PANEL TRACER SYSTEM USING A PANEL TRACER AND HEAT TRANSFER ELEMENTS, AND METHOD OF INSTALLING

Abstract

A tracer panel that is easily installed on a structure (e.g., process pipe, vessel, or the like) in the proper locations and orientations. The tracer panel may be made of tubes of particular sizes (e.g., lengths, orientation, bend(s), or the like), which may be partially pre-formed and/or partially formed on site (e.g., cut, bent, assembled, or the like on-site) into the tracer panel. The tracers of the tracer panel may be connected by stiffener members to aid in restricting deformation of the panel or may use flexible members to allow installation on different curved surfaces. The tracer panel may be connected with other tracer panels to form a tracer system. Heat transfer elements and/or heat transfer panels (e.g., made up of multiple heat transfer elements) may be assembled to the tracer panel to improve the heat transfer between the tracer panel and the structure.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 119

The present application for a patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/456,324 entitled “Panel Tracer System Using a Panel Tracer and Heat Transfer Elements, and Method of Installing”, filed on Mar. 31, 2023, which is assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present application relates to controlling a temperature of a structure using a tracer with fluid therein, and more particularly, using one or more tracer panels having multiple tracers, and potentially, one or more heat transfer elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to heat transfer from a tracing system to a structure, such as a process pipe, vessel, or the like. Typical tracing systems include a single tracer (e.g., single tracing pipe) that is installed to a structure on site. The tracer may also utilize a heat exchanger member installed on site that is used to increase the heat transfer between the tracer and the structure. There is a need for improved tracing systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addressed the foregoing deficiencies of conventional tracing systems and tracers thereof, and provides other advantages by providing a customizable tracing system that utilizes tracer panels (e.g., customizable tracer panels) that may be pre-formed as customized, that may be partially pre-formed and customized on site in the field, and/or may be fully customized on site in the field. The tracer panels and/or components thereof may be formed such that they are easily installed on a structure (e.g., process pipe, vessel, or the like) in the proper positions (e.g., locations, orientations, or the like) and/or are configured for customization in the field.

The tracer panels may be made of tubes of particular sizes and/or include stiffeners that aid in preventing deformation of the tracer panels (e.g., during manufacturing, packaging, shipping, installation, or the like), which could result in the tracers, and thus, the tracing system not operating as intended (e.g., based on the engineered design). Moreover, the tracer panels may have inlets and outlets positioned in different locations on various panels and/or other alignment members in order to aid in requiring placement of successive tracer panels in specific locations on the structure. The tracing system may include heat transfer elements and/or heat transfer panels (e.g., made up of multiple heat transfer elements) that are used to improve the heat transfer between the tracer panels and the structure. In some embodiments, the heat transfer elements may be pre-assembled to the tracer panels. In other embodiments, the heat transfer elements may be installed on-site when installing the tracer panels. The heat transfer elements may act as stiffeners for the tracer panels.

Additionally, or alternatively, at least some customization of the tracer panels may be performed during assembly of the tracer panels for the tracer system (otherwise described as a tracer apparatus) in the field. As such, in some embodiments, components of the tracer system may be shipped for at least partial assembly in the field. In some embodiments, the tracer panels may be flexible through the use of flexible members, such that the flexible tracer panels may be assembled to different structures having different surfaces (e.g., different pipes having different curvatures, such as different uniform radiuses and/or different non-uniform surfaces). In other embodiments, the tracer panels may include one or more tracers (e.g., longitudinal, transverse, or the like) that are operatively coupled to one or more header tracers. The one or more tracers may be pre-formed or partially pre-formed before shipping, and/or may be formed or fitted on site to allow for adjustments to the tracer panels in the field. For example, the tracers may be cut to length, bent (e.g., at least partially), and/or assembled with the one or more header portions in order to form the tracer panels on site as the panel system is being assembled to the structure. As such, the field customized panels may be assembled on site in the filed in order to account for differences in the structure in the field versus the structure for which the tracer panels were designed.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a tracer panel of a plurality of tracer panels in a tracer system for heating or cooling a fluid within a structure. The tracer panel comprises two or more tracers spaced apart from each other, an inlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers, and an outlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers. The tracer panel is at last partially curved to form a curved tracer panel configured to be installed on a non-linear surface of the structure.

In further accord with embodiments, the two or more tracers comprise two or more longitudinal tracers. The tracer panel further comprises one or more intermediate serpentine header tracers. The intermediate serpentine header tracer operatively couples ends of two longitudinal tracers of the two or more longitudinal tracers. The one or more intermediate serpentine header tracers have one or more bends to form the curved tracer panel.

In other embodiments, the two or more longitudinal tracers have one or more bends, and wherein the curved tracer panel is a longitudinal serpentine elbow panel.

In yet other embodiments, the two or more tracers comprise two or more longitudinal tracers. The inlet header tracer is an inlet header manifold operatively coupled to first ends of the two or more longitudinal tracers, and the outlet header tracer is an outlet header manifold operatively coupled to second ends of the two or more longitudinal tracers.

In still other embodiments, the two or more longitudinal tracers have one or more bends, and wherein the curved tracer panel is a longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panel.

In further accord with other embodiments, the two or more tracers comprise two or more transverse tracers. The two or more transverse tracers each have one or more bends that form the curved tracer panel.

In other embodiments, the inlet header tracer is an inlet header manifold operatively coupled to first ends of the two or more transverse tracers. The outlet header tracer is an outlet header manifold operatively coupled to second ends of the two or more transverse tracers.

In yet other embodiments, the inlet header manifold or the outlet header manifold have one or more bends, and wherein the curved tracer panel is a transverse parallel elbow panel.

In still other embodiments, the two or more transverse tracers comprise three or more transverse tracers. The tracer panel further comprises one or more converging serpentine header tracers operatively coupling converging ends of two transverse tracers, and one or more diverging serpentine header tracers operatively coupling diverging ends of two transverse tracers. The one or more converging serpentine header tracers and the one or more diverging serpentine header tracers form a transverse serpentine elbow panel.

In further accord with other embodiments, the tracer panel further comprises tracer bracing operatively coupling the two or more transverse tracers.

In other embodiments, the two or more tracers are operatively coupled to each other or the inlet header tracer and the outlet header tracer through tracer connectors.

In yet other embodiments, the tracer connectors comprise compression fittings, flared JIC fittings, butt welding, or socket welding.

In still other embodiments, the two or more tracers are formed to a length on-site and operatively coupled to the inlet header tracer and the outlet header tracer on site.

In further accord with embodiments, the inlet header tracer and the outlet header tracer are at least partially pre-formed by bending before shipping on-site.

In other embodiments, the tracer panel further comprises one or more flexible members operatively coupling the two or more tracers. The one or more flexible members are configured to allow installation of the tracer panel on structures having different curved surfaces.

In yet other embodiments, the tracer panel further comprises one or more stiffeners operatively coupling the two or more tracers. The one or more stiffeners aid in resisting deformation of the tracer panel.

In still other embodiments, the tracer panel further comprises one or more alignment members on the panel tracer configured to align the tracer panel with an upstream or downstream tracer panel.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a panel tracer system for heating or cooling a structure. The panel tracer system comprising two or more tracer panels operatively coupled in series. The two or more tracer panels comprise two or more tracers spaced apart from each other, an inlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers, and an outlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers. The two or more tracer panels are at last partially curved to form curved tracer panels configured to be installed on one or more non-linear surfaces of the structure.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a method of forming a tracer panel for a panel tracer system for heating or cooling a structure. The method comprises receiving tracer panel configurations for the tracer panel, wherein the tracer panel configurations comprise at least two or more tracers for the tracer panel and header tracers for the tracer panel. The method further comprises assembling the two or more tracers to the header tracers using tracer connectors on-site based on the tracer panel configurations. The tracer panel is at last partially curved to form a curved tracer panel configured to be installed on a non-linear surface of the structure.

In further accord with embodiments, the two or more tracers are trimmed in the field on-site to form two or more customized tracers. The header tracers are at least partially pre-formed header tracers, and wherein the two or more customized tracers are operatively coupled to the at least partially pre-formed header tracers in the field on-site.

The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the description of the embodiment(s), which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments of the present invention now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals, and wherein,

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of the tracer panel of FIG. 3A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3C illustrates an end view of the tracer panel of FIG. 3A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the tracer panel of FIG. 4A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4C illustrates a side view of the tracer panel of FIG. 4A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4D illustrates an end view of the tracer panel of FIG. 4A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the tracer panel of FIG. 5, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an end view of the tracer panel of FIG. 5, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel with stiffeners, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the tracer panel of FIG. 8, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel with stiffeners, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10B illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel with stiffeners, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel formed using a bend, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel formed using a welded connector, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of tracer panel formed by directly welding the tracer tubes, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14A illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel using tee and elbow connectors, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14B illustrates a side view of a tracer panel using tee and elbow connectors, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15A illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel using tee connectors and bent tracers, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15B illustrates a side view of assembling a tracer panel using tee connectors and bent tracers, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of assembling a tracer panel using tee and elbow connectors with the inlet and outlet located on longitudinal tracers, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of assembling a tracer panel using tee connectors and bent tracers with the inlet and outlet located on the longitudinal tracers, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18A illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18B illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel after being bent for assembly to a structure and with heat transfer elements, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18C illustrates a perspective view of a tracer panel after being bent for assembly to a structure and with a stiffener and heat transfer elements, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19A illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a tracer panel with a heat transfer element operatively coupled to the tracer of the tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19B illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a tracer panel with a heat transfer element operatively coupled to the tracer of the tracer panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19C illustrates a cross sectional view of a tracer system profile of the heat transfer element, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20A illustrates a profile of the heat transfer element, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20B illustrates a profile of heat transfer element, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20C illustrates a profile of the heat transfer element, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20D illustrates a profile of heat transfer element, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20E illustrates a profile of heat transfer element, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20F illustrates a perspective view of heat transfer element heat transfer element cavities, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20G illustrates a profile of a heat transfer element with a base and cover, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21A illustrates a flexible panel for connecting to a structure having different surfaces, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21B illustrates the flexible panel of FIG. 21A being assembled to two different structures with different curvatures, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 22A illustrates a perspective view of a field customized serpentine panel that is assembled in the field, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 22B illustrates a perspective view of an intermediate header tracer for the field customized serpentine panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 22C illustrates a perspective view of an inlet or outlet header tracer for the field customized serpentine panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23A illustrates a perspective view of a field customized parallel panel that is assembled in the field, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23B illustrates a perspective view of an inlet or outlet manifold header for the field customized parallel panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23C illustrates an end view of the header of FIG. 23B, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23D illustrates a side view of the header of FIG. 23B, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24A illustrates an axial elbow panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24B illustrates a transverse parallel elbow panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24C illustrates a transverse serpentine elbow panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25A illustrates an axial serpentine elbow panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25B illustrates an axial parallel elbow panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 26A illustrates a transverse curved tracer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 26B illustrates a transverse curved tracer that has a larger radius than the tracer of FIG. 26A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27A illustrates a transverse parallel elbow panel formed using a transverse curved tracer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27B illustrates a manifold header tracer for the transverse parallel elbow panel of FIG. 27A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28A illustrates a transverse serpentine elbow panel formed using a transverse curved tracer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28B illustrates a converging header tracer for the transverse serpentine elbow panel of FIG. 28A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28C illustrates a diverging header tracer for the transverse serpentine elbow panel of FIG. 28A, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 29A illustrates tracer bracing for the tracers, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 29B illustrates the use of tracer bracing tracers within an elbow panel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30A illustrates a compression connection for the tracers of the panels, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30B illustrates a butt weld connection for the tracers of the panels, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30C illustrates a flared connection for the tracers of the panels, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30D illustrates a socket weld connection for the tracers of the panels, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 31A illustrates the installation of tracer panels on a process pipe structure, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 31B illustrates a jumper tube for connecting two tracer panels, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 31C illustrates a jumper tube for connecting two tracer panels as installed with insulation, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 32 illustrates a process flow for manufacturing and/or installing the tracer system described herein, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 33A illustrates rotary draw bending equipment for bending a tracer tube, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 33B illustrates compression bending equipment for bending a tracer tube, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 33C illustrates press or ram bending equipment for bending a tracer tube, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 33D illustrates roll bending equipment for bending a tracer tube, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 34 illustrates a tracer panel assembly computer system for customizing, manufacturing, and/or the tracer panel systems, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention may now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure may satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of conventional tracing systems and tracers thereof, and provides other advantages by providing a tracing system 10 that utilizes tracer panels 100, which may be customizable for particular installations (e.g., customizable tracer system using customizable panels that are pre-formed or formed in the field). The tracer panels 100 are formed such that they are easily installed on a structure 50 (e.g., process pipe 52, vessel 54, or the like) in the proper locations and orientations. Moreover, the tracer panels 100 may include stiffener members 150 (e.g., stiffeners, or the like) that aid in restricting (e.g., reducing or preventing) deformation of the tracer panels 100, which could result in the tracers 110 thereof, and thus, the tracing system 10 not operating as intended. However, in other embodiments, the tracer panels 100 may include flexible members 190, which allow the tracer panels 100 to be installed on different surfaces even if the surfaces have different curvatures. The customizable tracer panels 100 may be pre-formed and shipped on site for installation, and/or in some embodiments the customizable tracer panels 100 may be field customized panels 300 for which the components may be partially pre-formed, at least partially formed in the field, and/or at least partially assembled in the field.

