Fluid processing system, heat exchange sub-system, and an associated method thereof

Abstract

A heat exchange sub-system and fluid processing system is provided containing an inlet header; an outlet header; a plurality of heat exchange tubes in fluid communication with the inlet header and outlet header. The heat exchange tubes are configured to exchange heat with a cold ambient environment. A liquid-gas separator is coupled to the outlet header. The heat exchange sub-system is configured to receive a hot gaseous fluid comprising condensable and non-condensable components, and to condense at least a portion of the condensable components. The system is configured such that the cold ambient subsea environment serves as a heat sink.

1 . A heat exchange sub-system comprising:
 an inlet header;   an outlet header;   a plurality of heat exchange tubes in fluid communication with the inlet header and outlet header; said heat exchange tubes being configured to exchange heat with a cold ambient environment; and   a liquid-gas separator coupled to the outlet header;   
       wherein the heat exchange sub-system is configured to receive a hot gaseous fluid comprising condensable and non-condensable components, and to condense at least a portion of the condensable components, the cold ambient environment serving as a heat sink. 
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid-gas separator comprises at least one weir separator. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange sub-system of  claim 1 , further comprising a condensate re-evaporator coupled to the liquid-gas separator. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange sub-system of  claim 3 , wherein the condensate re-evaporator comprises a shell and tube heat exchanger configured to evaporate at least a portion of a condensate formed within the heat exchange sub-system. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange sub-system of  claim 4 , wherein the condensate re-evaporator is configured to receive a hot process gas. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange sub-system of  claim 5 , further comprising a by-pass valve configured to regulate a flow of the hot gaseous fluid to the inlet header and outlet header. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchange sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid-gas separator is disposed within the outlet header. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid processing system comprising:
 (a) a main separator assembly configured to separate a hot multiphase fluid into a hot gaseous fluid comprising condensable and non-condensable components and a hot liquid fluid;   (b) a heat exchange sub-system comprising:
 (i) an inlet header; 
 (ii) an outlet header; 
 (iii) a plurality of heat exchange tubes in fluid communication with the inlet header and outlet header; said heat exchange tubes being configured to exchange heat with a cold ambient environment; and 
 (iv) a liquid-gas separator coupled to the outlet header; 
   
       wherein the heat exchange sub-system is configured to receive the hot gaseous fluid, and to condense at least a portion of the condensable components to produce a condensate and a gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components, the cold ambient environment serving as a heat sink,
 (c) a gas compressor configured to receive the gaseous fluid from the heat exchange sub-system; and 
 (d) a fluid pump coupled to the main separator assembly; 
 
       wherein the pump is configured to drive the hot liquid fluid toward a fluid storage facility. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid-gas separator comprises at least one weir separator. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid processing system of  claim 8 , further comprising a condensate re-evaporator coupled to the outlet header. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid processing system of  claim 10 , wherein the condensate re-evaporator comprises a shell and tube heat exchanger configured to evaporate at least a portion of the condensate formed within the heat exchange sub-system. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the condensate re-evaporator is configured to receive a hot process gas. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid processing system of  claim 12 , further comprising a by-pass valve configured to regulate a flow of the hot gaseous fluid to the inlet header and outlet header. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid processing system of  claim 8 , wherein said gas compressor is driven by a motor configured to be cooled by a slip stream of the gaseous fluid produced by one or more stages of the gas compressor. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid-gas separator is disposed within the outlet header. 
     
     
         16 . A method of transporting a hot, multiphase production fluid, the method comprising:
 (a) introducing a hot multiphase fluid into a main separator assembly and separating the hot multiphase fluid into a hot gaseous fluid comprising condensable and non-condensable components, and a hot liquid fluid;   (b) introducing the hot gaseous fluid comprising condensable and non-condensable components into an energy dissipating device and condensing at least a portion of the condensable components to produce a condensate and a gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components;   (c) compressing the gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components to produce a compressed gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components; and   (d) combining the compressed gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components with the hot liquid fluid produced in the main separator assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of separating the condensate from the gaseous fluid and collecting the condensate in a liquid-gas separator coupled to the energy dissipating device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of re-evaporating at least a portion of the condensate by transferring heat from the hot gaseous fluid comprising the condensable and non-condensable components to the condensate in a condensate re-evaporator coupled to the liquid-gas separator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of intermittently discharging the condensate from the condensate re-evaporator into a fluid pump. 
     
     
         20 . A fluid processing system comprising:
 (a) a main separator assembly configured to separate a hot multiphase fluid into a hot gaseous fluid comprising condensable and non-condensable components and a hot liquid fluid;   (b) an energy dissipating device configured to receive the hot gaseous fluid and to condense at least a portion of the condensable components to produce a condensate and a gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components;   (c) a gas compressor configured to receive the gaseous fluid depleted in condensable components from the energy dissipating device; and   (d) a fluid pump coupled to the main separator assembly;   
       wherein the pump is configured to drive the hot liquid fluid toward a fluid storage facility. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid processing system of  claim 20 , wherein the energy dissipating device comprises a work extraction device. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid processing system of  claim 21 , wherein the energy dissipating device is selected from the group consisting of turboexpanders, hydraulic expanders, and hydraulic motors. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid processing system of  claim 20 , wherein the energy dissipating device is a frictional loss or pressure change device. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid processing system of  claim 23 , wherein the energy dissipating device is a throttle device. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid processing system of  claim 20 , wherein the energy dissipating device is a heat exchange sub-system comprising:
 (i) an inlet header;   (ii) an outlet header;   (iii) a plurality of heat exchange tubes in fluid communication with the inlet header and outlet header; said heat exchange tubes being configured to exchange heat with a cold ambient environment; and   (iv) a liquid-gas separator coupled to the outlet header.