US4117794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice melting system and method
Assignee: Global Marine Inc
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Filing: 1977-04-11
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Granted: 1978-10-03
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Expires: 1997-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A heat transfer method for melting thick layers of ice advancing toward an object facing the ice is disclosed. Elongated grooves or corrugations are disposed in the exterior surface of the object facing the ice. A heating fluid is circulated in intimate contact with the inside of the grooved surface, and a force is maintained between the grooved surface and the advancing ice layer. The grooves increase the heat transfer rate to the ice both by increasing the surface area exposed to the ice and by providing channels for controlling the flow of the melted ice liquid to initiate and maintain a forced convection mode of heat transfer that is necessary for high ice-melting rates. A preferred application of the invention is in oil and gas exploration and production in Arctic regions where moving ice sheets must be melted to maintain a drilling platform or oil production platform positioned over a submerged well site during periods when moving ice fields overlie the well site. At least a portion of the grooves have a vertical component to provide a flow path for the melted ice to the sea. The grooves are continued above the top surface of the ice being melted.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Norman Sjogren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:58
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of melting a solid layer moving toward an object having an exterior thermally conductive surface in the path of movement of the layer, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the layer a section of said exterior surface having surface indentations configured and arranged such that said exterior surface includes a plurality of elongated, spaced apart front portions which confront the moving layer and a plurality of elongated, spaced apart recessed portions which are located remotely from the layer relative to said front portions of the exterior surface, the recessed portions extending from the region of the surface proximately adjacent the portion of the layer to be melted to a location above the top surface of the layer; directing heat outwardly from said exterior surface to a portion of the layer located proximately adjacent said surface to melt the layer; and continuously maintaining a force between said exterior surface and the adjacent portion of said layer to maintain heat transfer between said surface and said layer; the recessed portions of said surface providing areas of heat concentration plus acting as conduits for removing melted material from the interface between said surface and said layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of melting a solid layer moving toward an object having an exterior thermally conductive surface in the path of movement of the layer, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the layer a section of said exterior surface having surface indentations configured and arranged such that said exterior surface includes a plurality of elongated, spaced apart front portions which confront the moving layer and a plurality of elongated, spaced apart recessed portions which are located remotely from the layer relative to said front portions of the exterior surface, the recessed portions extending from the region of the surface proximately adjacent the portion of the layer to be melted to a location above the top surface of the layer; directing heat outwardly from said exterior surface to a portion of the layer located proximately adjacent said surface to melt the layer; and continuously maintaining a force between said exterior surface and the adjacent portion of said layer to maintain heat transfer between said surface and said layer; the recessed portions of said surface providing areas of heat concentration plus acting as conduits for removing melted material from the interface between said surface and said layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 1 including maintaining said object in a fixed position in the path of movement of the layer so that the force applied between said exterior surface and the adjacent portion of the solid layer is provided by the movement of the layer toward said exterior surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1 including applying said force via adjustable tension lines extending from the object to the layer, the directional component of the force being adjusted in accordance with the instantaneous direction in which the layer is moving.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 1 in which the recessed portions of said surface comprise elongated channels formed in the exterior surface of the object and extending above the top surface of the layer for providing conduits for removing melted material from the interface of the exterior surface and the adjacent layer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
221 words
A method for melting a layer of ice moving toward an object having an exterior conductive metal surface in the path of movement of the ice layer, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a portion of the exterior surface having a plurality of spaced apart, elongated grooves formed therein, at least a portion of the grooves extending upwardly along said surface from a location proximately adjacent the portion of the ice to be melted to a location above the top surface of the ice layer; flowing a fluid heated above the melting temperature of ice into direct contact with the inner surface of the object opposite said grooved portion thereof so as to direct heat outwardly from the grooved surface to a portion of the ice layer located proximately adjacent the grooved surface so as to initiate forced convection heat transfer at the metal/ice interface; and maintaining a force between the grooved surface and the adjacent ice layer so as to assist in the initiation of said forced convection heat transfer and to maintain said heat transfer at the interface; the grooves providing areas of heat concentration plus acting as conduits for removing melted ice from the metal/ice interface so as to maintain said forced convection heat transfer at the interface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
221 words
A method for melting a layer of ice moving toward an object having an exterior conductive metal surface in the path of movement of the ice layer, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a portion of the exterior surface having a plurality of spaced apart, elongated grooves formed therein, at least a portion of the grooves extending upwardly along said surface from a location proximately adjacent the portion of the ice to be melted to a location above the top surface of the ice layer; flowing a fluid heated above the melting temperature of ice into direct contact with the inner surface of the object opposite said grooved portion thereof so as to direct heat outwardly from the grooved surface to a portion of the ice layer located proximately adjacent the grooved surface so as to initiate forced convection heat transfer at the metal/ice interface; and maintaining a force between the grooved surface and the adjacent ice layer so as to assist in the initiation of said forced convection heat transfer and to maintain said heat transfer at the interface; the grooves providing areas of heat concentration plus acting as conduits for removing melted ice from the metal/ice interface so as to maintain said forced convection heat transfer at the interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 5 including flowing the heat transfer fluid through a plurality of channels in direct contact with the inner surface of the object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 5 in which the continuous force between the metal and ice is provided by the action of the ice itself advancing toward the metal surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 5 in which the continuous force is provided by tension means extending from the object of the ice layer and in which the tension means are adjustable to change the directional component of the force in accordance with the instantaneous direction in which the ice layer is moving.