Performance Evaluation of Vacuum Thermal Insulation for Main Oil and Gas Pipelines

Abstract

The goal of this work is to cut the total costs of viscous oil pumping and heating, expenses on constructing and running thermal and pump stations and on fabricating and using thermal insulation through the use of vacuum insulation coating of the main oil pipeline. The thermal insulation product proposed for use as thermal insulation covering for oil pipelines has internal cavities vacuum-treated to a residual pressure of less than 1 kPa. The proposed algorithm for the optimization of the vacuum thermal insulation coatings of pipelines by the generalized criterion of optimality, while ensuring the specified strength. As per calculations, vacuum thermal insulation used as thermal insulation covering of pipelines for transporting viscous oil cuts the total annual expenses by 6.3 to 14 %.