Cryogenic pipeline system

Claim 2

A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a first inner pipe means, a second outer pipe means disposed concentrically about said inner pipe means, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe means and said outer pipe means, a plurality of connector cones disposed in said annular space, each of said cones being connected at one end portion to said outer pipe means, and a plastic axially extending insulating member in the annular space around the inner pipe means and connected at one end to the other end portion of said connector cones and positioned between said other end portion of said connector cones and said inner pipe means, and means connecting the other end of said insulating member to said inner pipe means, said insulating member being mounted in spaced relation to said inner pipe means and having a high coefficient of thermal contraction, high compressive strength, and a high modulus of elasticity.

Claim 3

The pipeline system as defined in claim 1, said insulating member being comprised of a resin selected from the group consisting of polyester and epoxy resins.

Claim 4

The pipeline system as defined in claim 2, said resin containing an inorganic material selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, boron fibers, calcium carbonate and alumina trihydrate.

Claim 5

The pipeline system as defined in claim 1, said insulating member being a fiber reinforced plastic laminate.

Claim 6

The pipeline system as defined in claim 1, said inner pipe means and said insulating member being placed in compression, said insulating member and said connector cones transferring the compressive load from said inner pipe means to a tension load in said outer pipe means.

Claim 7

The pipeline system as defined in claim 1, said plastic insulating member being in the form of a cylinder positioned in the annular space between said inner and outer pipe means, and mounted coaxially of said inner and outer pipe means.

Claim 8

The pipeline system as defined in claim 6, said insulating cylinder having an axial length ranging from about 25% to about 50% of the axial length of said connector cones, and a radial thickness ranging from about 10% to about 25% of the axial length of said cylinder.

Claim 9

The pipeline system as defined in claim 6, said cylinder being a fiber reinforced plastic insulating cylinder, said fiber being disposed essentially circumferentially within said cylinder.

Claim 10

The pipeline system as defined in claim 6, said cylinder being a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin cylinder having compressive load-carrying capacity, the fiberglass in said cylinder being in the form of a circumferential spiral.

Claim 11

The pipeline system as defined in claim 1, including a second thermal insulation means in said annular space between the inner and outer pipe means.

Claim 12

The pipeline system as defined in claim 10, said second thermal insulation means being polyurethane foam.

Claim 13

The pipeline system as defined in claim 1, said inner pipe means and said stress cones comprised of a nickel steel.

Claim 14

A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of pipe sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said pipe section including a first inner pipe for passage of a cryogenic liquid therethrough, said inner pipe formed of a metal having high strength characteristics at low temperature, a second outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of connector cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each of said pipe sections, said connector cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, one end of each of said connector cones being connected to said outer pipe, a fiber reinforced plastic insulator member of substantial axial length connected at one end to the other end of each of said connector cones and positioned between said other end of each of said connector cones and said inner pipe, a support member connecting the other end of said insulator member to said inner pipe, and mounting said insulator member in spaced relation to said inner pipe, and having a high coefficient of thermal contraction, high compressive strength, and a high modulus of elasticity.

Claim 15

A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a plurality of pipe sections connected together to form said pipeline system, each said pipe section including a first inner pipe for passage of a cryogenic liquid therethrough, said inner pipe formed of a metal having high strength characteristics at low temperature, a second outer pipe positioned concentrically around said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of connector cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of each of said pipe sections, said connector cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, one end of each of said connector cones being connected to said outer pipe, a fiber reinforced plastic insulator member of substantial axial length connected at one end to the other end of each of said connector cones and positioned between said other end of each of said connector cones and said inner pipe, a support member connecting the other end of said insulator member to said inner pipe, and mounting said insulator member in spaced relation to said inner pipe, and having a high coefficient of thermal contraction, high compressive strength, and a high modulus of elasticity.

Claim 16

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, said insulator member comprised of a resin selected from the group consisting of cast and filled polyester and epoxy resins.

Claim 17

The pipeline system as defined in claim 14, said filled resins being filled with an inorganic material selected from the group consisting of chopped fiberglass, calcium carbonate and alumina trihydrate.

Claim 18

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, and including a second thermal insulation positioned in said annular space between said inner and outer pipes, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity.

Claim 19

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, said insulator member being a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin.

Claim 20

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, said insulator member being a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin in the form of a cylinder having compressive load-carrying capacity, the fiberglass in said cylinder being in the form of a circumferential spiral, said cylinder being positioned within said connector cones and disposed in said annular space around said inner pipe and coaxial therewith, said insulator cylinder being under compression.

Claim 21

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, said inner pipe being comprised of nickel steel, and said connector cones comprised of nickel steel or stainless steel.

Claim 22

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, the end portions of the inner pipes of adjacent pipe sections being connected together, and including outer pipe covers positioned between and connected to the outer pipes of adjacent pipe sections.

Claim 23

The pipeline system as defined in claim 20, including a second insulation also being disposed in the annular space between said outer pipe covers and said inner pipe, and between adjacent pipe sections.

