Patent Document ID: 9600612
Application ID: 13688843
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A system configured to facilitate design of a direct electric heating system for a pipeline carrying petrochemicals, the system comprising: a) one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: i. an input data module configured to obtain a target heat to be generated by the direct electric heating system and values for a set of heating system parameters that define various aspects of the direct electric heating system including a pipeline through which petrochemicals are flown and cables used for direct electric heating within the pipeline; ii. a required current setting module configured to specify a proposed required current through the direct electric heating system; iii. a heat determination module configured to implement finite element analysis to determine actual heat provided by the direct electric heating system at the proposed required current based on the obtained values for the set of heating system parameters; iv. a heat calculation assessment module configured to assess the determination of the actual heat at the proposed required current by determining whether a difference between the actual heat and the target heat is less than a threshold difference; and v. a required current adjustment module configured such that responsive to the heat calculation assessment module determining that the difference between the actual heat and the target heat is not less than the threshold difference, the required current adjustment module is configured to determine a required current adjustment to the proposed required current as a function of a square root of the ratio of the target heat and the actual heat at the proposed required current; wherein the required current setting module is further configured such that responsive to the required current adjustment module determining a required current adjustment, the required current setting module offsets the proposed required current by the required current adjustment for another iteration of the determination and assessment of actual heat by the heat determination module and the heat calculation adjustment module; and b) a first and second cable wherein the first and second cable terminate at opposite ends of the pipeline for delivering the proposed required current as offset by the required current adjustment.