The tracing system 10 may include heat transfer elements 200 and/or heat transfer panels 202 (e.g., made up of multiple heat transfer elements 200) that are used to improve the heat transfer between the tracer panels 100 and the structure 50. It should be understood that where heat transfer elements 200 are discussed herein, the use of individual heat transfer elements 200 may be replaced with heat transfer panel 202 in which multiple heat transfer elements 200 are operatively coupled together before, during, or after installation. In some embodiments, the heat transfer elements 200 may be pre-assembled to the tracer panels 100. In other embodiments, the heat transfer elements 200 may be installed on-site when installing the tracer panels 100. The heat transfer elements may improve the heat transfer between the tracer panels 100 and the structure 50, and in some embodiments, may act as the stiffeners 150.

FIGS. 1 through 18C illustrate embodiments of tracer panels 100. In some embodiments, the tracer panel 100 comprises of one or more tracers 102, such as one or more tracer tubes. As such, it should be understood that the one or more tracers 102 may be tubular members, such as tubular members having circular cross-sections. While the tubular members are illustrated as being circular, it should be understood that they may have different cross-sectional shapes (e.g., square, oval, rectangular, radiused, such as to fit with the radius of a structure, half-circular, D-shaped, or the like). The size and shape of the tubular members will be described in further detail herein. In some embodiments, tubular members may be circular with a diameter of approximately ½ inch (e.g., internal diameter or outer diameter). However, it should be understood that the tubular members may have a diameter that is larger or smaller than ½ inch (e.g., ¼, ⅜, or the like inch to 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, or the like inch, or fall within, overlap, or fall outside of these dimensions). In preferred embodiments, the tracer tubes 102 may range from 0.375 inches to 1.5 inches.

The one or more tracers 102 within the tracer panel 100 may comprise one or more longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., longitudinal tracer tubes 112, axial tracer tube 112, or the like). For example, in some embodiments the tracer panel 100 may comprise of a first longitudinal tracer 114, a second longitudinal tracer 116, a third longitudinal tracer 118 and/or an n^th longitudinal tracer. Moreover, the one or more longitudinal tracers 110 may be operatively coupled by one or more transverse tracers 120 (e.g., transverse tracer tubes 122, orthogonal tracer tubes 122). For example, in some embodiments the tracer panel 100 may comprise a first transverse tracer 124, a second transverse tracer 126, and/or an n^th transverse tracer. While the tracers 102 are described as being longitudinal tracers 110 and transverse tracers 120, and illustrated as being perpendicular with respect to each other, it should be understood that the longitudinal tracers 110 and transverse tracers 120 may be located at different angles with respect to each other, in particular, when the tracer panels 100 are utilized around non-uniform structures, such as non-uniform vessels, elbows of process pipes, or the like, as will be described in further detail herein. Moreover, while the longitudinal tracers 110 are described as being longitudinal, they may otherwise be described as being axial, and while the transverse tracers 120 are described as being transverse, they may otherwise be described as being orthogonal.

It should be understood, and as will be described in further detail herein, that the one or more longitudinal tracers 110 and the one or more transverse tracers 120 may be formed through the use of tracer connectors 130, such as fitting connectors (e.g., tee connectors 132, elbow connectors 134, or other like fitting connectors), as illustrated in FIG. 2. Moreover, as will be described in further detail herein with respect to FIGS. 30A through 30D, the tracer connectors 130 may be different types of fittings and/or welds. As such, in some embodiments the one or more connectors 130 (e.g., fitting connectors, such as the tee connectors 132, the elbow connectors 134, or the like) are used to operatively couple at least a portion of the one or more longitudinal tracers 110, the one or more transverse tracers 120, and/or header tracers 350 together. Alternatively, or additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 12, the one or more longitudinal tracers 110 and/or the one or more transverse tracers 120 may be formed by bending the tracers 102 into a configuration (e.g., serpentine configuration, or the like). As such, the one or more longitudinal tracers 110 and/or the one or more transverse tracers 120 may be integrally operatively coupled together. Alternatively, or additionally, the one or more longitudinal tracers 110, the one or more transverse tracers 120, and/or the one or more headers 350 may be directly operatively coupled to each other through the use of connections 130 (e.g., fittings, welds, or the like), as will be described in further detail herein.

The tracer panels 100 may comprise one or more tracer panel inlets 142 and one or more tracer panel outlets 144. As will be further described herein, the one or more tracer panel inlets 142 and/or the one or more tracer panel outlets 144 may be formed from header tracers 350, and as such, may be described as inlet or outlet header tracers. The one or more tracer panel inlets 142 and/or the one or more tracer panel outlets 144 may be used to operatively couple the panel to other tracer panels 100, tracer panel couplings 160 (e.g., jumper tubes 162), supply lines (e.g., to supply tracer fluid to the tracer panel 100, or the like), return lines (e.g., to supply tracer fluid back to the system, such as a fluid supply, or the like), single tracers 102 within the tracer system 10, and/or other like components. It should be understood that the tracer fluid used in the tracer system may be steam, water, oil, a water and glycol mixture, or other fluid that is used to transfer heat for heating or cooling the contents of a structure 50, as will be described in further detail herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the tracer panel 100 may comprise a first longitudinal tracer 114, a second longitudinal tracer 116, and a third longitudinal tracer 118 operatively coupled through a first transverse tracer 124 and a second transverse tracer 126. The first longitudinal tracer 114 and the third longitudinal tracer 118 (e.g., end longitudinal tracers 114, 118) may be operatively coupled to the first transverse tracer 124 and the second transverse tracer 126 through the use of elbow connectors 134. The first transverse tracer 124 and the second transverse tracer 126 may be made up of single tracers 102 or portions tracers 102 that are operatively coupled together through the use of connectors 130 (e.g., illustrated as tee connectors 132).

FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate another embodiment of the tracer panel 100 which instead of being formed using connectors 130, as illustrated and described with respect to FIG. 2, may be formed by a tracer 102 that is bent to have the desired number of longitudinal tracers 110. For example, the tracer panel 100 may be formed through the use of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, as will be described in further detail herein. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3C, the tracer panel 100 may comprise a first longitudinal tracer 114, a second longitudinal tracer 116, and a third longitudinal tracer 118, and a first transverse tracer 124 and a second transverse tracer 126 are operatively coupled to the longitudinal tracers by bending a single tracer 102 into the serpentine shape. Moreover, the tracer inlet 142 and the tracer outlet 144 may be formed from a single tracer 102 by bending and/or cutting the ends of the tracer 102. As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the tracer panel 100 may be bent before, during, or after the tracer panel 100 is formed in the serpentine configuration. For example, as the tracer 102 is being bent to form the longitudinal tracers 110 and/or the transverse tracers 120, the transverse tracers 112 are formed with a radius in order to meet the curvature of a structure 50 (e.g., pipe, vessel, or the like). While the tracer panel 100 illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3C is formed by bending a tracer 102 into the tracer configuration (e.g., customized configuration, with a specific length, width, radius portion, flat portion, angled portion, or the like) it should be understood that the tracer panel 100 may be formed from multiple tracers 102 that are operatively coupled together through the use of one or more connectors 130 to create the tracer configuration (e.g., configuration, with a specific length, width, radius portion, flat portion, angled portion, or the like).

FIGS. 4A through 4D illustrate one embodiment in which the tracer panel 100 is formed into a flat panel before it is bent into the radiused tracer panel 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A through 4D, the tracer panel 100 may comprise n^th longitudinal tracers 110. Moreover, the tracer panel 100 may have n^th number of transverse tracers 120 that are operatively coupled between the longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., directly by being bent into the designed configuration) to form the serpentine shape of the tracer panel 100. Moreover, the tracer inlet 142 and the tracer outlet 144 may be formed as previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 3A through 3C. As will be described in further detail herein, the tracer panels 100 may be formed into flat panels before bent into a radiused panel 100 for installation on a structure 50. While the tracer panel 100 illustrated in FIGS. 4A through 4D is formed by bending a tracer 102 into the designed configuration (e.g., customized configuration, or the like) it should be understood that the tracer panel 100 may be formed from multiple tracers 102 that are operatively coupled together through the use of one or more connectors 130.

FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate another embodiment of the tracer panel 100, for which the tracer panel 100 may include only a single longitudinal tracer 110 and a single transverse tracer 120, with a tracer inlet 142 on one end and a tracer outlet 144 on the other end. This tracer panel 100 may be utilized within a tracer system 10 in locations where a tracer panel 100 with multiple longitudinal tracers 110 are not needed and/or cannot be used due to space restrictions.

FIGS. 8 through 10 illustrate embodiments of the tracer panel 100 in which stiffeners 150 are utilized in order to aid in restricting (e.g., reducing, preventing, or the like) the potential deformation (e.g., bending, twisting, distortion, or the like) of the tracer panel 100 during manufacturing, packing, transporting, installation, or the like. If the tracer panels 100 become deformed before the panels 100 are fully installed on the structure, the panels 100 may not meet the design requirements. For example, if the tracer panels 100 are deformed such that a portion of the panel does not meet the outer surface of the structure (e.g., process pipe, vessel, or the like), then the heat transfer for which the panel was designed may not be achieved. Moreover, if the tracer panels 100 are deformed, the tracer inlet 142 and/or tracer outlet 144 may not properly mate with adjacent tracer inlets 142 and/or tracer outlets 144 of adjacent tracer panels 100. Furthermore, if the tracer panels 100 are deformed, the alignment, and thus, the securing of the connectors 130 used may be compromised. As such, the stiffeners 150 may be used within the tracer panels 150 in order to aid in restricting deformation of the tracer panels 100. In particular, a stiffener 150 may be used such that a user installing the tracer panel 100 is not able to manually bend the tracer panel 150 during installation. For example, the stiffener 150 may restrict the user from changing the radius of curvature of the tracer panel 100, from bending a longitudinal tracer 110 out of plane from another longitudinal tracer 110 and/or a transverse tracer 120, from bending the tracer inlet 142 and tracer outlet 144 out of position, and/or the like.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate views of one type of tracer panel 100 in which end stiffener members 151 may be used adjacent the tracer inlet 142 and/or tracer outlet 144. For example, a first stiffener member 152 (or inlet end stiffener member 152) may be used adjacent a tracer inlet 142 between a first longitudinal tracer 114 and a second longitudinal tracer 116, as illustrated, where a transverse tracer 120 does not exist. Moreover, a second stiffener member 154 (or outlet end stiffener member 154) may be used adjacent a tracer outlet 144 between a third longitudinal tracer 118 and a second longitudinal tracer 116 where a transverse tracer 120 does not exist. In other embodiments, the end stiffener members 151 may be located between the transverse tracers 120 and the longitudinal tracers 110 and/or the tracer inlets 142 and/or tracer outlets 144 (not illustrated). FIGS. 10A and 10B further illustrate that in other embodiments intermediate stiffener members 155 may be used between the longitudinal tracers 110 within the panel. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, a single intermediate stiffener member 156 may be used to operatively couple multiple longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., a first, second, and third longitudinal tracers 114, 116, 118). In other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 10B multiple intermediate stiffener members 155 may be located between adjacent longitudinal tracers 110 in one or more locations. As such, the stiffener members 150 may aid in restricting deformation of the tracer panel 100, such as deformation of the radius of curvature, out of plane deformation, movement of the tracer inlet 142 and/or tracer outlet 144, or the like.

