Separation system using heat of compression

Abstract

The present invention relates to a subsea system, where the subsea system comprises a separator ( 1 ) with an inlet line ( 2 ) and an outlet line ( 3 ), a compression unit ( 4 ) with an inlet line ( 5 ) and an outlet line ( 6 ) and a heat transfer unit ( 7 ), where the outlet line ( 6 ) of the compression unit ( 4 ) is guided into the heat transfer unit ( 7 ), the heat transfer unit ( 7 ) being connected to the inlet line ( 2 ) of the separator ( 1 ). According to the invention the heat transfer unit ( 7 ) is used for transferring heat between at least a part of a fluid in the inlet line ( 2 ) of the separator ( 1 ) and at least a part of a fluid in the outlet line ( 6 ) of the compression unit ( 4 ).

1 . A subsea system comprising:
 a separator having an inlet line and at least one outlet line;   a compression unit having an inlet line and an outlet line; and   a heat transfer unit for transferring heat between at least a part of a fluid in the inlet line of the separator and at least a part of a fluid in the outlet line from of the compression unit;   wherein the outlet line of the compression unit is guided into the heat transfer unit and the heat transfer unit is connected to the inlet line of the separator.   
     
     
         2 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression unit is a multiphase pump. 
     
     
         3 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression unit is a compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer unit is a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a splitter which is positioned downstream of the compression unit to split out a part of the fluid in the outlet line of the compression unit and guide said part of the fluid into the heat transfer unit to mix with the fluid in the inlet line upstream of the separator, the heat transfer unit comprising a mixer. 
     
     
         6 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet line of the compression unit is connected to the outlet line of the separator. 
     
     
         7 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet line of the compression unit is connected to a downstream wax precipitation unit. 
     
     
         8 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer unit is provided with an additional heat source. 
     
     
         9 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least a second compression unit arranged upstream of the separator. 
     
     
         10 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least two separation stages which each comprise a corresponding first or second separator. 
     
     
         11 . The subsea system according to  claim 10 , wherein the heat transfer unit is a heat exchanger which is arranged downstream of the compression unit and upstream of at least the second separator to heat exchange a process fluid upstream of the second separator. 
     
     
         12 . The subsea system according to  claim 11 , wherein the system comprises a second heat exchanger which is arranged upstream of the first separator. 
     
     
         13 . The subsea system according to  claim 12 , wherein the subsea system comprises an additional separator upstream of the heat exchanger and downstream of the compression unit, such that the heat exchange takes place in parallel with split phases or one phase is bypassing the heat exchanger or mixed into a process fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The subsea system according to  claim 1 , wherein the subsea system comprises an additional separator upstream of the heat exchanger and a bypass line for at least one phase which extends around the heat exchanger.