Systems and methods to insulate components of industrial infrastructure

Abstract

This specification relates to systems and methods to insulate components of industrial infrastructure, such as tank systems and valve boxes used in association with oil wells. According to some implementations, a system includes a component to contain an outflow associated with industrial infrastructure; a foam arranged to insulate an exterior area associated with the component; a moisture barrier arranged to protect the foam; and a support structure to protect the foam from the weight of the component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tank system comprising:
 a cylindrical core tank adapted for use with industrial infrastructure, the core tank having an inside and an outside; and   a heat exchanger comprising a spiral flex pipe that helically surrounds at least some contents of the core tank, wherein the spiral flex pipe is located on the inside of the core tank and is coupled with an interior surface of the core tank, and wherein the helical axis of the spiral flex pipe and the cylindrical axis of the core tank are essentially co-axial.   
     
     
         2 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank system is transportable. 
     
     
         3 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank system is present in a tank battery. 
     
     
         4 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank system is insulated with one or more foam layers arranged to insulate an exterior area of the core tank on the outside of the core tank. 
     
     
         5 . The tank system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more foam layers are at least partially coated with a polymer coating as the outermost layer of the tank system. 
     
     
         6 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral flex pipe helically surrounds any contents of the core tank. 
     
     
         7 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral flex pipe is stainless steel spiral flexible pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the core tank comprises steel. 
     
     
         9 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the core tank comprises fiberglass. 
     
     
         10 . The tank system of  claim 1 , wherein the industrial infrastructure comprises an oil well. 
     
     
         11 . A method of liquid processing at a site of industrial infrastructure, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a tank system including: a cylindrical core tank adapted for use with industrial infrastructure, the core tank having an inside and an outside; and a heat exchanger comprising a spiral flex pipe that helically surrounds at least some contents of the core tank, wherein the spiral flex pipe is located on the inside of the core tank and is coupled with an interior surface of the core tank, and wherein the helical axis of the spiral flex pipe and the cylindrical axis of the core tank are essentially co-axial; and   (b) introducing liquids into the tank system, wherein the heat-exchanger configuration ensures a thermodynamic process in which the liquids are heated and one or more components are separated from the liquids.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermodynamic process causes the liquids heated on the surface of the inside of the core tank flow inward towards the middle of the core tank. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more components are recovered. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the site of industrial infrastructure is an oil and/or gas well, and wherein the one or more components are oil and/or gas components. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the liquids comprise paraffin. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heat-exchanger configuration prevents the collection of the paraffin on the walls of the core tank. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heat-exchanger configuration provides that the top of the core tank does not build up with solid paraffin, thereby avoiding trapping of oil-derived gases within the core tank. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the liquids comprise water, wherein the heat-exchanger configuration separates water from the liquids to generate clean water, and wherein the method further comprises recovering the clean water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the liquids comprise paraffin, entrained solids, water, and salts, and wherein the heat-exchanger configuration separates one or more of the paraffin, entrained solids, water, and salts. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tank system is insulated with one or more foam layers arranged to insulate an exterior area of the core tank on the outside of the core tank, and wherein the one or more foam layers are at least partially coated with a polymer coating as the outermost layer of the tank system.