Regardless of the locations of the stiffener members 150, they may be formed of any shape. For example, the stiffener members 150 may be tubes (e.g., hollow, solid, combination thereof) that are circular or may have another shape (e.g., square, oval, rectangular, half-circular, D-shaped, or the like). Moreover, the stiffener members 150 may be operatively coupled to the tracers 102 of the tracer panel 100 through the use of any type of coupling, such as welding, brazing, adhesives (e.g., epoxy, glue, structural tape, or the like), fasteners (e.g., clips, clamps, bands, screws, bolts, nuts, or the like, or combinations thereof), or the like.

FIGS. 11 through 17 illustrate different ways the tracer panels 100 may be formed, such as through bending a tube and/or using tracer connectors 130 (e.g., fitting connectors, welded connectors, or the like) in different locations of the tracer panels 100. For example, FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged view of a tracer 102 that has been bent to form a portion of the tracer 102, while FIG. 12 illustrates a tracer 102 that utilizes a connector 130, such as an elbow connector 134. In other examples, FIG. 13 illustrates a tracer 102 that is connected by a welded connection of one tracer 102 directly into another tracer 102. That is, the tee connections between two tracers 102 may be formed by directly welding the longitudinal tracers 110 into the transverse tracers 120, or the transverse tracers 120 into the longitudinal tracers 110.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate perspective and front views of a tracer panel 100 before it is bent into a radiused panel 100, which utilizes tee connectors 132 and elbow connectors 134 to operatively couple the longitudinal tracers 110 to the transverse tracers 122. Moreover, in this embodiment, the tracer inlet 142 and tracer outlet 144 extend from a tee connector 132 at the intersection of the longitudinal tracers 110 and the transverse tracers 120.

FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate perspective and front views of a tracer panel 100 before it is bent into a radiused panel 100, which utilizes bent tracers 102 to form the longitudinal tracers 110 and at least a portion of the transverse tracer 120. Moreover, tee connectors 132 are used to operatively couple the longitudinal tracers 110 to the transverse tracers 120. As previously illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the tracer inlet 142 and tracer outlet 144 extend from a tee connector 132 at the intersection of the longitudinal tracers 110 and a portion of the transverse tracers 120. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate alternate embodiments that are similar to FIGS. 14A through 15B, except that the tracer inlet 142 and tracer outlet 144 extend from the longitudinal tracers 110.

Should the tracer panel 100 be formed in a generally flat panel, instead of being bent during forming, the tracer panel 100 may be bent into the radiused tracer panel 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B.

Regardless of whether the tracers 102 are bent in a serpentine configuration, pre-bent and assembled using connectors 130, or the tracer panel 100 is bent after being formed into the designed configuration, it should be understood that the tracer 102 and/or tracer panels 100 may be bent using manually, semi-automatic, and/or using fully automatic equipment, such as through the use of (CNC) tube benders, or other like equipment. As will be described in further detail herein, a tracer panel system 10 may be used to design and/or form customized tracer panels 100 for a particular installation. As such, a CNC tube bending machine may be utilized to automatically form one or more serpentine flat panels, one or more radiused panels (e.g., having a portion with a curved radius), and/or one or more angled panels (e.g., having at least two portions that are located in different planes). That is, the CNC machine may bend a tube into a flat panel based on the number of longitudinal tracers 110 and/or transverse tracers 120 designed for the customized tracer panel 100. After the flat panel is formed, the flat panel may be bent into a radiused panel and/or an angled panel based on the structure 50 to which the tracer panel 100 is going to be assembled. The flat panel may be bent by the CNC machine or another machine downstream of the CNC machine.

In other embodiments, the CNC machine may be able to form the radius tracer panel 100 and/or the angled tracer panel 100 while creating the serpentine configuration. That is, the CNC machine may form the longitudinal tracers 110 by bending the tube back on itself, while also bending the correct radius and/or angle into the transverse tracers 120 and/or the longitudinal tracers 110. As such, the CNC machine may form the radius panel and/or the angled panel without having to form the radius or angle after creating a flat panel. As will also be discussed in further detail herein, the radius of the tracer panel 100 (e.g., a curved tracer panel 100) may be diverging, converging, non-uniform, or the like in order to be assembled to structures having a non-cylindrical curvature. For example, the CNC machine may be able to bend the tracer panel 100 in order to conform with a diverging, converging, non-uniform, or other like surface of the structure 50 (e.g., process pipe 52, vessel 54, or other structure) to which the tracer panel 100 will be installed. The angled tracer panel 100 may include panel portions having one or more tracers 102 that are designed to for installation on two different planes (e.g., around angle or bend in a pipe, vessel, or the like). As such, the CNC machine may be able to bend the tracer panel 100 in order to conform with a surface on a structure 50 that is bent in two or more planes. It should be understood that the tracer panel 100 may have a radius, angle, and/or flat portion on the same or different portions of the tracer panel 100. As such, the tracer panel 100 may be formed (e.g., through the use of the CNC machine, other equipment, or the like) to form a radius, angle, and/or flat portion in the longitudinal tracers 110 and/or the transverse tracers 120 in order to form a tracer panel 100 that can be installed around pipe elbows, around a vessel head (e.g., elliptical, hemispherical, or the like), around pipe reducers or expanders, around portions of the structure 50 that are flat, or the like. As such, the tracer panel 100 (e.g., one or more tracers 102 therein) may be bent in multiple orientations.

Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the tracers 102 of the tracer panel 100 (e.g., longitudinal tracer 110, transverse tracers 120, or the like) may be manually, semi-automatically, or automatically operatively coupled together, such as through welding, brazing, or the like. In some embodiments, the welding, brazing, or the like may be formed through the use of automated welding, brazing, or other like equipment.

Moreover, as will be discussed in further detail herein, heat transfer elements 200 (otherwise described as enhancers) may be installed to the tracer panel 100 and/or structure 50 before or after the tracer panel 100 is operatively coupled to the structure 50 in order to form the tracer system 10. FIGS. 19A through 19C illustrates an installation of heat transfer elements, while FIGS. 20A through 20G illustrate alternate types of heat transfer elements 200 (different than FIGS. 19A through 19C) in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure. The heat transfer element 200 is configured for use as a part of a conduction-assisted tracing system in accordance embodiments described herein.

As can be seen in FIGS. 19A through 19C, the heat transfer elements 200 may comprise mounting surfaces 204, which may be curved, angled, have flat portions, or the like, that are configured to mate with an outer surface of a structure 50 (e.g., pipe 52, vessel 54, or the like). Further, a channel 206 is defined lengthwise through the heat transfer element 200 for receipt of the tracer 102. As will be described herein, the channel 206 may be located on an inner surface or an outer surface of the heat transfer element 200. As illustrated in FIGS. 19A through 19C, the opening of the channel 206 is located along an inner surface of the heat transfer element 200 (e.g., concave face of the heat transfer element 200 between the curved mounting surfaces 204). The tracer tube 102 is received within the channel 206 through this opening when the tracer is installed, and is thereby retained adjacent the structure 50 at least in part by the heat transfer element 200 when the heat transfer element 200 is attached to the structure 50.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 19A through 19C, the heat transfer element 200 is secured to the structure 50 (e.g., pipe 52, vessel 54, or the like) using heat transfer material 90 (e.g., cement (HTC), or other like material). Heat transfer material 90 may otherwise be described as heat transfer mastic (HTM). It should be understood that any heat transfer material 90 may be utilized in the tracer panel system 10. The heat transfer material 90 may bridge gaps between the heat transfer element 200 and the structure 50 and/or tracer 102. The layer of heat transfer material 90 may be approximately one eighth of an inch (0.125″) thick between the heat transfer element 200 and the structure 50, and in some embodiments, it may be 0.02, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, 0.225, 0.25, 0.275, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, or the like inches thick, or range between, fall outside of, or overlap any of these values.

As illustrated in FIGS. 19A through 19C, the heat transfer element 200 is attached to the structure 50 (e.g., the pipe 52, or the like) such that the tracer 102 is received in the channel 206 of the heat transfer element 200. Moreover, just as heat transfer material 90 is used to bridge the gap between the heat transfer element 200 and the structure 50, heat transfer material 90 may also be utilized to fill at least a portion of the volume of the channel 206 not filled by the tracer 102 (e.g., to “bridge” gaps between the tracer 102 and the heat transfer element 200, as well as gaps between the tracer 102 and the structure 50). The heat transfer material 50 may be approximately five one hundredths of an inch (0.05″) thick between the heat transfer element 200 and the tracer 102, or may be 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, or the like inches thick, or range between, fall outside of, or overlap any of these values.

It should be understood that the heat transfer element 200 may be made from a heat conductive material, such as, for example, aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, an aluminum alloy, or any other heat conductive material. In some embodiments, the material is an aluminum alloy of grades 6061, 6063, or 6005, and preferably the material may be an aluminum-silicon alloy A356. However, it should be understood that the heat transfer element 200 is made from any type of heat conductive material. The heat transfer element 200 may be cast, extruded, or the like, as will be described in more detail below.

The heat transfer element 200 enhances the transfer of heat between the tracer 102 and the structure 50, such as from the tracer 102 to the structure 50 (e.g., for heating) or from the structure 50 to the tracer 102 (e.g., for cooling), by changing the nature of heat transfer from primarily convective heat transfer to primarily conductive heat transfer. The heat transfer element 200 can thus be characterized as “spreading out” the heat, thus effectively “creating” more surface area for transferring heat (e.g., for heating or cooling the structure 50, and thus, the material within the structure 50). The conductive heat transfer is illustrated in some embodiments by the arrows in FIG. 19C.

The heat transfer element 200 may be manufactured in various sizes and have varying dimensions to mate with different sizes of structures 50 (e.g., pipes 52, vessels 54, or the like), tracers 102, or the like. In some embodiments, a heat transfer element 200 has a width of two inches (2″) and a length of ten feet (10′). It should be understood that in other embodiments the heat transfer element 200 may have a width that is 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, 3.5, 4, or the like inches, or range between, fall outside of, or overlap any of these values. Moreover, it should be understood that the length of the heat transfer element 200 may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or the like inches, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or the like feet, or range between, fall outside of, or overlap any of these values. It should be understood that the heat transfer element 200 may be of any length and be cut into segments having shorter lengths. The channel 206 of the heat transfer element may have a width of fifty-one hundredths of an inch (0.51″) (plus or minus 0.01 inches), thus it is dimensioned for use with a one-half inch (½″) tracer tube 102. However, the width of the channel 206 may be any length in order to be used with a tracer tube 102 having any diameter (or width). The distance between the top of the channel 206 and the top of the heat transfer element 200 may be one eighth of an inch (0.125″). In other embodiments the distance may be 0.05, 0.08, 0.15, 0.1, 0.175, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.5, 2.0, or the like inches, or range between, fall outside of, or overlap any of these values.

