustrates an enlarged view of the edge of the outer ring 302 comprising two holes 404.
FIG. 4e illustrates a cross-section of a pipe assembly showing an arrangement of lips 406 of adjacent bulkheads. As mentioned above, the outer ring of a bulkhead forms an elastically deformable sealing lip 406 which may be moved both outwardly and inwardly relative to the lengthwise direction 407 when the insulating body 204 expands. More precisely, the lips of two adjacent outer rings extend oppositely relative to the lengthwise direction 407 when the insulating body 204 expands and in this way a sealing engagement between the outer ring and the outer jacket is provided.
FIG. 5 illustrates the spacer 103 to be arranged about the pipe. The spacer 103 is formed from an open ring 501 with an open section 502 which enables the spacer to be assembled about the already installed pipe having no free ends. From the inner side of the ring 501, a number of inner protrusions 503 are arranged equidistantly forming an inner surface of the spacer 103. This inner surface will be arranged against an outer surface of the pipe.
Inner side of the ring 501 also comprises a plurality of cable holders 507 to accommodate possibly existing copper cables. On the opposite outer side of the ring 501, a number of outer protrusions 504, 505, and 506 are also arranged equidistantly forming an outer surface of the spacer 103. This outer surface will be arranged against an inner surface of the outer jacket. By this formation both the inner surface and the outer surface of the spacer 103 are discontinuous.
The outer protrusions 505 are of a T shape, to create good abutting contact with the inner surface of the outer jacket. Protrusions 506 form a hole in the central part so that the ends of the spacers can be screwed for each other, closing the spacer and fixing its diameter. In addition, the spacer 103 also comprises a holder 508 for holding a data cable. A cable forms a sealing penetration through the bulkheads so that leakage is prevented along the cable from one insulating body to another adjacent insulating body.
The role of the spacer 103 is to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket. This distance may e.g. be specified in various standards and regulations depending on the application. The advantage of both the bulkheads and spacers is that those can be made in various sizes and therefore be suitable for all different sizes of the pipes. In the case of the spacers this is enabled by different length of the inner and outer protrusions 503-506. NUMBERED EMBODIMENTS
1. A pipe assembly comprising a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, an outer jacket enclosing the pipe, and an insulating material in a space between the pipe and the outer jacket, wherein the insulating material is composed of a multitude of insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies.
2. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 1, where the bulkheads are made from separate bulkhead elements being assembled about the pipe.
3. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 1 or 2, where the bulkheads comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring forming an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer ring, where at least one of the outer surface of the inner ring and inner surface of the outer ring is non perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.
4. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 3, where the inner surface of the inner ring is discontinuous.
5. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 3 or 4, where the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring forms a leak proof sealing contact.
6. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 3-5, where both the inner ring and the outer ring each comprises at least two separate ring elements which can be assembled about the pipe. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 3-6, where the outer ring of a bulkhead forms an elastically deformable sealing lip which may be moved both outwardly and inwardly relative to the lengthwise direction when the insulating body expands providing a sealing engagement with the outer jacket. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 7, wherein two adjacent outer rings each has a lip, the lips extending oppositely relative to the lengthwise direction. A pipe assembly according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a plurality of spacers arranged about the pipe to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 9, where the spacers are made from separate spacer sections being assembled about the pipe. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 9 or 10, where the spacers forms an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer jacket. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 11, where at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the spacer is discontinuous. A pipe assembly according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the outer jacket forms a slit welding extending in the lengthwise direction. A pipe assembly according to any of the preceding embodiments, comprising a data cable for transmission of data signals, the data cable being supported by the bulkheads and the spacers. A pipe assembly according to embodiment 14, where the data cable forms a sealing penetration through the bulkheads to prevent leakage along the cable from one insulating body to another adjacent insulating body. A pipe assembly according to embodiments 14 and 15, where the data cable is a fiber-optic cable and comprises at least one fiber-optic sensor to detect mechanical vibration. A pipe assembly according to embodiments 14 and 15, wherein the data cable comprises at least one fiber-optic sensor to detect a flow of a fluid through the pipe. An assembly for insulating pipes forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, the assembly comprising an outer jacket, a plurality of transversal bulkheads, and a plurality of spacers, the outer jacket forming an elongate slit allowing the outer jacket to be opened for being radially arranged about the pipe, the transversal bulkheads being configured to interact with the pipe and outer jacket to provide a leak proof sealing there between, and the spacers being configured to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket, where each bulkhead and each spacer comprises at least two separate sections which can be joined about the pipe. An assembly according to embodiment 18, where the outer jacket forms a plurality of injection openings for injecting a liquid insulation material into a space between the outer jacket and the pipe between two adjacent bulkheads. An assembly according to embodiment 19, further comprising an injection opening between each two adjacent bulkheads. A method of insulating a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, the method comprising :
I. assembling sections of the bulkheads and spacers about the pipe to thereby form a plurality of bulkheads and support sections separated in the lengthwise direction and extending radially outwards from the pipe,
II. enclosing the pipe, the bulkheads and the support sections by an outer jacket by forming an elongated slit in the outer jacket and attaching the outer jacket about the pipe in a radial direction, and
III. injecting in a plurality of injection cycles, a liquid insulating material into a plurality of spaces between the pipe, the outer jacket, and adjacent bulkheads; to thereby form a plurality of insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by the bulkheads. A method for detecting theft of fluids from a supply pipe, the method comprising :
I. providing an outer jacket enclosing the pipe;
II. providing an insulating material in a space between the pipe and the outer jacket, wherein the insulating material is composed of a multitude insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies; III. arranging a data cable extending lengthwise through the multitude of insulating bodies; and
IV. applying data evaluation to a data signal obtained from the data cable to thereby detect theft. A method according to embodiment 22, wherein the data cable is a fiber-optic cable. A method according to embodiment 22 or 23, wherein the data evaluation is applied to detect mechanical vibration. A method according to any of embodiments 22-24, further comprising the step of comparing the data with reference data to determine if the vibrations are above a predefined level. A method according to any of embodiments 22-25, further comprising the step of sensing a change in the fluid flow through the pipe. A method according to any of embodiments 22-26, further comprising the step of determining if the fluid flow has been changed comparing to predefined flow ranges. A method according to any of embodiments 22-27, further comprising the step of generating an indication signal of a potential theft after determining vibrations above a predefined level and/or after determining a change in the fluid flow.

