Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cartridge-type inline heater including: a heat exchanging unit including a body part in which a mounting part is formed in a longitudinal direction, and swirl parts coiled in a spiral along the longitudinal direction of the body part, and configured to induce a flowing-in working fluid to flow along the swirl parts; and a heater inserted in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchanging part to heat the working fluid which is in contact with the heat exchanging unit. 
     Accordingly, the cartridge-type inline heater capable of heating the working fluid so as to have improved durability and uniform temperature distribution is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a cartridge-type inline heater, and a system for controlling a working fluid temperature using the same, and more particularly, to a cartridge-type inline heater capable of heating a working fluid so as to have a uniform temperature gradient, and a system for controlling a working fluid temperature using the same. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, flow assurance in mining oil and gas refers to assurance of stable and economic transference of oil and gas by controlling a temperature, a flow rate, and pressure of a flow within a pipe line through which a resource material is transferred from a reserve place to a consumption place after the resource material is minded. 
         [0005]    In the meantime, the most significant factor influencing on flow assurance of the pipe line in transferring resources of an offshore plant including a deep sea floor mainly includes a clogged-up phenomenon of a pipe line due to a solid material, such as gas hydrate or wax, damage to the pipe line due to a slugging phenomenon of a multiphase flow, a change in a flow speed due to large pressure drop within the pipe line, a change in viscosity, and thermal loss. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, in order to secure flow assurance of the pipe line, it is necessary to control a temperature of a working fluid within in the pipe line in order to prevent the solid material, such as gas hydrate or wax, from being generated. 
         [0007]    In the meantime, in a case of a heat unit process of a petrochemical plant and an internal unit process of a nuclear plant system, the working fluid flowing through the process accompanies various phase changes. In this case, a pipe-type inline heater is greatly used for the purpose of controlling a temperature of the working fluid during the transference of the working fluid from each unit process to a next unit process. 
         [0008]    The heater uses a method in which a heater is mounted in a pipe-type flow path connecting the respective unit processes, and the working fluid flowing through heat generated from the heater is heated. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an inline heater in the related art. 
         [0010]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the inline heater  10  in the related art generally employs a method of directly heating a working fluid by mounting a coil-type metal heating element  12  inside a pipe  11 . 
         [0011]    However, in a case of the inline heater  10  in the related art, the inserted coil-type metal heating element  12  is directly exposed to the working fluid so that the coil-type metal heating element  12  is vulnerable to physical damage, and has a problem of a short lifespan. Particularly, in a case where even a part of the coil-type metal heating element  12  is a short circuit, a lot of time is taken for replacing or repairing the coil-type metal heating element  12 , so that there is a problem in that a yield of the entire process is decreased. 
         [0012]    Further, there is a problem in that a calorie supplied to a region in which the metal heating element  12  is mounted is different from a calorie supplied to a region in which the metal heating element  12  is not mounted, and uniformity of a temperature distribution of the working fluid heated inside the pipe is not secured. 
         [0013]    The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a cartridge-type inline heater capable of performing heating at a uniform temperature regardless of a position inside a pipe. 
         [0015]    Further, the present invention has been made in an effort to provide a system for controlling a working fluid temperature capable of easily controlling a working fluid temperature for each section by using a cartridge-type inline heater. 
         [0016]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a cartridge-type inline heater, including: a heat exchanging unit including a body part in which a mounting part is formed in a longitudinal direction, and swirl parts coiled in a spiral in the longitudinal direction of the body part, and configured to induce a flowing-in working fluid to flow along the swirl parts; and a heater inserted in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchanging unit and configured to heat the working fluid which is in contact with the heat exchanging unit. 
         [0017]    Further, a plurality of swirl parts may be formed to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the body part, and the cartridge-type inline heater may further include an exterior part mounted to be spaced apart from the body part while surrounding the swirls parts. 