Further, the mounting surfaces 204 can be described as curved to mate with a circle having a particular radius, as illustrated in FIG. 19C. In this preferred implementation the radius is one and three-fourths inches (1.75″) (plus or minus 0.1 inches), and thus the heat transfer element 200 is sized and dimensioned for use with a three inch (3″) pipe. However, it should be understood that the radius may be sized to fit with any sized structure 50 have any type of radius. Moreover, while the surfaces are illustrated as being it curved it should be understood that the surfaces may be non-uniform, straight (e.g., multiple straight surfaces that form a concave surface), or have any other type of surface (e.g., concave, convex, or the like) depending on the structure 50 to which the heat transfer element 200 is going to be installed.

It will be appreciated, then, that a particular heat transfer element 200 can be partially described via several typical dimensions. More specifically, a heat transfer element 200 can be characterized as typically having a length (L), a width (w), a radius of curvature (r), and a channel width (A), as illustrated in FIGS. 19C, 20A, 20B, and 20F. In a preferred system, heat transfer elements 200 having r values corresponding to one inch, two inch, three inch, four inch, six inch, eight inch, and ten inch pipe are utilized. In particular systems, heat transfer elements 200 configured for two inch or smaller pipe have a width, w, of one and a half inches (1.5″), while heat transfer elements 200 configured for larger pipes have a width of two inches (2″). For larger pipes, multiple heat transfer elements 200 may be utilized. Preferably, each heat transfer element 200 is configured to receive either a one-half inch (0.5″) tracer or a three fourth inch (0.75″) tracer tube 102, as such each heat transfer element 200 has an A value corresponding to approximately one half of an inch (0.5″) or three fourths of an inch (0.75″). Alternatively, each heat transfer element 200 is configured to receive a three eighths of an inch (0.375″) tracer, a five eighths of an inch (0.625″) tracer, a seven eighths of an inch (0.875″) tracer, or a one inch (1″) tracer. Although each heat transfer element 200 may be configured to receive the same size tracer, different heat transfer elements 200 may be configured to receive different size tracer tube 102 (e.g., different size tubes within the same tracer panel 100) may be utilized together with the same structure.

While the heat transfer element 200 may have the shape illustrated in FIG. 19C, it should be understood that the heat transfer element 200 may have a different shape, as illustrated for example, in FIGS. 20A through 20B. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the outer surface of the heat transfer elements 200 may be at least partially recessed such that a portion of the outer surface (e.g., at the location of the channel 206) extends past the outer surface of the “wings” of the heat transfer elements 200 on adjacent sides of the channel 206. In some embodiments, the heat transfer elements 200 may have thickness that is generally uniform between the inner surface and outer surface, as illustrated in FIG. 20A. In some embodiments, the thickness of the heat transfer elements 200 may be vary between the inner surface and outer surface of the heat transfer elements 200. As such, as illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the outer surface of the heat transfer elements 200 may be non-linear, or at least have portions that are non-linear.

As illustrated by FIG. 20C, in some embodiments the outer surface of the heat transfer element 200 may have a portion that is liner. That is, as illustrated, at least a portion of the wings may be linear and meet with the outer surface of the channel (e.g., curved surface as illustrated, or a linear or non-uniform surface, which is not illustrated).

FIGS. 20D and 20E further illustrate that the heat transfer element 200, rather than being configured to retain a tracer in a channel 206 (e.g., an inner channel) against a structure 50 to which it is operatively coupled, these heat transfer elements 200 are configured to be located between a tracer 102 and the structure 50 (e.g., an outer channel 216). That is, heat transfer elements 200 may be operatively coupled to the structure 50, and the tracer 102 may be operatively coupled to the channel 216 located within and/or accessed through an opening in the outer surface of the heat transfer elements 200.

FIG. 20F illustrates a heat transfer element 200 which is similar to heat transfer elements 200 previously described herein. However, the heat transfer element 200 illustrated in FIG. 20F may include one or more cavities 218 (e.g., closed as shown, or at least partially open through the outer surface or inner surface) and extending at least partially through the heat transfer element 200 in a lengthwise direction (e.g., along the longitudinal axis in parallel with the channel 206). The cavities 218 may reduce the weight of the heat transfer element 200, improve the heat transfer (e.g., due to the fluid-air, or the like, within the cavities), and/or reduce material costs.

Moreover, in some embodiments the heat transfer elements 200 may have cross-sectional shapes that utilize chamfered edges. Any edge of any heat transfer element 200 may utilize such chamfering. Similarly, some heat transfer elements have cross-sectional shapes that have filleted corners, and as such, any corner of any heat transfer element may include such a fillet. It should be further understood that the heat transfer elements 200 may have a uniform thickness at the wings, may have coverage to a beveled edge or a point, or may diverge.

In some embodiments, the heat transfer elements may have two or more portions that may be used to surround the tracer 102, at least partially. As such, as illustrated in FIG. 20G, the heat transfer elements may be split between a lower portion and an upper portion that may be operatively coupled together. In other embodiments, the heat transfer elements 200 may have left and right portions that can be operatively coupled together.

It should be understood, as illustrated in FIGS. 18B and 18C, that the heat transfer elements 200 may be installed as straight sections within the tracer panel 100 (e.g., on the longitudinal tracers 110, as illustrated); however, it should be understood that the heat transfer elements 200 may be installed as curved sections on the transverse tracers 120 and/or on the bends between the longitudinal tracers 110 and the transverse tracers 120. Furthermore, when stiffeners 150 are used, the heat transfer element 200 may be split at the locations where the stiffeners 150 are located. Moreover, the heat transfer elements 200 may be formed to mate with a concentric reducer, an eccentric reducer, or the like within the structure 50. In still other embodiments, instead of using a bent heat transfer element 200, individual heat transfer elements having a shorter lengths and/or and adjustable heat transfer element 200 (e.g., as described with respect to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/494,247 entitled “Adjustable Heat Transfer Element”, which was filed on Oct. 5, 2021, and which claims priority to provisional patent application No. 63/089,197 filed on Oct. 10, 2020, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein) may be used. Notably, as illustrated in FIG. 31C, insulation 180 may be utilized over the tracer panels 100.

As previously noted herein, the heat transfer elements 200 may be extruded, cast, rolled from a material having a different shape, or the like. Straight heat transfer elements 200 may be manufactured by making a die and extruding the shape in mass production and/or rolling the shape between two rollers that form the shape. The lengths can be cut as desired for shipping or installation purposes. Curved heat transfer elements 200 may be extruded and then bent; however, in some embodiments these elements may be cast.

It should be understood that the tracer panels 100 described herein may be customized panel tracers 100 that are pre-assembled at a facility (e.g., factory, or the like), may be partially pre-assembled at a facility and assembled into a field customized tracer panel 100 on-site, and/or may be fully assembled into a field customized tracer panel 100 on-site. As such, as will be described in further detail herein the customized tracer panels 100 may be designed and pre-manufactured for a particular installation, but in some embodiments the customized tracer panels 100 may be at least partially or fully customized in the field.

FIGS. 21A through 21B illustrate that in some embodiments the tracer panel 100 may comprise of a flexible tracer panel 300 having flexible members 190 that operatively couple the tracers 102. As such, as illustrated in FIG. 21A, longitudinal tracers 110 may be operatively coupled through the use the flexible members 190. Like the stiffener members 150 previously discussed herein, the flexible members 190 may operatively couple one or more the longitudinal tracers 110 together at one or more locations. For example, in some embodiments the tracer panel 100 may comprise of a first longitudinal tracer 114, a second longitudinal tracer 116, a third longitudinal tracer 118 and/or an n^th longitudinal tracer, which are operatively coupled using a single flexible member 190 or multiple flexible members 190. The flexible members 190 may be any type of member, such as a chain, band, strip, strap, wire, rope, mesh, spring, or the like that is made of any material (e.g., steel, aluminum, another metal, alloy, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, other fiber, composite, or other like material). Moreover, the flexible material may be made of any cross-sectional shape, such as flat, square, rectangular, oval, round, triangular, corrugated, uniform, non-uniform, or like shape.

The flexible tracer panel 300 with the one or more flexible members 190 may be utilized on different types of structures 50, and in particular, may be assembled in the field on different structures 50 even if the structures 50 have different curved surfaces (e.g., different radiuses, non-uniform surfaces). For example, different flexible tracer panels 300 may be pre-assembled having different sized tracers 102, different numbers of tracers 102, and/or having different spacing between the tracers 102. However, the same flexible tracer panel 300 may be utilized in the field on different structures 50 and/or on structures 50 with sizes and/or surfaces (e.g., curvature of the surfaces, or the like) that were not properly provided to the supplier of the tracer panel system 10. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21B the same flexible tracer panel 300 may be installed on two different pipes 52 having different radiuses, and thus, different arc lengths. It should be understood that a number of different flexible tracer panels 300 alone, or in combination with the other types of tracer panels 100 discussed herein, may be utilized by an installer in the field to create customized tracer systems 10 in the field.

It should be further understood that the tracer panels 100 may be at least partially formed in the field (e.g., on-site of the structure 50) in order to create field customized tracer panels 330. For example, instead of, or in addition to, using pre-formed tracer panels 100 that are assembled during manufacturing, FIGS. 22A through 22C illustrate a field customized serpentine tracer panel 340, while FIGS. 23A through 23C illustrate a field customized parallel tracer panel 360.

As illustrated in FIGS. 22A through 22C, the field customized longitudinal serpentine tracer panel 340 may utilize longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., otherwise described as axial tracers 110) that can be selected from pre-formed longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., pre-cut bundles located on site) and/or longitudinal tracers 110 that are cut to length on-site. Moreover, the field customized serpentine tracer panel 340 may also utilize transverse tracers 120, which may otherwise be described as header tracers 350, such as serpentine header tracers 352, and in particular inlet serpentine header tracers 354, outlet serpentine header tracers 356, and/or intermediate serpentine header tracers 358, which may be pre-manufactured in different sizes (e.g., using tube bending as described herein). The header tracers 350 may be formed as a single size or multiple sizes may be provided. The header tracers 350, and in particular, the serpentine header tracers 354 may be formed having a curvature that conforms with the structure to which the field customized serpentine tracer panel 340 will be installed. As such, the header tracers 350 may be selected and/or installed in the field in order to create the field customized serpentine tracer panels 340 in order to ensure the correct tracer spacing based on the design of the tracer system 10 (e.g., thermal design, or the like). As such, the length, width, and/or radius of the tracer panel 100 may be determine and assembled in the field to form a customized serpentine tracer panel 340, which in some embodiments allow for more complicated tracer panels that can extend around more of a structure 50 (e.g., large radius bends), when compared to pre-formed tracer panels. For example, pre-formed tracer panels may only extend around approximately one-half of a process pipe 52 (e.g., if it is difficult to bend the tracer panel), while the field customized tracer panels 330 may be installed on site to extend around more than one-half of a process pipe 52.

