CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Application No. 2209906 filed on September 29, 2022, with the French (FR) Institut National de la Propriete Industrielle. The contents of that application are incorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a method and system for direct electrical heating of a fluid system.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Traditional heating of heater tubes (e.g., reactor tubes) typically comprises fired heating. Fired heaters are subject to typical wear and tear which will ultimately lead to deterioration in the fired heater energy efficiency.

[0004] However, a problem exists when the electrical heating system is not properly insulated or when the system is insulated in such a way as to negatively impact the energy efficiency. For example, where each tube is required to be electrically insulated from the rest of the system, such as the other tubes, the tube inlet header, and/or the tube outlet header.

SUMMARY

[0005] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0006] The present disclosure is directed to a method of heating a reactor system including a plurality of reactor tubes, each of the plurality of reactor tubes having a catalyst disposed therein and having at least one electrically conductive surface. The method comprises galvanically isolating the plurality of reactor tubes such that each of the plurality of reactor tubes can be directly welded to tube inlet and outlet headers of the reactor system; providing electrical energy to the at least one electrically conductive surface of each of the plurality of reactor tubes; and individually adjusting a current level of the electrical energy provided to the at least one electrically conductive surface of each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes to individually control the temperature of each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes and the catalyst disposed therein.

[0007] Direct electrical heating of heater tubes is one alternative to such a fired heating system. In a direct electrical heating system, the individual tubes are used as the heating medium and are directly heated using electrical current. Systems and methods for direct electrical heating of process heater tubes are needed wherein the tubes are galvanically isolated in such a manner as to avoid the use of electrical insulation of the tube from the rest of the system, such as the other tubes, the tube inlet header, and/or the tube outlet header.

[0008] The present disclosure is also directed to a method of heating a reactor system including a plurality of reactor tubes, each of the plurality of reactor tubes having a catalyst disposed therein and having at least one electrically conductive surface, wherein the plurality of reactor tubes are galvanically isolated in such a manner as to avoid the use of electrical insulation of each of the plurality of reactor tubes from the rest of the reactor system, such as other tubes of the plurality of reactor tubes, the tube inlet header, and/or the tube outlet header.

[0009] The present disclosure is further directed to a method of heating a reactor system including a plurality of reactor tubes, each of the plurality of reactor tubes having a catalyst disposed therein and having at least one electrically conductive surface, wherein the plurality of reactor tubes are galvanically isolated using a plurality of power controllers, the plurality of power controllers mirroring each other in order to move from zero volts at the inlet header to zero volts at the outlet header.

[0010] The present disclosure includes a fluid heating system. The fluid heating system includes a tube defining a fluid passage. The tube includes a material having a conductivity greater than 1.0 Siemens per meter (S/m) at 20° Celsius. The material is distributed along the tube and the fluid passage defines an inlet configured to receive fluid and an outlet configured to release the fluid.

[0011] In one or more forms, the fluid heating system includes a first power supply comprising a first circuit. The first circuit is configured to conduct first electric current across a first portion of the tube. The first circuit comprises a first galvanic isolator between a source of the first power supply and the first portion of the tube. The first power supply is configured to heat the tube based on the first electric current. In one or more forms, a second power supply comprises a second circuit. The second circuit is configured to conduct second electric current across a second portion of the tube. The second circuit comprises a second galvanic isolator between a source of the second power supply and the second portion of the tube. The second power supply is configured to heat the tube based on the second electric current. Further, a voltage of the first power supply and a voltage of the second power supply are substantially similar and a voltage across the first portion and the second portion is substantially zero.

[0012] In one or more forms, The voltage of the first power supply is a peak voltage of the first power supply and the first electric current is alternating. In one or more forms, the voltage of the second power supply is a peak voltage of the second power supply and the second electric current is alternating.

[0013] In one or more forms, the fluid heating system comprises a third power supply comprising a third circuit. The third circuit is configured to conduct third electric current across a third portion of the tube. The third circuit comprises a third galvanic isolator between a source of the third power supply and the third portion of the tube. In one or more forms, the third power supply is configured to heat the tube based on the third electric current. In one or more forms, a peak voltage of the third power supply is substantially similar to the peak voltage of the first power supply and the peak voltage of the second power supply, and the voltage over time across the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion is substantially zero.

[0014] In one or more forms, the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion comprise the material. In one or more forms, a phase of the first electric current is 120° from a phase of the second electric current and the phase of the first electric current is 240° from a phase of the third electric current. In one or more forms, the first galvanic isolator is a first transformer, the second galvanic isolator is a second transformer, and the third galvanic isolator is a third transformer. In one or more forms, the first portion extends to an end of the first portion located at a first location on the tube and the second portion extends to a first end of the second portion located at the first location and the second portion extends to a second end of the second portion located at a second location on the tube and the third portion extends to an end of the third portion located at the second location.