Claim 24

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, including a field weld between adjacent pipe sections, the inner pipes of adjacent pipe sections having un-prestressed end portions adjacent said field weld, said un-prestressed end portions being composed of a metal having a low thermal stress and a low modulus of elasticity.

Claim 25

A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a pipe section including a first inner carrier pipe and a second outer jacket pipe, said outer pipe being disposed concentrically about said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of connector cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of said pipe section, said connector cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, the outer large end of said connector cones being connected to said outer pipe, a stiffener ring positioned around and connected to said large end of said connector cones, and a pair of insulator members positioned in said annular space and positioned within said connector cones adjacent opposite end portions of said pipe section, said insulator members each being a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin in the form of a cylinder having compressive load-carrying capacity, the fiberglass in said cylinder being in the form of a circumferential spiral, said cylinders being disposed around and coaxial with said inner pipe and spaced therefrom, a support structure mounted on the outer side of each of said insulator cylinders, the small end of each of said stress cones being connected to said support structure, a ring plate mounted on the opposite inner side of each of said insulator cylinders, said ring plate being disposed around and connected to said inner pipe, said inner pipe between said ring plates being prestressed in compression, and said insulator members and said connector cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe to a tension load in said outer pipe.

Claim 26

A pipeline system having reduced thermal strain when subjected to low temperatures, comprising a pipe section including a first inner carrier pipe and a second outer jacket pipe, said outer pipe being disposed concentrically about said inner pipe, and providing an annular space between said inner pipe and said outer pipe, a pair of connector cones positioned in said annular space adjacent opposite end portions of said pipe section, said connector cones being composed of a high strength material having high modulus, the outer large end of said connector cones being connected to said outer pipe, a stiffener ring positioned around and connected to said large end of said connector cones, and a pair of insulator members positioned in said annular space and positioned within said connector cones adjacent opposite end portions of said pipe section, said insulator members each being a fiberglass reinforced polyester resin in the form of a cylinder having compressive load-carrying capacity, the fiberglass in said cylinder being in the form of a circumferential spiral, said cylinders being disposed around and coaxial with said inner pipe and spaced therefrom, a support structure mounted on the outer side of each of said insulator cylinders, the small end of each of said stress cones being connected to said support structure, a ring plate mounted on the opposite inner side of each of said insulator cylinders, said ring plate being disposed around and connected to said inner pipe, said inner pipe between said ring plates being prestressed in compression, and said insulator members and said connector cones transferring said compressive load from said inner pipe to a tension load in said outer pipe.

Claim 27

The pipeline system as defined in claim 23, including a plurality of said pipe sections connected together to form said pipeline system, the ends of the inner pipe of said pipe sections being welded to the ends of the inner pipe of adjacent pipe sections, and including outer pipe covers positioned between and connected to the outer pipes at the ends of adjacent pipe sections.

Claim 28

The pipeline system as defined in claim 24, including a second thermal insulation positioned in the annular space between the inner and outer pipes of each of said pipe sections, and in the annular space between said outer pipe covers and said inner pipes and between the ends of adjacent pipe sections, said second thermal insulation having low thermal conductivity.

Claim 29

The pipeline system as defined in claim 24, said inner pipes comprised of nickel steel, said connector cones comprised of nickel steel, and said second thermal insulation being polyurethane foam.

Claim 30

The pipeline system as defined in claim 24, the end portions of said inner pipe of said pipe sections between said ring plates and the weld between adjacent pipe sections being un-prestressed, and said pipe covers being subjected to neither a compressive nor tensile load.

Claim 31

The pipeline system as defined in claim 24, said cylinders having an axial length ranging from about 25% to about 50% of the axial length of said connector cones, and the radial thickness of said insulator cylinders ranging from about 10% to about 25% of the axial length of said cylinders.

Claim 32

The pipeline system as defined in claim 24, including a support bracket connected to said inner pipe and positioned against said ring plate.

Claim 33

The pipeline system as defined in claim 13, said insulator member having a coefficient of thermal contraction ranging from about 0.004 to about 0.010 inches per inch, a compressive strength ranging from 6,000 to about 12,000 psi and a modulus of elasticity ranging from about 800,000 to about 2 million psi.

Claim 34

The pipeline system as defined in claim 23, including a plurality of said pipe sections welded together to form said pipeline system, the ends of the inner pipe of said pipe sections being welded to the ends of the inner pipe of adjacent pipe sections, the end portions of the inner pipe of adjacent pipe sections between said ring plate and the weld connecting the ends of the inner pipe of adjacent pipe sections being un-prestressed, said un-prestressed end portions being composed of a metal having low thermal stress and a low modulus of elasticity.

Claim 35

The pipeline system as defined in claim 31, said un-prestressed end portions being composed of a nickel, iron, chromium alloy having a coefficient of thermal contraction of 4.4×10 -6 inch per inches per °F., and a modulus of elasticity of about 21.5×10 6 psi.