FIGS. 23A through 23D illustrate field customized parallel tracer panels 360, which may also include header tracers 350, such as manifold header tracers 370, and in particular, inlet manifold header tracers 372 and outlet manifold header tracers 374. The manifold header tracers 370 may comprise of one or more bent tracers 102, one or more straight tracers 102, and/or one or more connectors 130 (e.g., fittings, welds, or the like), which may be operatively coupled to form the pre-formed manifold headers 370 which may be provided on-site for the assembly of the field customized parallel tracer panels 360. While these tracer panels are described as being parallel tracer panels 360, it should be understood that depending on the shape of the structure 50 on which these field customized parallel tracer panels 360 may be installed, the longitudinal tracers 110 may be parallel with each other or may converge, diverge, or be non-uniform with respect to each other. As such, it should be understood that while the panels are generally described as having parallel tracers 102 this description is utilized to indicate that the tracers 102 may extend from one header tracer 350 on one end of the longitudinal tracers 110 to another header tracer 350 on the other end of the longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., without the longitudinal tracers 110 crossing over each other, or the like).

It should be understood that the header tracers 350, which are used as inlets, outlets, and/or used to connect two or more tracers 102, may or may not be configured to contact to the structure 50 to which the tracer panel 100 may be installed. For example, the connectors 133 used to install these tracers 102 in the field on site may not allow for these header tracers 350, or a portion thereof, where the connectors 130 are used to side against the structure 50. As such, the header tracers 350 may or may not utilize the heat transfer elements 200 previously discussed herein.

In addition to potentially using the field customized tracer panels 330 for straight sections, it should be understood that similar types of tracer panels 100 may be utilized for structures 50 that do not have a linear sections and/or are non-uniform, in particular, for elbows in process pipe structures 52. For example, as illustrated by FIGS. 24A through 24B, the tracer panels 100 may be customized elbow tracer panels 400. In some embodiments, the customized elbow tracer panels 400 may be field customized elbow tracer panels, such as field customized longitudinal elbow tracer panels 410 (e.g., otherwise described as field customized axial elbow tracer panels 410, or the like) as illustrated FIG. 24A, field customized transverse parallel elbow tracer panels 420 (e.g., otherwise described as field customized orthogonal parallel elbow tracer panels 420, or the like), and/or field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panels 430 (e.g., otherwise described as field customized orthogonal serpentine elbow tracer panels 430).

FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate two types of field customized longitudinal elbow tracer panels 410, in particular, field customized longitudinal serpentine elbow tracer panels 412 (FIG. 25A) and field customized longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panels 414 (FIG. 25B). As illustrated in FIG. 25A, like the field customized longitudinal serpentine tracer panel 340, the serpentine elbow tracer panel 412 may utilize longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., otherwise described as axial tracers 110), however the longitudinal tracers 110 may have one or more bends (e.g., multiple bends, a single radius, or the like) that conform with the curved shape of the structure 50. As previously discussed, the longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., pre-cut bundles located on site) may be pre-formed (e.g., pre-bent), cut to length on-site, and/or bent on site. Moreover, the field customized serpentine elbow tracer panel 412 may also utilize transverse tracers, which as previously indicated may be described as header tracers 350, such as serpentine header tracers 352, and in particular, inlet serpentine header tracers 354, outlet serpentine header tracers 356, and/or intermediate serpentine header tracers 356. Again, these header tracers 350 may be pre-formed in different sizes (e.g., using tube bending as described herein), such as in a single size or multiple sizes, or may be formed on-site. The field customized longitudinal serpentine elbow tracer panel 412 may be installed as previously described with respect to the field customized longitudinal serpentine tracer panel 340.

As illustrated in FIG. 25B, like the field customized longitudinal parallel tracer panel 360, the parallel elbow tracer panel 414 may also utilize the bent longitudinal tracers 110 (e.g., otherwise described as bent axial tracers 110) that conform with the curved shape of the structure 50 (e.g., process pipe 52). As previously discussed, the longitudinal tracers 110 may be pre-formed (e.g., pre-bent), cut to length on-site from stock tubing, and/or bent on site. Moreover, the field customized longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panel 360 may also utilize transverse tracers 120, which as previously indicated may be described as header tracers 350, such as manifold header tracers 370, and in particular, an inlet manifold header tracer 372 and an outlet manifold header tracer 374. Again, as previously discussed, these header tracers 350 may be pre-formed in different sizes (e.g., using tube bending as described herein), such as in a single size or multiple sizes, or may be formed on-site. The field customized longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panel 414 may be installed as previously described with respect to the field customized longitudinal parallel tracer panel 360. As previously discussed, while these panels are generally described as being parallel, it should be understood that the bent longitudinal tracers 110 used in this panel may converge, diverge, be non-uniform, or the like. As such, in some embodiments parallel may simply mean that the longitudinal tracer ends may extend on one end from the manifold header tracer 370 to another manifold header tracer 370 on the other end of the tracers 102 (e.g., without the tracers 102 crossing each other, or the like).

FIGS. 26A through 28C, illustrate other embodiments of the invention in which transverse tracers 120, such as transverse tracer tubes 122, are utilized for the field customized transverse parallel elbow tracer panels 420 and/or the field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panels 430. As illustrated in FIGS. 26A and 26B, the transverse tracers 120 may be pre-formed using bending machinery and/or other techniques to create one or more bends in the transverse tracers 120 (e.g., a large radius bends, which may be difficult to produce in the field on-site). It should be understood that, as illustrated in FIGS. 26A and 26B, the transverse tracers 120 may be different sizes, such as different lengths, widths, and/or radiuses in order to correspond with a curved surface of the structure 50 (e.g., pipe outer diameter, other rounded sections of the structure). It should be understood that any number of transverse radiused bent pieces may be assembled into the field customized transverse elbow panels in the field based on design criteria. The transverse tracers 120 may be assembled in the field in a number of ways, as described in further detail below.

FIGS. 27A and 27B illustrate an embodiment of a field customized transverse parallel elbow panel 420 in which multiple bent transverse tracers 120 may be operatively coupled through the use of the header tracers 350, such as manifold header tracers 370, as previously discussed herein. It should be understood that the field customized transverse parallel elbow tracer panels 420 may be installed in the same or similar way as described with respect to the field customized parallel tracer panels 360.

FIGS. 28A and 28B illustrate an embodiment of a field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panel 430 in which multiple bent transverse tracers 120 may be operatively coupled through the use of the header tracers 350, such inlet header tracers 352, outlet header tracers 354, and/or intermediate header tracers 356, as previously discussed herein. It should be understood that the field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panels 430 may be installed in the same or similar way as described with respect to the field customized longitudinal serpentine tracer panels 340. For example, one or more intermediate header tracers 356 having different sizes, such as a converging header tracer 357 may be used to operatively couple converging ends of the bent transvers tracers 120, while a diverging header tracer 359 may be used to operatively coupled diverging ends of the bent transverse tracers 120.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 29A and 29B, the tracer panels 100, and in particular, the field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panels 430 may utilize tracer bracing 440 (e.g., support straps, bands, or the like) that have support hands 442 (e.g., clips, clamps, or the like) that may be used to provide additional support to ensure spacing and proper support (e.g., clamping force, or the like) to attach the tracer panels 100 to a structure 50, such as the process pipes 52. The tracer bracing 440 may be utilized with or without tracer supports 450 (e.g., traditional straps, banding, clamps, or the like) that are used to secure the tracers 102, tracer panels 100, heat transfer elements 200, or the like to the structure 50.

As previously discussed herein, it should be understood that that the tracer panels 100 and/or the components thereof, such as the tracers 102 (e.g., longitudinal tracers 110, transverse tracers 120, or the like that are straight, bent, or the like) and/or the header tracers 350 (e.g., bent, welded, or the like), may be operatively coupled to each other or to the tracers 102 of other tracer panels 100 through the use of tracer connectors 130. The tracer connectors 130 may comprise any type of connector that may be used to operatively couple the tracers 102. For example, the tracer connectors 130 may comprise fitting connectors 470, such as compression fittings 472 (as illustrated in FIG. 30A) or welded connectors 480, such as butt welds 482 (as illustrated in FIG. 30B). In other embodiments the fitting connectors 470 may comprise flared JIC connection fittings 474 (as illustrated in FIG. 30C), while the welded connectors 480 may comprise other types of welds, such as socket welds 484 (as illustrated in FIG. 30D). However, it should be understood that the tracer connectors 130 may be any type of connector. In some embodiments, it should be understood, that the fitting connectors 470 may be easiest to make in the field but may restrict at least a portion of the panels 100 from being contacting the structure 50 (e.g., not sitting tight against the surface of the structure 50). Furthermore, while the welded connectors 480 may allow for installation of the welded connectors 480 that contact the structure (e.g., sit against as surface of the structure 50) these types of welded connectors 480 may be more difficult to form in the field (e.g., due to the welding equipment needed to make the welds).

Regardless of what type of field customized tracer panels 330 are used (e.g., a field customized longitudinal serpentine tracer panel 340, a field customized longitudinal parallel tracer panel 360, a field customized longitudinal serpentine elbow tracer panel 412, a field customized longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panel 414, a field customized transverse parallel elbow tracer panel 420, a field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panel 430, or the like), it should be understood that the field customized tracer panels 330 may be at least partially (or fully) customized in the field during installation to improve the installation efficiency and/or costs of installation, to allow for customization of the tracer panels 100 to account for the structure 50 (e.g., changes to the shape, features not accounted for during the design phase, or the like), and/or allow for improved operating efficiency of the tracer system 10 described herein.

It should be understood that in traditional heat tracing systems the tracers are single tubes that are installed in the field (described as “field run”). The installer decides where on the structure (e.g., pipe circumference) to install the tracer and decides how to run the tracers around connections (e.g., on pipe branches), around fittings (e.g., reducers, expanders, elbows, tees, or the like), around instruments (e.g., valves, testing equipment, or the like), around structure supports (e.g., pipe supports, beams, or the like), or the like. Moreover, the installer decides where to include the heat exchanger (e.g., the length of the runs, on curved surfaces or not, or the like). In the traditional installations, the installer may not follow suggested installation locations of the tracers and heat exchangers, which may result in reduced performance or in some cases non-performance of the tracer system. Improper installation requires rework and/or reinstallation of the installed tracer system.

The panel tracer system 10 of the present disclosure aids in preventing the installation issues with traditional tracer systems. That is, the panel tracer system 10 is designed in a customized way in order to make it unlikely (e.g., difficult, impossible, or the like) to improperly install a tracer panel 100, multiple tracer panels 100 together, and/or the entire panel tracer system 10 in the wrong position (e.g., location, orientation, or the like). The tracer panel system 10 of the present disclosure includes tracer panels 100 that are designed for specific positions, so that the panel tracer system 10 satisfies the design requirements. In some embodiments, as will be described in further detail below, a tracer application may be utilized in order to aid an installer in forming the customized tracer panels 100 and/or assembling and installing the customized tracer panels 100 in the field. Furthermore, as described in further detail below, additional features of the panel tracer system 10 may also aid in restricting (e.g., limiting, removing, or the like) the field installation judgement of an installer during the installation process.

As will be described in further detail with respect to the process 600 in FIG. 32, the panel tracer system 10 is designed for customized creation of the tracer panels 100 and customized installation of the panel tracer system 10 based on the structure 50 to which the panel tracer system 10 will be installed and based on thermal and hydraulic analysis of the panel tracer system 10 on the structure 50. FIGS. 31A-31C illustrates an example of tracer panel system 10 with multiple trader panels 100, tracer panel couplings 160 (e.g., jumper tubes 162, or the like), and insulation 180.