[0015] In one or more forms, a guide pin comprises a portion of the guide pin. The guide pin is configured to arrange the tube with respect to an enclosure and the first circuit comprises the portion of the guide pin. In one or more forms, the second circuit comprises the portion of the guide pin. In one or more forms, the portion of the guide pin has the conductivity. In one or more forms, the fluid heating system comprises a first manifold configured to provide matter and the tube is joined with the first manifold and the conductivity exists between the tube and the first manifold, the matter comprising the fluid. [0016] In one or more forms, the fluid heating system comprises a second manifold configured to release the matter and the tube is joined with the second manifold and the conductivity exists between the tube and the second manifold. In one or more forms, a wire is disposed between the first manifold and the second manifold, and the wire has the conductivity and a voltage across the wire is substantially zero.

[0017] One or more forms of the present disclosure includes a method of heating a reactor system. The reactor system includes a plurality of reactor tubes. One of the plurality of reactor tubes has a catalyst disposed therein and the one of the plurality of reactor tubes comprises material having a conductivity greater than 1.0 Siemens per meter (S/m) at 20° Celsius. The reactor system comprises a first power supply comprising a first circuit configured to conduct first electric current across the material, and the first circuit comprises a galvanic isolator between the first power supply and the material. The method comprises providing the first electric current to the material. The method comprises adjusting a magnitude of the first electric current to control a temperature of the one of the plurality of reactor tubes and the catalyst disposed therein.

[0018] In one or more forms, the reactor system comprises a first manifold. The one of the plurality of reactor tubes is joined with the first manifold and the conductivity exists between the one of the plurality of reactor tubes and the first manifold. In one or more forms, the method further comprises providing fluid to the one of the plurality of reactor tubes with the first manifold. In one or more forms, the reactor system comprises a second manifold. The one of the plurality of reactor tubes is joined with the second manifold and the conductivity exists between the one of the plurality of reactor tubes and the second manifold. In one or more forms, the method includes releasing the fluid from the one of the plurality of reactor tubes with the second manifold. In one or more forms, a voltage between the first manifold and the second manifold is substantially zero based on the adjustment of the first electric current.

[0019] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a system in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a multiphase system in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a guide pin in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure; and

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a method in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure.

[0025] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The systems and methods provided by the present disclosure are directed to the direct heating of heater tubes using electrical current, with the tube or tubes being used as the heating medium.

[0027] In the present disclosure, the tube(s) are galvanically isolated in such a manner as to avoid the necessity of electrical insulation of the tube(s) from the rest of the system, such as other tube(s), the tube inlet header, and/or the tube outlet header.

[0028] Without galvanic isolation, tube(s) are generally required to be individually electrically insulated using a flange and gasket arrangement. With galvanic isolation, the flanges and gaskets are not necessary and the tubes can be directly connected (e.g., welded) to the inlet and outlet headers. This has the added benefit of making the system safer with respect to potential fluid leakages, reducing maintenance costs, and reducing downtime and capital costs. The system of the present disclosure also mitigates the risks of electrical hazards to personnel.

[0029] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to galvanic isolation of a system utilizing alternating current.

[0030] In various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a system utilizing low voltage. For example, less than about 50 volts.

[0031] In some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a system utilizing a hybrid heat input control. For example, a system utilizing both fuel fired heating and electrical heating (e.g., direct electrical heating). [0032] One skilled in the art will understand that the systems and processes of the present disclosure are equally applicable to single and multi-phase (e.g., three phase) electrical current heating arrangements.

[0033] In a multi-phase electrical current heating arrangement, multiple power controllers may be utilized that mirror each other in order to move from 0 volt at the inlet to 0 volt at the outlet. For example, in one embodiment, a plurality of reactor tubes are galvanically isolated using a plurality of power controllers, the plurality of power controllers mirroring each other in order to move from zero volts at the inlet header to zero volts at the outlet header. This allows the system to be referred to as "zero volt."

[0034] In another embodiment, a multi-phase electrical current heating arrangement comprises multiple power controllers that mirror each other in order to move from 0 volt at the inlet to 0 volt at the outlet of a single reactor tube. This configuration allows for the creating of multiple heating zones within a single reactor tube.

[0035] The galvanically isolated controller can also be arranged in a way that the inlet and the outlet is "earthed" (zero volt), with minimal earthing grounding current (i.e., to control the earth current). Each of these above alternative embodiments is achievable utilizing the galvanic isolation described herein.

[0036] Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

[0037] When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0038] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved, and other advantageous results attained.

[0039] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or "approximately" in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability. [0040] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C ”

[0041] In this application, the term “controller” and/or “module” may refer to, be part of, or include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed anal og/digi tai integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components (e.g., op amp circuit integrator as part of the heat flux data module) that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system- on-chip.

[0042] The term memory is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory. Nonlimiting examples of a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium are nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0043] The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

[0044] As various changes could be made in the above system, processes, and reaction, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.