Claims

1. A pipe assembly comprising a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, an outer jacket enclosing the pipe, and an insulating material in a space between the pipe and the outer jacket, wherein the insulating material is composed of a multitude of insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies.
2. A pipe assembly according to claim 1, where the bulkheads are made from separate bulkhead elements being assembled about the pipe.
3. A pipe assembly according to claim 1 or 2, where the bulkheads comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring forming an inner surface arranged against an outer surface of the pipe, and an opposite outer surface arranged against an inner surface of the outer ring, where at least one of the outer surface of the inner ring and inner surface of the outer ring is non perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.
4. A pipe assembly according to claim 3, where the inner surface of the inner ring is discontinuous.
5. A pipe assembly according to claim 3 or 4, where the outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring forms a leak proof sealing contact.
6. A pipe assembly according to claim 3-5, where both the inner ring and the outer ring each comprises at least two separate ring elements which can be assembled about the pipe.
7. A pipe assembly according to claim 3-6, where the outer ring of a bulkhead forms an elastically deformable sealing lip which may be moved both outwardly and inwardly relative to the lengthwise direction when the insulating body expands providing a sealing engagement with the outer jacket.
8. A pipe assembly according to claim 7, wherein two adjacent outer rings each has a lip, the lips extending oppositely relative to the lengthwise direction.
9. A pipe assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of spacers arranged about the pipe to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket.
10. A pipe assembly according to claim 9, where the spacers are made from separate spacer sections being assembled about the pipe.
11. A pipe assembly according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the outer jacket forms a slit welding extending in the lengthwise direction.
12. An assembly for insulating pipes forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, the assembly comprising an outer jacket, a plurality of transversal bulkheads, and a plurality of spacers, the outer jacket forming an elongate slit allowing the outer jacket to be opened for being radially arranged about the pipe, the transversal bulkheads being configured to interact with the pipe and outer jacket to provide a leak proof sealing there between, and the spacers being configured to maintain a fixed minimum distance between the pipe and the outer jacket, where each bulkhead and each spacer comprises at least two separate sections which can be joined about the pipe.
13. An assembly according to claim 12, where the outer jacket forms a plurality of injection openings for injecting a liquid insulation material into a space between the outer jacket and the pipe between two adjacent bulkheads.
14. A method of insulating a pipe forming a central fluid conduit extending in a lengthwise direction, the method comprising :
I. assembling sections of the bulkheads and spacers about the pipe to thereby form a plurality of bulkheads and support sections separated in the lengthwise direction and extending radially outwards from the pipe,
II. enclosing the pipe, the bulkheads and the support sections by an outer jacket by forming an elongated slit in the outer jacket and attaching the outer jacket about the pipe in a radial direction, and
III. injecting in a plurality of injection cycles, a liquid insulating material into a plurality of spaces between the pipe, the outer jacket, and adjacent bulkheads;
to thereby form a plurality of insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by the bulkheads.
15. A method for detecting theft of fluids from a supply pipe, the method comprising : providing an outer jacket enclosing the pipe;
providing an insulating material in a space between the pipe and the outer jacket, wherein the insulating material is composed of a multitude insulating bodies separated in the lengthwise direction by transversal bulkheads providing a leak proof sealing between adjacent insolating bodies;
arranging a data cable extending lengthwise through the multitude of insulating bodies; and
applying data evaluation to a data signal obtained from the data cable to thereby detect theft.
PCT/EP2016/078836 2015-11-25 2016-11-25 A pipe insulation system, an insulated pipe, a method of insulating a pipe, and a method for detecting theft of fluids from an insulated pipe WO2017089558A1 (en)

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