In some embodiments, each tracer panel 100 used in the tracer system 10 is unique and can only be installed in a single position (e.g., location on the structure, orientation on the structure, or the like). The tracer panel 100 could be customized in a number of different ways, such as the length of the tracer panel 100, the location of the tracer panel inlet 142, the location of the tracer panel outlet 144, the number of longitudinal tracers 110, the number of transverse tracers 120, the curvature of the tracer panel 100 (e.g., so that the tracer panel 100 can only wrap around specific surfaces), the angle of the tracer panel 100 (e.g., for installation on adjacent surfaces of a structure 50 that are located at an angle with respect to each other), and/or the number and location of stiffeners 150. Moreover, in some embodiments the tracer panels 100 may include alignment members 170 that aid in aligning the tracer panels 100 in the proper position (e.g., location, orientation, or the like). The alignment members 170 may be a portion of the tracer panel 100 (e.g., tracers 102, inlets 142, outlets 144, stiffeners 150, or the like) that may butt up to portions of the structure 50 (e.g., flanges, instruments, supports, or the like) and/or adjacent alignment members 170 on adjacent tracer panels 100. Alternatively, or additionally, the alignment members 170 may be alignment projections 172 (e.g., tubes, bars, other projections, or the like) that extend from a portion of the tracer panel 100, that may butt up to portions of the structure 50 and/or adjacent alignment projections 172. In some embodiments, the alignment members 170 may interlock with adjacent tracer panels 100 and/or portions of the structure 50 to aid in locating and spacing the tracer panels 100 in the proper position. The alignment members 170 may be used to quickly determine when a tracer panel 100 is not located in the proper position even if the tracer panel 100 fits around the curvature of the structure 50. Consequently, when each tracer panel 100 is customized for a particular location, even if a tracer panel 100 may fit in an incorrect position, the installation of the subsequent tracer panels 100 may not be installed properly.

In one example of the tracer system 10, as illustrated in FIG. 31A, a first tracer panel 104 may have a curvature in two orientations (e.g., longitudinally for assembly around the longitudinal axis of a process pipe 52, and transversely for assembly around a bend of the process pipe 52), as such in order for the first tracer panel 104 to be assembled to the process pipe 52 it may only fit on this particular bend of the process pipe 52. Moreover, a second tracer panel 105 may be located adjacent the first tracer panel 104 and may have a particular length and/or a transverse bend that only allows the second tracer panel 105 to be installed partially on the bend in the process pipe 52 adjacent the first tracer panel 104. A third tracer panel 106 may be located adjacent the second tracer panel 105 and have a particular length that only allows the third tracer panel 106 to be positioned between the second tracer panel 105 and the flange of the process pipe 52. Additionally, in FIG. 31A, a fourth tracer panel 107 may be on the opposite side of the flange of the process pipe 52 and may have a different length than the second tracer panel 105 and third tracer panel 106 such that it can only be installed on the opposite side of the flange and between the flange and an instrument on the process pipe 52.

Additionally, or alternatively, the tracer panel inlets 142 and tracer panel outlets 144 of each of the tracer panels 100 may be located on the longitudinal tracer 110 or the transverse tracers 120 such that inlets 142 and outlets line up, and as such, may serve as the alignment members 170 that aid in installing the tracer panels 100. For example, as illustrated the tracer panel outlet 144 of the first tracer panel 104 may line up with the tracer panel inlet 142 of the second tracer panel 105 (e.g., both located on or adjacent the first tracer tubes 114). Alternatively, the tracer panel outlet 144 of the second tracer panel 105 may line up with the tracer panel inlet 142 of the third tracer panel 106 (e.g., both located on or adjacent the second tracer tubes 116). Alternatively, the tracer panel outlet 144 of the third tracer panel 106 may line up with the tracer panel inlet 142 of the fourth tracer panel 107 (e.g., both located on or adjacent the third tracer tubes 118). As such, if the tracer panel inlets 142 and outlets 144 between adjacent tracer panels 100 do not line up, then an installer would know that at least one of the tracer panels 100 are installed in an incorrect position. Moreover, in some embodiment, the tracer panel couplings 160 (e.g., jumper tubes 162) may only be sized for installation when the inlets 142 and outlets 144 are adjacent to each other (e.g., lined up).

Additionally, or alternatively, the tracer panels 100 may include alignment members 170 that are alignment projections 172. For example, each tracer panel 100 may have an alignment projection 172 located on the inlet side and the outlet side. As such, if the alignment projections between adjacent tracer panels 100 do not line up then at least one of the tracer panels 100 are not positioned correctly. In some embodiments, the alignment members 170 may be aligned with a feature of the process pipe 52 and/or an adjacent tracer panel 100 (e.g., as illustrated by the third tracer panel 106, the flange, and the fourth tracer panel 107 in FIG. 31A).

Moreover, in some embodiments one or more of the tracer panel couplings 160 (e.g., jumpers 162, or the like) connecting the tracer panels 100 may be customized jumpers 162. For examples, the customized jumpers 162 may have specific lengths which limit the locations where the customized jumpers 162 can be used. FIGS. 31B and 31C illustrate examples of jumpers 162. In some embodiments, the customized jumpers 162 may have flexible portions, or may be solid (e.g., tubes, or the like) that have fixed end points that can only be installed on specific tracer panels 100. Like the customized tracer panels 100, the customized jumpers 162 could potentially be used in the incorrect locations (e.g., longer flexible jumpers 162 could be attached where shorter jumpers 162 are required, or the like); however, the installer would realize as additional jumpers 162 are used throughout the tracer system 10.

It should be understood that the jumpers 162, and thus the tracer panels 100 thereof (e.g., the inlet and outlet), may utilize different types of connectors, such as different types of fittings 470. For example, the fitting 470 may comprise compression fittings 472, flared tubes with JIC fittings 474, or conical fittings that provide a line seal (e.g., as described with respect to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/780,471 entitled “Convex Male Fitting and Systems”, which was filed on Feb. 3, 2020, and which claims priority to provisional patent application No. 62/800,899 filed on Feb. 4, 2019, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein). As such, should adjacent tracer panels 100 not be able to be connected directly (e.g., due to the rigidity of the panels to prevent bending), the tracer systems 10 may use the jumper connections (e.g., tubes, hoses, or the like) to operatively couple adjacent tracer panels 100.

It should be further understood that the tracer panel inlet 142 and outlet 144 are designed on each tracer panel 100 in convenient locations. For example, the tracer panel inlet 142 and outlet 144 may not only be aligned between adjacent panels 100, but also in locations that are easy to reach by an installer, that are spaced from adjacent equipment and/or access areas (e.g., where equipment may be installed and/or removed), will not be covered by potential insulation 180, or the like.

Moreover, as previously discussed herein the tracer panels 100 may be made out of tubes having diameter and/or thickness (e.g., 0.75 inch outer diameter or greater and/or 0.049 inch thickness or greater, or the like) and/or utilize stiffeners 150 in order to aid in preventing deformation of the tracer panel 100 by the installer. For example, in some embodiments, an installer may find it difficult to bend the tracer panels 100 (or tracers 102 therein) in order to bend the tracer panels 100 (or tracers 102 therein) into different shapes to make the tracer panels 100 fit into positions where they are not supposed to fit.

It should be further understood that heating components may also be utilized in the tracer panel system 10 for providing heating components for supports, flanges, valves, instruments, nozzles, and any other items that the design indicates require heating (or cooling). The additional heating components could be tubing-based tracers (e.g., similar to the tracer tubes 102), or they could be other jacketing technologies such as a fabricated jackets, or the like.

FIG. 32 illustrates a process for designing, manufacturing, assembling, and/or installing the tracer panels 100 (e.g., in series on a structure 50), the heat transfer elements 200, and/or the tracing system 10. As illustrated in block 602 of FIG. 32, the one or more tracers 102, connectors 130, heat transfer elements 200, couplings 160 (e.g., jumper hoses 162, or the like), insulation 180, or the like are procured. For example, these components and/or the materials needed to form these components may be purchased, manufactured, and/or the like.

As illustrated by block 604 of FIG. 32, heat transfer system information may be input into a tracer panel application (described in further detail with respect to FIG. 34) and/or evaluated based on past history, testing, or the like. For example, thermal design requirements (e.g., thermal profile, thermal design, or the like) may be determined. The thermal design requirements may include a thermal model of the structure (e.g., pipe, vessel, or the like), thermal objectives, thermal parameters, or the like. The thermal model may take into account the ambient temperature and wind conditions (e.g., average speed, medium speeds, maximum speeds, or the like), the structure dimensions (e.g., pipe diameter, vessel height, length, wall thickness, or the like), structure material (e.g., steel, aluminum, copper, alloys, other metals, composites, plastics, or the like), insulation (e.g., types, thicknesses, material, or the like), structural support (e.g., plates, flanges, hangers, or the like that may provide a heat sink or source) and support information (e.g., number of supports, location of the supports, spacing between the supports, or the like), process fluid information (e.g., type, temperature, pressure, convection coefficient, velocity, viscosity, or the like), structure contact information (e.g., contact area, contact U-value, or the like), and/or tracer fluid, heating or cooling fluid, (e.g., heating or cooling temperature, pressure, convection coefficient, velocity, viscosity, or the like). The thermal objectives may include desired process fluid temperature, minimum structure wall temperature, re-heat or re-melt stagnant process fluid, pre-heating or cooling of a non-operating structure (e.g., empty, majority empty, or the like structure capacity information), heat a flowing process fluid, cool a flowing process fluid, or the like. The thermal parameters may include the limits on the tracers that can be used, such as limits on the size and length of the tracers around the structure, number of tracers that can be used around the structure, potential spacing between the tracers, minimum heating fluid temperature and convection coefficient, heat load on the heating fluid, or other the like information.

Moreover, tracer design requirements (e.g., hydraulic profile, hydraulic design, or the like) may be determined. The tracer design requirements may include a hydraulic model and hydraulic parameters. The hydraulic model may include tracer dimensions (e.g., tracer shape, diameter, thickness, or the like, tracer material (e.g., steel, aluminum, copper, alloys, other metals, composites, plastics, carbon fiber, or the like), material properties (e.g., wall roughness), tracer bends and/or fittings, connecting lines (e.g., utility headers, manifolds, or the like), valves and instrumentation, flow metering and restriction devices, tracer fluid properties (e.g., thermophysical properties, temperature limits, pressure limits, or the like), or other like hydraulic model information. The hydraulic parameters may include minimum tracer cross-section, maximum tracer length, maximum number of bends, fittings, or the like, tracer fluid flow and pressure drop relationship, or the like.

FIG. 32 further illustrates in block 606 that the tracer application provides recommended tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200 for the structure 50 in order meet the design requirements. As such, the tracer panel application may be utilized to create customized tracer panels 100 based on the heat transfer system information. In other embodiments, instead of using a tracer application to determine recommended tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200, the tracer panels 100 may be determined by best practices, past installations, or the like.

It should be understood that tracer application can be used for hydraulic modeling in order to determine and/or optimize the heating (or cooling) fluid flow rate in order to create the most efficient customized tracer system 10 (otherwise described as a customized tracer apparatus 10) that determines the number of tracer panels 100, the number and size of the tracers 102 within the panels 100, the heat transfer elements 200 for the tracer panels 100, couplings 160 (e.g., jumper tubes 162, or the like), insulation 180, or the like for the tracer system 10. In particular, the tracer application is able to determine how many longitudinal tracers 102 are needed in each of the tracer panels 100 throughout the tracer system 10 in order to provide the optimized heat transfer. In some embodiments the optimal tracer panel system 10 may be optimized in order to design a tracer panel 100 with a maximum length of tracer (e.g., based on longitudinal and transvers tracer run) before re-supply and/or recirculation of tracer fluid is required. For example, a low heating fluid flow is thermally limited by loss of heating fluid temperature, while a high heating fluid flow is hydraulically limited by pressure drop through the tracer. Alternatively, in the optimum heating fluid flow, the thermal and hydraulic limit coincide. Once the optimized tracer system 10 is determined, the information from the tracer application can be used to form the components of the tracer system 10. The tracer application may also automatically design the tracer panels 100, such that each tracer panel 100 is unique and only has a single position in which it can be correctly installed. In still other embodiments, the tracer application may provide instructions for forming the customized tracer panels 100 that can be pre-formed, partially pre-formed, and/or field formed. Alternatively, or additionally, at least some of the tracer panels 100 may be designed such that multiple tracer panels 100 having the same design may fit in multiple locations in order to increase manufacturing or assembly efficiency (e.g., easy to reproduce at a factory, form in the field on site, or the like), allow an installer to quickly install the same tracer panels 100 (e.g., panels that can be used in multiple locations allow for case of installation), and/or reduces the number of different tracer panels 100 used in the tracer system 10.