         [0018]    Further, the exterior part may be mounted to be in close contact with the swirl parts so as to prevent the working fluid flowing inside any one fluid flowing path based on the swirl parts from flowing to an adjacent fluid flowing path. 
         [0019]    Further, a flow pattern may be formed on a surface of the swirl part which is in contact with the working fluid so that pressure resistance between the swirl part and the working fluid is decreased. 
         [0020]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a system for controlling a working fluid temperature using a cartridge-type inline heart, the system including: a temperature control section in which the plurality of cartridge-type inline heaters is arranged in a straight-type or in a parallel-type; and a controller configured to control the respective cartridge-type inline heaters within the temperature control section. 
         [0021]    According to the cartridge-type heater of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve durability by inserting the cartridge-type heater inside the heating exchange unit to heat the working fluid through indirect contact. 
         [0022]    Further, the spiral shaped swirl parts on the exterior surface of the heat exchanging unit induce stirring of the heated working fluid, so that it is possible to secure uniformity of a temperature of the working fluid. 
         [0023]    Further, it is possible to decrease flow resistance, such as pressure resistance and friction resistance, and improve fluidity of the working fluid by forming a flow pattern in the spiral shaped swirl parts. 
         [0024]    Further, the cartridge-type heater may be used for improving fluid assurance of a pipe line of an offshore plant, and may be used even in the process to which a fluid flow with high pressure or a high temperature is applied, such as a heating unit process of a petrochemical plant and an internal unit process of a nuclear plant system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an inline heater in the related art. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cartridge-type inline heater according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of the cartridge-type inline heater taken along line III-III′ of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge-type inline heater of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a temperature gradient of a working fluid of a longitudinal section of a region in which the working fluid of the cartridge-type inline heater of  FIG. 2  flows. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a temperature gradient of a working fluid of a longitudinal section of a region from which the working fluid of the cartridge-type inline heater of  FIG. 2  is discharged. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge-type inline heater according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a system for controlling a working fluid temperature using the cartridge-type inline heater according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    Before the description, in several exemplary embodiments, since like reference numerals designate like elements having the same configuration, a first exemplary embodiment is representatively described, and in other exemplary embodiments, only a configuration different from the first exemplary embodiment will be described. 
         [0034]    Hereinafter, a cartridge-type inline heater  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cartridge-type inline heater according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of the cartridge-type inline heater taken along line III-III′ of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge-type inline heater of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the cartridge-type inline heater  10  according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchanging unit  110 , a heater  120 , an exterior part  130 , and a heat insulating member (not illustrated). 
         [0036]    The heat exchanging unit  110 , which is a member for transferring heat generated from the heater  120  to be described below to a working fluid by forming a fluid flowing path  115  through which the working fluid flows, includes a body part  111  and swirl parts  113 . 
         [0037]    The body part  111  is shaped like a cylinder and is made of a stainless steel material, but a shape and a material of the body part  111  is not limited thereto. In the meantime, a mounting part  112  is formed at a center of the body part  111  while passing through the body part  111  in a longitudinal direction so that the heater  120  to be described below may be mounted. 
         [0038]    The swirl part  113  outwardly protrudes from an external circumferential surface of the body part  111 , and is formed to be coiled in a spiral shape in a longitudinal direction of the external circumferential surface of the body part  111 , and the swirl part  113  may be formed in the body part  111  by a method, such as bonding or diffusion bonding. A material of the swirl part  113  may be the same stainless steel as that of the body part  111 , but is not limited thereto. 
         [0039]    In the meantime, a plurality of swirl parts  113  is provided in the body part  111 , and a space between one swirl part  113  and the swirl part  113  adjacent to the one swirl part  113  forms the fluid flowing path  115 . That is, the swirl parts  113  facing while being adjacent to each other form a side wall surface of the fluid flowing path  115 , and the external circumferential surface of the body part  111  forms a bottom surface of the fluid flowing path  115 , and an interior circumferential surface of the exterior part  130  to be described later forms a top surface of the fluid flowing path  115 . Further, the number of swirl parts  113  is plural, so that the fluid flowing paths  115  may also be formed as many as the number of provided swirl parts  113 . 
