Piping

Abstract

The present invention relates to piping ( 1 ) for use in industrial activities, where the piping ( 1 ) has a specific geometry. In particular, the piping ( 1 ) is formed as a low amplitude helix, which causes fluid flowing through the piping ( 1 ) to swirl. This swirl flow provides a large number of advantages. Particular applications where the piping ( 1 ) can be used include petroleum production risers and flowlines, production tubing for downhole use in wells, pipelines for the transportation of fluids, static mixers, bends, junctions or the like, penstocks and draft tubes, reactors for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical applications, heat exchangers, cold boxes, incinerators and furnaces for waste disposal, static separators, and air intakes.

1 . A reactor comprising an incinerator or a waste disposal furnace, the reactor further comprising a reactor tube, characterized in that the reactor tube has a centerline ( 40 ) which follows a substantially helical path, wherein the amplitude (A) of the helix is equal to or less than one half of the internal diameter (D I ) of the tube so as to provide a line of sight along the lumen of the tube. 
   
   
       2 . A reactor as claimed in claim,  1 , wherein the tube has a substantially circular cross-section and an external diameter (D E ) and wherein the tube is contained in an imaginary envelope ( 20 ) which extends longitudinally and has a width (W) equal to the swept width of the tube, the width of said envelope defining the lateral space occupied by the tube and being greater than the external diameter (D E ) of the tube. 
   
   
       3 . A reactor as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the envelope has a central longitudinal axis ( 30 ) about which the helical centerline ( 40 ) of the tube follows a helical path, and wherein the central longitudinal axis is straight. 
   
   
       4 . A reactor as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the envelope has a central longitudinal axis ( 30 ) about which the helical centerline ( 40 ) of the tube follows a helical path, and wherein the central longitudinal axis is curved. 
   
   
       5 . A reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the amplitude (A) of the helix is less than or equal to 0.4 of the internal diameter (D I ) of the tube. 
   
   
       6 . A reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the helix is less than or equal to 55°. 
   
   
       7 . A reactor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reactor tube is a tube through which hot combustion gases are passed in use. 
   
   
       8 . A method of using a reactor comprising an incinerator or a waste disposal furnace and as claimed in  claim 1 , for combustion reactions. 
   
   
       9 . Petroleum production risers and flowlines for use either onshore or offshore, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       10 . Production tubing for downhole use within oil, gas, water, or geothermal wells, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       11 . Pipelines for the transportation of hydrocarbon, potable water, waste water and sewerage, slurries, powders, food or beverage products, or any single phase or multiphase fluids, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       12 . Static mixers for chemical dosing, and food, chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical processing, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       13 . Bends, junctions or the like, involving a length of low-amplitude helical geometry pipe upstream of a planar bend or similar, which will generate swirling flow around the bend. 
   
   
       14 . Penstocks and draft tubes for hydropower applications, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       15 . Reactors for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical applications, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       16 . Heat exchangers in power stations, refrigeration cold boxes, and air separation cold boxes, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       17 . Incinerators and furnaces for waste disposal, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       18 . Static separators for use in industrial processes where there is flow of a mixture of fluids having different densities, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       19 . Air intakes, using low-amplitude helical geometry. 
   
   
       20 . An intake for an internal combustion engine, using low-amplitude helical geometry.