It should be understood that the optimization of the tracer panels 100, heat transfer elements 200, and/or tracer system 10 may be performed through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning, deep learning (DL), generative AI, and/or the like. As such, AI may be utilized in order to optimize the design, customization, and/or improved installation of the tracer panels 100, heat transfer elements 200, and/or tracer systems 10 described herein.

It should be understood that thermal design requirements and/or tracer design requirements may be utilized within the tracer panel application by the suppler user (e.g., engineering group, designer, manufacturer, and/or the like) of the panels 100 based on information provided by the end user (e.g., customer user, installer in the field, or the like). As such, the suppler user may utilize the tracer panel application in order to design the tracer panels 100, heat transfer elements 200, and/or the tracing system 10, and thereafter, provide the tracer information related to the foregoing to the end user. Additionally, or alternatively the end user may be able to access the tracer panel application in the field in order to use the tracer panel system to provide structure information, design, communicate with the supplier user, and/or review design and/or installation information, or the like for the tracer panels 100, heat transfer elements 200, and/or the tracing systems 10.

Block 608 illustrates that the one or more tracer panel(s) 100 (e.g., the plurality of the tracer panels 100) may be formed based on the recommended tracer panels 100 and/or the recommended heat transfer elements 200 to achieve the optimum heating fluid flow across the tracer panel system 10 (or optimum cooling fluid flow). It should be understood that in some embodiments the tracer tube 102 (e.g., longitudinal, transverse, straight, elbow, serpentine, parallel, or the like) may be automatically bent by equipment (e.g., CNC bending equipment, or the like). As previously discussed herein, the CNC machine may automatically bend at least a portion of the tracer panels 100, such as by bending a tracer tube 102 to create the longitudinal tracers 110, transverse tracers 120, and/or header tracers 350 of a flat tracer panel (which is bent into the desired radius and/or angle), of the curved tracer panels (which are formed with the radius as the CNC machine is forming the tracers 110, 120, 350, and/or of the angled tracer panels (which are formed with angles as the CNC machine is forming the tracers 110, 120, 350). While CNC machines are generally described herein as forming the tracers 102 with bends, it should be understood that any type of bending equipment may be used to form the bends in the tracers 102, as will be described in further detail below.

Should welding be required, the tracer tubes 102 (e.g., longitudinal, transverse, or the like tube) may be manually welded, semi-automatically welded, and/or automatically welded by robotic welders. As previously described herein, stiffeners 150 may be added between one or more of the tracers 102 within the tracer panel 100 in order to aid in restricting of manual deformation (e.g., bending, or the like) of the tracer panel 100. The stiffeners 150 may be automatically determined (e.g., based on the tracer application) based on the type of tracer panel 100, such as a serpentine tracer panel (e.g., where some transverse tracers are missing) verses a parallel tracer panel (e.g., where the transverse tracers or headers are operatively coupled to each of the longitudinal tracers). Moreover, the stiffeners 150 may be needed for tracer panels 100 that have longitudinal tracers 110 spaced a particular distance apart and/or of a particular length (e.g., but not needed when the longitudinal tracers 110 are short and/or spaced close together). As such, in addition to customizing the number and length of the tracers 102 within a tracer panel 100, as discussed with respect to block 604 and 606, the stiffeners 150 may be customized based on the need to aid in restricting deformation. In some embodiments, the stiffeners 150 may be manually, semi-automatically, and/or automatically assembled to the tracers 102 of the tracer panel 100 (e.g., using welding equipment, automated welding robots, or the like).

Moreover, the heat transfer elements 200 may be at least partially pre-assembled to the tracer panel 100. For example, heat transfer cement, adhesives, or other couplings may be utilized in order to secure the one or more heat transfer elements 200 to the tracer tubes of the tracer panels 100. In some embodiments, the heat transfer elements 200 may act as stiffeners to aid in restricting deformation of the tracer panel 100.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, different types of standard tracer panels 100 may be used when being installed on various locations that do not require customization. The standard tracer panels 100 may be any of the types of panels discussed herein; however, in some embodiments, the standard tracer panels may include flexible members 190, as previously discussed to allow similar and/or the same tracer panels 100 to be installed on the same or different surfaces of a structure 50. For example, within a customized tracer system 10, different types of standard tracer panels 100 may be used when being installed on various locations that do not require customization, while in other locations the customized panels 100 described herein may be utilized.

As such, the tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200 that are formed may be at least partially customized to match the dimensions, contours, or the like the structure 50 on which they are to be installed. The tracer panels 100 are formed to fit specific locations on the structure such that the tracer panels 100 may only be installed in the correct locations and/or orientations in order to achieve the design intent of the heat transfer of the tracing system 10 and the structure 50. In particular embodiments, the tracer panels 100 include tracer tubes 102 that are sized (e.g., with a specific diameter and/or thickness, such as a ½, ¾, or the like inch diameter tubing) to aid in resisting manual deformation (e.g., reduces or eliminates the chance for bending out of the designed configuration by hand without equipment). As such, during manufacturing, shipping, and/or installation, a user is unable to deform the tracer panels 100, and moreover, the tracer panels 100 may only be installed on specific positions (e.g., locations, orientations, or the like). For example, each tracer panel 100 may have the inlet and outlet at different locations, and as such, the outlet of a first panel has to be lined up with an inlet of the second panel in order for the tracer panels 100 to be assembled together. In other embodiments, the tracer panels 100 have alignment members 170 (as previously discussed herein), that allow and/or prevent particular tracer panels 100 from being assembled next to each other. As such, should a tracer panel 100 be installed in the incorrect position on a structure 50, the tracer panel 100 would not fit, the inlet 142 and outlet 144 of adjacent panels 100 could not be assembled, jumpers 162 would be too short or long to make a connection between adjacent tracer panels 100, and/or the alignment members 170 would not align with each other. By creating the customized tracer panel system 10, the tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200 are installed as designed such that the tracer panel system 10 meets the engineered design for the structure 50, but is designed, manufactured, and installed at least partially automatically in repeatable (but at least partially customizable) processes that reduce design, manufacturing, and installation costs.

Block 610 of FIG. 32 illustrates that the tracer panels 100, the components thereof that are to be field assembled, and/or heat transfer elements 200, as well as other components (e.g., testing, monitoring, instrumentation, equipment needed for field installation, or the like components) are shipped to the installation site.

FIG. 32 further illustrates in block 612 that an installer may field assemble at least a portion of the tracer panels 100 that are not pre-assembled before shipping. For example, depending on what type of field customized tracer panels 330 are used, if any, the installer may assemble the field customized longitudinal serpentine panels 340, the field customized longitudinal parallel tracer panels 360, the field customized longitudinal serpentine elbow tracer panels 412, the field customized longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panels 414, the field customized transverse parallel elbow tracer panels 420, the field customized transverse serpentine elbow tracer panels 430, or the like. The components of the field customized tracer panels 330 may be assembled using tracer connectors 130 (e.g., fittings 470, welds 480, or the like).

In some embodiments of the invention, the installer may access a tracer panel application (as will be described in further detail below) on a user computer system 520 (e.g., a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like), in order to determine the field assembly and/or field installation of the tracer panels 100 and/or the components thereof. For example, the process for assembling the tracers 102 and/or the header tracers 350 described herein in the field may involve identifying and/or inputting data into the tracer panel application, such as structure size, coverage over the structure, fittings, connection types, panel type, location on the structure (e.g., by capturing an identifier, such as taking an image of the structure, scanning a barcode, or the like, using GPS, or capturing another identifier), or the like as previously described herein. The installer may receive the type, sizes, lengths, widths (e.g., number of adjacent tubes), radiuses, angles or the like of the tracers 102 and/or header tracers 350, and/or the tracer panel 100 formed therefrom, connection points for the tracers 102 and/or header tracers 350, or the like in order to determine how to assemble the tracer panels 100 in the field. The installer may also receive information for the methods to modify the assembly for fit-as-built designs using a specified set of equipment (e.g., tools, bending equipment, welding equipment, or the like), which may be included with the tracer system 10 components that are shipped to the site.

As such, depending on the end use, the tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200 for the tracing systems 10 may be at least partially formed and/or assembled at a factory (as described with respect to Block 608) and/or may be at least partially formed and/or assembled on-site during installation. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 33A through 33D, manual, semi-automatic, and/or automatic bending equipment may be utilized within the factory and/or on-site in the field to at least partially bend the tracers 102. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 33A, rotary draw bending equipment 390 may be used in which a tracer 102 is clamped within a rotating bend die and drawn around the bend die. In other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 33B, compression bending equipment 392 may be used in which a tracer 102 is clamped and pulled around a bend of a die. In still other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 33C, press or ram bending equipment 394 may be used in which a tracer 102 is fixed in one or more fixed dies (e.g., at two or more points, or the like) and a moveable die (e.g., press, ram, or the like) is forced against the tracer 102 to form the shape of the bend. In some embodiments, both dies may be moveable. In yet other embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 33D, roll bending equipment 396 may be used in which a tracer 102 in which two or more rollers are used to shape the tracer 102. It should be understood that other types of bending process may also be used.

In some particular embodiments, with respect to straight tracer panels (e.g., FIGS. 22A through 23B), no bending is required for the longitudinal tracers 102. However, the longitudinal tracers 102 may have header tracers 350 integrally operatively coupled to the longitudinal tracers 102. Within the factory the longitudinal tracers 102 may be formed and shipped to the site. Within the field on-site, the longitudinal tracers 102 may be straightened, cut to length, and/or portions thereof may be bent (e.g., using compression bending, such as manual compression bending).

In other example embodiments, with respect to curved tracer panels (e.g., FIGS. 24A, 25A, 25B, 27A, and 28A) the one or more bends may be different for different fitting sizes and/or tracer panel 100 locations. As such, in some embodiments CNC tube bending with rollers, or other powered rollers, may be used to bend the tracers 102 within the factory. Additionally, or alternatively, these tracers 102 may be bent in the field on site using roller equipment (e.g., manual rolling equipment, semi-automated equipment, or the like).

In yet other embodiments, with respect to the parallel tracer panel 360, in particular, the manifold header tracers 370 (e.g., FIG. 23A, 27B, or the like) may require multiple connectors and/or tracer 102 branches that may be required to be cut and/or bent in order to form the header tracers 350. Within a factory, in some embodiments, a combination of CNC bending, tracer 102 and connector welding may be utilized. While it may be possible to form the manifold header tracers 370 within the field, it may be difficult to complete at least some of the assembly of these types of manifold header tracers 370. However, it should be understood, that these types of manifold header tracers 370 may be mostly formed in the factory (e.g., common manifold header tracers) and adjustments may be made in the field (e.g., additional bending, trimming of the open tube lengths, or the like) in the event customized manifold header tracers 370 are needed for specific purposes.

In still other embodiments, with respect to the serpentine tracer panel 360, in particular, the serpentine header tracers 352 (e.g., FIG. 22A-22C, 28B, 28C, or the like) multiple bends (e.g., tight bending, or the like) may be needed. However, these types of bends may only require a single bend radius. Within a factory, in some embodiments, a combination of CNC bending with dies for tight radiused bending (e.g., rotary draw, compression, and/or press or ram bending) may be utilized. Additionally, or alternatively, within the field on-site compression bending (e.g., manual compression, semi-automatic compression bending, or the like) may be utilized in order to form these types of serpentine header tracers 352. However, it should be understood, that these types of serpentine header tracers 352 may be formed in the factory and adjustments may be made in the field (e.g., additional bending, trimming of the open tube lengths, or the like).