         [0040]    In the meantime, a height of the swirl part  113  may be determined considering an interior diameter of the exterior part  130  to be described later so that the swirl part  113  is in close contact with the interior circumferential surface of the exterior part  130 , and the number of the swirl parts  113 , a thickness of the swirl part  113 , the number of times by which the swirl part  113  is coiled, and the like may be determined considering a specific flow condition, such as a flow rate, a temperature, and pressure of the flowing working fluid. 
         [0041]    A finishing member  114  is a member for finishing an end portion of the mounting part  112  so as to prevent the heater  120  to be described below from being separated from the mounting part  112  to the outside. 
         [0042]    The heater  120  is formed of a cartridge-type heater, in which an electric heating wire is inserted inside an elongated electric heating tube to generate heat. The heater  120  is mounted inside the mounting part  112  passing through the body part  111  in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0043]    In the meantime, the heater  120  is formed in a cylindrical shape to be closely mounted inside the mounting part  112  having an interior diameter corresponding to an exterior diameter of the heater  120  and passing through the body part  111 , so that the heat generated from the heater  120  may be transferred to the body part  111  without thermal loss. That is, an exterior surface of the heater  120  may be in complete contact with an internal surface of the mounting part  112  to maximize a heat transference area. 
         [0044]    The exterior part  130  is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has an internal space, so that the body part  111  and the swirl parts  113  are accommodated inside the exterior part  130 . 
         [0045]    In the meantime, as described above, the swirl parts  113  are formed outside the body part  111 , and the exterior part  130  is coupled with the heat exchanging unit  110  in a form in which the interior circumferential surface of the exterior part  130  is in close contact with an outermost end portion of the swirl part  113 . As described above, the end portions of the swirl parts  113  are in close contact with the interior peripheral surface of the exterior part  130 , so that it is possible to prevent the working fluids flowing in the fluid flowing path  115  formed at both sides of the swirl parts  113  from being exchanged each other. 
         [0046]    The heat isolating member (not illustrated), which surrounds an external circumferential surface of the exterior part  130 , is a member for minimizing thermal loss by preventing heat exchange of outside air with the exterior part  130 . 
         [0047]    From now on, an operation of the aforementioned first exemplary embodiment of the cartridge-type inline heater  100  will be described. 
         [0048]    A working fluid flows in a space between the body part  111  and the exterior part  130 , that is, the fluid flowing path  115  between the adjacent swirl parts  113 , and simultaneously the heater  120  is operated to generate heat. The heat generated from the heater  120  is transferred to the flowing working fluid through the body part  111  to heat the working fluid. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a temperature gradient of the working fluid of a longitudinal section of a region in which the working fluid of the cartridge-type inline heater of  FIG. 2  flows. 
         [0050]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , in view of the longitudinal section of the region, in which the working fluid flows inside the fluid flowing path  115 , of the cartridge-type inline heater  100  of the present exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that a temperature of the working fluid is the highest at the body part  111  side adjacent to the heater  120 , and is decreased as the longitudinal section becomes closer to an outer side. 
         [0051]    However, the working fluid is influenced by the spiral-shaped swirl parts  113  to be compulsorily transferred in a spiral shape in a direction in which the swirl parts  113  are formed while the working fluid flows inside the fluid flowing path  115 , and the working fluid is continuously stirred in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body part  111 . 
         [0052]    That is, the working fluid at a relatively high temperature state at a position adjacent to the heater  120  is repeatedly exchanged with the working fluid that is in a relatively low temperature state at a positioned spaced from the heater  120  toward the outside, so that the mutual heat exchange is performed. Accordingly, the working fluid flowing in the fluid flowing path  115  generally has a uniform temperature. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a temperature gradient of the working fluid of a longitudinal section of a region from which the working fluid of the cartridge-type inline heater of  FIG. 2  is discharged. 