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 5 in which the grooves are substantially linear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 5 in which the grooves are curvilinear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5 in which the grooved portion of the exterior surface is formed by corrugations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method according to claim 5 in which the grooved portion of the exterior surface includes a series of spaced apart, generally horizontally extending heat transfer grooves, and a plurality of fluid drainage grooves intersecting the heat transfer grooves and extending in a direction having a vertical component, at least a portion of the drainage grooves extending from a location adjacent the portion of the ice to be melted to a location above the top surface of the ice.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for melting a layer of ice moving toward an object having an exterior surface in the path of movement of the ice layer, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a portion of the exterior surface having a series of spaced apart, elongated grooves formed therein, at least a portion of the grooves extending upwardly along said surface to a location above the top surface of the ice layer; and directing heat, at a temperature above the melting temperature of ice, outwardly from the grooved surface to a portion of the ice layer located proximately adjacent the grooved surface so as to melt the ice layer; and maintaining a force between the grooved portion of the exterior surface and the adjacent portion of the ice layer as the layer becomes melted so as to melt the portion of the ice layer moving toward the exterior surface; the grooves providing areas of heat concentration and conduits for removing melted ice from between the surface and the ice.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for melting a layer of ice moving toward an object having an exterior surface in the path of movement of the ice layer, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a portion of the exterior surface having a series of spaced apart, elongated grooves formed therein, at least a portion of the grooves extending upwardly along said surface to a location above the top surface of the ice layer; and directing heat, at a temperature above the melting temperature of ice, outwardly from the grooved surface to a portion of the ice layer located proximately adjacent the grooved surface so as to melt the ice layer; and maintaining a force between the grooved portion of the exterior surface and the adjacent portion of the ice layer as the layer becomes melted so as to melt the portion of the ice layer moving toward the exterior surface; the grooves providing areas of heat concentration and conduits for removing melted ice from between the surface and the ice.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 13 including disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a portion of the exterior surface in which the grooves are substantially linear.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the object has an interior surface opposite the grooved exterior surface; and including the step of circulating a heat transfer fluid through a plurality of channels into direct contact with said interior surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 13 including applying said force between only that portion of the layer moving toward the object at any given time and the grooved portion of the object in the path of movement of the ice layer at that time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 13 including adjusting the directional component of the force between the ice layer and the object in accordance with the instantaneous direction in which the ice layer is moving.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the grooved portion of the exterior surface is formed by corrugations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the object is fixed in the path of movement of the ice layer, and in which said continous force is applied by the action of the ice advancing toward the grooved surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 13 including the step of moving the exterior surface transversely back and forth relative to the elongate extent of the grooves and the direction of ice movement toward the grooved surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the grooved portion of the exterior surface includes a series of spaced apart, generally horizontally extending heat transfer grooves, and a plurality of fluid drainage grooves intersecting the heat transfer grooves and extending in a direction having a vertical component, at least a portion of the drainage grooves extending from a location adjacent the portion of the ice to be melted to a location above the top surface of the ice.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for melting a layer of ice moving toward a vessel which is buoyantly floated in a pool formed in the ice, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a section of the vessel exterior surface having a series of spaced apart, elongated grooves in which at least a portion of the grooves extend upwardly along the exterior surface of the vessel to a location above the top surface of the ice layer; directing heat, at a temperature above the melting temperature of ice, outwardly from the grooved portion of the vessel surface to a portion of the ice layer located proximately adjacent the grooved portion of the surface; and constantly maintaining a force between the grooved surface and the adjacent portion of the ice layer.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for melting a layer of ice moving toward a vessel which is buoyantly floated in a pool formed in the ice, the method comprising the steps of: disposing in the path of movement of the ice layer a section of the vessel exterior surface having a series of spaced apart, elongated grooves in which at least a portion of the grooves extend upwardly along the exterior surface of the vessel to a location above the top surface of the ice layer; directing heat, at a temperature above the melting temperature of ice, outwardly from the grooved portion of the vessel surface to a portion of the ice layer located proximately adjacent the grooved portion of the surface; and constantly maintaining a force between the grooved surface and the adjacent portion of the ice layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 22 in which the vessel has an interior surface opposite the grooved exterior surface; and including the step of flowing a heat transfer fluid into direct contact with the interior surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 23 in which the vessel includes paths for circulation of the heat transfer fluid across said interior surface; and including the step of selecting particular ones of said paths for the flow of heat transfer fluid therealong.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 22 including the step of moving the exterior surface of the vessel back and forth transversely relative to the elongate extent of the grooves and relative to the direction of ice movement toward the grooved surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-02 | 1982-04-03 | 1982-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-02 | 1986-04-03 | 1986-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-02 | 1990-04-03 | 1990-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |