US 11,998,959 B2
Hydrate mitigation in a pipeline with vortex tubes
Ahmad Noor Al-Deen Hassan Rizq, Doha (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/164,131.
Prior Publication US 2022/0241825 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 58/00 (2006.01); B08B 9/032 (2006.01); F17C 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC B08B 9/032 (2013.01) [F16L 58/00 (2013.01); F17C 5/06 (2013.01); F17C 2221/033 (2013.01); F17C 2223/0161 (2013.01); F17C 2227/0325 (2013.01); F17C 2265/015 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to prevent the formation of hydrates in a pipeline; the system comprising:
a heater assembly comprising:
a vortex tube mounted on an outer surface of a first section of the pipeline, wherein the vortex tube is configured to separate gas from an inlet into a hot gas pathway and a cold gas pathway; wherein the vortex tube comprises:
the inlet,
a cold gas outlet, wherein the cold gas outlet is configured to vent cold gas from the cold gas pathway to the environment, and
a hot gas outlet, wherein the hot gas outlet of the vortex tube is fluidly connected to an opening defined in the first section of the pipeline, wherein the hot gas outlet is configured to flow hot gas from the vortex tube into an interior volume of the pipeline; and
a compressed gas source fluidly connected to the inlet of the vortex tube.