         [0054]    That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , in view of the longitudinal section of the region, from which the working fluid of the fluid flowing path  115  is discharged, of the cartridge-type inline heater  100  of the present exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the temperature of the working fluid is almost maintained to be uniform regardless of the position. 
         [0055]    Next, a cartridge-type inline heater  200  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
         [0056]    The cartridge-type inline heater  200  according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchanging unit  110 , a heater  120 , an exterior part  130 , and a heat insulating member (not illustrated). However, the heater  120 , the exterior part  130 , and the heat insulating member are the same as those aforementioned in the first exemplary embodiment, so that repeated descriptions will be omitted. 
         [0057]    The heat exchanging unit  110 , which is a member for transferring heat generated from the heater  120  to the working fluid by forming a fluid flowing path  115  through which the working fluid flows, includes a body part  111  and swirl parts  113 . However, the body part  111  has the same configuration as that aforementioned in the first exemplary embodiment, so that a repeated description will be omitted. 
         [0058]    The swirl part  113  is extended to an outer side of the body part  111 , and is formed so as to be coiled in a spiral shape in a longitudinal direction of the body part  111 . 
         [0059]    In the meantime, in the present exemplary embodiment, a flow pattern  216  is formed on surfaces which are in contact with the flowing working fluid by forming both side surfaces of the swirl parts  113 , that is, the side surface of the fluid flowing path  115 . The flow pattern  216  may be a repeated prism pattern which is inwardly depressed or outwardly protrudes from the side surface of the swirl parts  113 . 
         [0060]    However, a shape of a flow pattern  216 ′ may be a U-shaped pattern repeatedly formed on the side surface of the swirl parts  113 , but is not limited thereto. 
         [0061]    According to the flow patterns  216  and  216 ′, it is possible to decrease flow resistance, such as pressure resistance and friction resistance, generated between the working fluid and the surfaces of the swirl parts  113  and improve fluidity of the working fluid. 
         [0062]    Next, a system  300  for controlling a working fluid temperature by using the cartridge-type inline heater according to the first exemplary embodiment or the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
         [0063]    The system  300  for controlling the working fluid temperature by using the cartridge-type inline heater of the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200 , and a controller  340 . 
         [0064]    The plurality of cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  is provided in such a way that fluid flowing paths of the plurality of cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  are connected with each other. Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, the cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  are arranged in a straight-type structure in which the cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  are arranged in a line in a longitudinal direction so that the working fluid flowing in the first cartridge-type inline heater  100  or  200  is discharged to the cartridge-type inline heater  100  or  200  disposed at a final end portion. 
         [0065]    The controller  340  is a member for controlling the plurality of cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  arranged in the straight-type structure. 
         [0066]    In the meantime, in another modified example of a system  300 ′ for controlling a working fluid temperature using the cartridge-type inline heater, the respective cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  are disposed in a parallel-type structure in which the cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  are disposed in a line in a width direction. 
         [0067]    Still another modified example of a system  300 ″ for controlling a working fluid temperature using the cartridge-type inline heater, the respective cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  may be configured in a complex-type structure in which the straight-type structure and the parallel-type structure are combined. 
         [0068]    An operation of the system for controlling the working fluid temperature by using the cartridge-type inline heater of the present exemplary embodiment will be described. 
         [0069]    In the present exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that the plurality of cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  is arranged in the complex-type structure for description. The controller  340  divides the respective cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  into sections for each temperature of the discharged working fluid. 
         [0070]    The controller  340  controls the temperature of the working fluid for each section by dividing the respective cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  into a plurality of sections, calculating a heating degree of the working fluid at each section, and then transmitting temperature information to the cartridge-type inline heaters  100  and  200  included in each section. 
         [0071]    The scope of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, but may be implemented with various types of exemplary embodiments within the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes belong to the scope of the present invention without departing from the principles of the present invention defined by the appended claims.