Abstract: A control system and methods for a digital circuit breaker are provided. The system comprises a digital circuit breaker, an electric trace heater electrically connected to the digital circuit breaker, a temperature sensor, and a controller device in communication with the digital circuit breaker and the electric trace heater. The controller device includes a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, and the processor is configured to receive a temperature value from the temperature sensor, construct a time-current curve for the digital circuit breaker based on the temperature value, and transmit data representative of the time-current curve to the digital circuit breaker.

Abstract: A control system and methods for a digital circuit breaker are provided. The system comprises a digital circuit breaker, an electric trace heater electrically connected to the digital circuit breaker, a temperature sensor, and a controller device in communication with the digital circuit breaker and the electric trace heater. The controller device includes a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, and the processor is configured to receive a temperature value from the temperature sensor, construct a time-current curve for the digital circuit breaker based on the temperature value, and transmit data representative of the time-current curve to the digital circuit breaker.

Abstract: A splice for a skin-effect effect heating cable. The splice includes a primary shim configured to be shrunk over part of an insulation layer of a first portion of the heating cable, a secondary shim configured to be shrunk part of the insulation layer of a second portion of the heating cable, a connector configured to electrically couple the first portion of the heating cable and the second portion of the heating cable, and an outer cold shrink tube configured to be shrunk over the primary shim, the secondary shim, and the connector.

Abstract: A splice for a skin-effect effect heating cable is provided. The splice includes a primary shim configured to be shrunk over part of an insulation layer of a first portion of the heating cable, a secondary shim configured to be shrunk part of the insulation layer of a second portion of the heating cable, a connector configured to electrically couple the first portion of the heating cable and the second portion of the heating cable, and an outer cold shrink tube configured to be shrunk over the primary shim, the secondary shim, and the connector.

Abstract: A control system for use with a pipeline that transports a process fluid. The control system includes a distributed temperature sensing system that records temperature data at a plurality of segments along a pipeline, a heating system that heats the process fluid, and a management system. The management system includes a controller that receives the temperature data from the distributed temperature sensing system and determines a first alarm condition for each segment of the plurality of segments along the pipeline. When the first alarm condition is present in adjacent segments, the controller merges the first alarm condition to create an extended segment first alarm condition encompassing the adjacent segments and displays, via a graphical user interface, a representation of the extended segment first alarm condition.

Abstract: A splice for a skin-effect effect heating cable including a primary shim configured to be shrunk over part of an insulation layer of a first portion of the heating cable, a secondary shim configured to be shrunk part of the insulation layer of a second portion of the heating cable, a connector configured to electrically couple the first portion of the heating cable and the second portion of the heating cable, and an outer cold shrink tube configured to be shrunk over the primary shim, the secondary shim, and the connector.

Abstract: A control system and methods for a digital circuit breaker are provided. The system comprises a digital circuit breaker, an electric trace heater electrically connected to the digital circuit breaker, a temperature sensor, and a controller device in communication with the digital circuit breaker and the electric trace heater. The controller device includes a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, and the processor is configured to receive a temperature value from the temperature sensor, construct a time-current curve for the digital circuit breaker based on the temperature value, and transmit data representative of the time-current curve to the digital circuit breaker.

Abstract: A splice for a skin-effect effect heating cable is provided. The splice includes a primary shim configured to be shrunk over part of an insulation layer of a first portion of the heating cable, a secondary shim configured to be shrunk part of the insulation layer of a second portion of the heating cable, a connector configured to electrically couple the first portion of the heating cable and the second portion of the heating cable, and an outer cold shrink tube configured to be shrunk over the primary shim, the secondary shim, and the connector.

Abstract: A skin effect heating system for long pipelines includes a heater cable disposed in a ferromagnetic or other conductive heat tube. A semiconductive jacket contacts the inner surface of the heat tube, where the charge density of the return current carried by the heat tube is at its highest. The semiconductive jacket material has a resistivity that is sufficiently low to reduce or eliminate arcing events such as corona discharge by allowing accumulated charge on the heat tube to dissipate. The resistivity is also high enough to prevent the return current from flowing into or through the semiconductive outer layer, so that heat production capacity of the system is maximized.

Abstract: A heater cable for use in a heat tube. The heater cable includes a core conductor, an electrical insulation layer surrounding the core conductor, and an outer semiconductive layer surrounding the electrical insulation layer. The outer semiconductive layer is exposed so that, when installed in the heat tube, the outer semiconductive layer is in physical and electrical contact with an inner diameter of the heat tube. The outer semiconductive layer, or jacket, has ribs or similar spacing structures that contact the inner surface of the heat tube and space the components of the heater cable away from the inner surface of the heat tube and toward the center of the heat tube to reduce or eliminate the incidence of partial discharge.

Abstract: A skin effect heating system for long pipelines includes a heater cable disposed in a ferromagnetic or other conductive heat tube. A semiconductive jacket contacts the inner surface of the heat tube, where the charge density of the return current carried by the heat tube is at its highest. The semiconductive jacket material has a resistivity that is sufficiently low to reduce or eliminate arcing events such as corona discharge by allowing accumulated charge on the heat tube to dissipate. The resistivity is also high enough to prevent the return current from flowing into or through the semiconductive outer layer, so that heat production capacity of the system is maximized.

Abstract: A method of attaching an end termination assembly to a cold lead of a mineral insulated heating cable. the method comprises removing a portion of a metallic sheath of the cold lead from a proximal end of the cold lead, thereby exposing a conductor of the cold lead. In addition sliding a tubular bushing over the proximal end of the cold lead, and sliding a tubular pot over the proximal end of the cold lead, the conductor thereby projecting from a proximal end of the tubular pot. The method further including aligning a proximal end of the sheath of the cold lead with a proximal end of the tubular bushing, and welding the proximal end of the tubular bushing to the sheath at the proximal end of the sheath. In addition, positioning a distal end of the pot over the proximal end of the bushing, and welding the distal end of the pot to the bushing.

Abstract: A subterranean electro-thermal heating system including one or more heater cable sections extending through one or more heat target regions of a subterranean environment and one or more cold lead sections coupled to the heater cable section(s) and extending through one or more non-target regions of the subterranean environment. A cold lead section delivers electrical power to a heater cable section but generates less heat than the heater cable section. The heater cable section(s) are arranged to deliver thermal input to one or more localized areas in the subterranean environment to vaporize a liquid, e.g. water.

Abstract: A subterranean electro-thermal heating system including one or more heater cable sections extending through one or more heat target regions of a subterranean environment and one or more cold lead sections coupled to the heater cable section(s) and extending through one or more non-target regions of the subterranean environment. A cold lead section delivers electrical power to a heater cable section but generates less heat than the heater cable section. The heater cable section(s) are arranged to deliver thermal input to one or more localized areas in the subterranean environment to vaporize a liquid, e.g. water.