Moreover, as illustrated in blocks 612 and 614, the tracer panels 100 and/or the heat transfer elements 200 are installed on the structure 50 (e.g., process pipe 52, vessel 54, or the like). In some embodiments, the installation process may include test fitting the tracer panels 100 to ensure the tracer panels 100 fit correctly. One or more tracer panels 100 may be operatively coupled using a temporary tie wire. If the heat transfer elements 200 (e.g., enhancers) were not pre-formed and/or pre-assembled, the heat transfer elements 200 may be cut, bent, or the like. In some embodiments heat transfer cement (HTC) may be applied to the inside surface of the heat transfer elements 200, such as by using a tool (e.g., an applicator that meets the profile of the heat transfer element 200, or the like) to achieve the correct thickness and distribution of HTC on the heat transfer element 200. The heat transfer elements 200 are placed and pressed over the respective sections of the tracer panels 100. Other couplings, such as tracer supports 450, such as strips (e.g., banding, which may be a lighter and more costs effective component, straps, which may be a heavy-duty and more costly component, or the like), studs (e.g., bosses, or the like), hold-down clips, cables, or the like may be installed around the heat transfer element(s) 200 and tracer panel(s) 100, and tightened against the structure 50. Furthermore, jumpers 162, if necessary, are connected between successive tracer panels 100 to form a complete fluid flow path. The start and end pieces within a fluid flow path are connected to the heating fluid source and destination (e.g., header, manifold, or the like). The tracer panel system 10 may be leak tested to ensure connections are sealed. In some embodiments, the structure 50 may be insulated, such by providing insulation 180 over at least a portion of the tracer panels 100, heat transfer elements 200, and/or the structure 50.

As previously described herein a tracer computer application may be utilized to receive inputs in order to determine the customized tracer panel 100 for a particular application, and moreover, the tracer panel assembly system 500 may be utilized to automatically manufacture, assemble, and/or provide instructions for field assembling and/or installing the customized tracer panels 100, and potentially customized heat tracer elements 200, as described herein.

FIG. 34 illustrates one embodiment of a tracer panel assembly network system 500. The operation of the tracer panel assembly network system 500, and in particular the tracer and/or heat transfer element manufacturing equipment (e.g., CNC bending equipment, welding equipment, extruding, casting, or the like heat transfer equipment, automated robotic equipment used to transport, weld, assemble, or the like the tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements) may be controlled by one or more programmable controllers 550, which may communicate with other systems within or outside of a facility. As illustrated in FIG. 34, one or more controller systems 510 are operatively coupled, via a network 502, to one or more user computer systems 520, one or more equipment systems 530 (e.g., systems that control the equipment described herein). In this way, the controller systems 510 may communicate with one or more equipment systems 530 for forming and/or assembling the tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200, as described herein. The controller systems 510 may communicate with user computer systems 520 to allow the users of the user computer systems 520 to input the information to determine the customized tracer panels 100 and/or to monitor the tracer manufacturing equipment. Moreover, the controller systems 510 may communicate with other systems, such as other systems of other machinery in the facility and/or other systems outside of the facility (e.g., ordering systems, third party systems, or the like) to determine what material inputs (e.g., tubes, raw material, connectors, or the like) need to be ordered, transported, manufactured, or the like. The communications may occur over a network 502, as will be described in further detail herein.

The network 502 may be a global area network (GAN), such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or any other type of network or combination of networks. The network 502 may provide for wireline, wireless, or a combination of wireline and wireless communication between systems, services, components, and/or devices on the network 502.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, the one or more controller systems 510 may comprise a controller 550 that may generally comprise one or more communication components 512, one or more processing components 514, and one or more memory components 516. The one or more processing components 514 are operatively coupled to the one or more communication components 512, and the one or more memory components 516. As used herein, the term “processing component” (otherwise described as a “processor”) generally includes circuitry used for implementing the communication and/or logic functions of a particular system. For example, a processing component may include a digital signal processor component, a microprocessor component, and various analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and other support circuits and/or combinations of the foregoing. Control and signal processing functions of the system are allocated between these processing components according to their respective capabilities. The one or more processing components may include functionality to operate one or more software programs based on computer-readable instructions thereof, which may be stored in the one or more memory components.

The controller 550 components, such as the one or more communication components 512 (otherwise described as a “communication device”), may be operatively coupled to one or more sensors 540 (e.g., sensor used in the manufacturing process, safety sensors, supply sensors, location sensors, laser sensors, or the like) for the tracer and/or heat transfer element manufacturing equipment.

The one or more processing components 514 use the one or more communication components 512 to communicate with the network 502 and other components on the network 502, such as, but not limited to, the components of the one or more user computer systems 520, the one or more equipment systems 520, and/or the one or more other systems (not illustrated). As such, the one or more communication components 512 generally comprise a wireless transceiver, modem, server, electrical connection, electrical circuit, or other component for communicating with other components on the network 502. The one or more communication components 512 may further include an interface that accepts one or more network interface cards, ports for connection of network components, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, or the like. Moreover, the one or more communication components 512 may include a keypad, keyboard, touch-screen, touchpad, microphone, mouse, joystick, other pointer component, button, soft key, and/or other input/output component(s) for communicating with the users. In some embodiments, as described herein the one or more communication components 512 may comprise a user interface, such as a graphical user interface 555 that allows a user to control and/or monitor the operation of the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment.

As further illustrated in FIG. 34, the one or more controller systems 510 comprise computer-readable instructions 518 stored in the one or more memory components 516 (otherwise described as “memories”), which in some embodiments includes the computer-readable instructions 518 of the one or more controller applications 517 (e.g., used to operate the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment and/or the devices thereof, or the like). In some embodiments, the one or more memory components 516 include one or more data stores 519 for storing data related to the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment, including, but not limited to, data created, accessed, and/or used by the one or more controller systems 510 to operate the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment in order to form the tracer panels and/or heat transfer elements (e.g., in accordance with the customized tracer panels and/or heat transfer elements determined by the tracer application, or the like).

As further illustrated in FIG. 34, users may communicate with each other over the network 502 and the controller systems 510, the equipment systems 530, and/or other systems in order to input the information to determine the customized tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200, control the equipment, and/or monitor the equipment. Consequently, the one or more users may be engineers, assemblers, welders, employees, agents, representatives, officers, or the like of an organization operating the facility. The one or more user computer systems 520 may be a desktop, laptop, tablet, mobile device (e.g., smartphone device, or other mobile device), or any other type of computer that generally comprises one or more communication components 522, one or more processing components 524, and one or more memory components 526. In some embodiments, the one or more user computer systems 520 may be located upstream or downstream of the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment and are used for pre-assembly and/or pre-inspections of the tracer tubes, heat transfer materials, connectors, or the like, and/or post assembly and/or post-inspection of the tracer panels 100, including the heat transfer elements 200 in some embodiments (e.g., complete the assembly, such as welding, inspect welding, and/or the like). In other embodiments, the one or more user computer system 520 may be utilized by installers located in the field, which communicate over the tracer panel assembly network system 500, in order to send and receive information related to the installation of the tracer system 10, in particular the tracer panels 100 thereof, and/or information related to the assembly of customized tracer panels 330. As such, the information that the installer may send and/or receive may relate to the structure 50 on which the tracer system 10 is being installed and/or information related to how to assemble and install the tracer panels 100.

The one or more processing components 524 are operatively coupled to the one or more communication components 522, and the one or more memory components 526. The one or more processing components 524 use the one or more communication components 522 to communicate with the network 502 and other components on the network 502, such as, but not limited to, the one or more controller systems 510, the one or more equipment systems 530, and/or the other systems (not illustrated). As such, the one or more communication components 522 generally comprise a wireless transceiver, modem, server, electrical connection, or other component for communicating with other components on the network 502. The one or more communication components 522 may further include an interface that accepts one or more network interface cards, ports for connection of network components, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors and the like. Moreover, the one or more communication components 522 may include a keypad, keyboard, touch-screen, touchpad, microphone, mouse, joystick, other pointer component, button, soft key, and/or other input/output component(s) for communicating with the users. In some embodiments, the one or more communication components 522 may comprise a user interface, such as a graphical user interface that allows a user to remotely control and/or monitor the operation of the joist assembly system 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, the one or more user computer systems 520 may have computer-readable instructions 528 stored in the one or more memory components 526, which in some embodiments includes the computer-readable instructions 528 for user applications 527, such as dedicated applications (e.g., apps, applet, or the like), portions of dedicated applications, a web browser or other apps that allow access to applications located on other systems, or the like. The user applications 527 may include the tracer panel application, previously discussed herein. In some embodiments, the one or more memory components 526 include one or more data stores 529 for storing data related to the one or more user computer systems 520, including, but not limited to, data created, accessed, and/or used by the one or more user computer systems 520. The user application 527 may use the applications of the one or more controller systems 510, the one or more equipment systems 530, and/or one or more other systems (not illustrated) in order to communicate with other systems on the network 502 and take various actions described herein (e.g., operation, use, monitoring, or the like of the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment).

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 34, the one or more equipment systems 530 and/or other systems (not illustrated) have components that are the same as or similar to the components described with respect to the one or more controller systems 510 and the one or more user computer systems 520 (e.g., one or more communication components, one or more processing components, one or more sensors, one or more memory devices with computer-readable instructions of one or more product applications, one or more datastores, or the like). Thus, the one or more equipment systems 530 communicate with the one or more controller systems 510, the one or more user computer systems 520, and/or one or more other systems in the same or similar way as previously described with respect to the one or more controller systems 510, the one or more user computer systems 520, and/or the one or more other systems. The one or more equipment systems 530 may comprise the systems that operate the machines (e.g., bending machine, robots, welding, transport equipment, or the like) of the tracer and/or heat transfer element equipment that are used to assemble the tracer panels 100 and/or heat transfer elements 200 of the tracer system 10 in the factory and/or on-site in the field.

Several alternative examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the examples could be provided in combination with the other examples disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “secured,” “coupled,” or “operatively coupled” (other similar phrase) to another element, the elements can be formed integrally with each other, or may be formed separately and put together. Furthermore, “secured,” “coupled,” or “operatively coupled” to can mean the element is directly secured, coupled, or operatively coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may be present between the elements. Furthermore, “secured,” “coupled,” or “operatively coupled” may mean that the elements are detachable from each other, or that they are permanently held together.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, words such as top, bottom, front, rear, side, upper, lower, left, right, horizontal, vertical, upward, and downward merely describe the configuration shown in the figures. The referenced components may be oriented in an orientation other than that shown in the drawings and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.

Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes may be performed in different order. Some of the steps, operations, or processes may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims, if any, present elements of the various steps, operations or processes in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. These may be performed in serial, linearly, in parallel or in different order. It should be understood that the described instructions, operations, and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software/hardware product or packaged into multiple software/hardware products.

The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples, and the various features are grouped together in various implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, the subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

1. A tracer panel of a plurality of tracer panels in a tracer system for heating or cooling a fluid within a structure, the tracer panel comprising:

two or more tracers spaced apart from each other;

an inlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers; and

an outlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers;

wherein the tracer panel is at last partially curved to form a curved tracer panel configured to be installed on a non-linear surface of the structure.

2. The tracer panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more tracers comprise two or more longitudinal tracers, and wherein the tracer panel further comprises:

one or more intermediate serpentine header tracers;

wherein an intermediate serpentine header tracer operatively couples ends of two longitudinal tracers of the two or more longitudinal tracers; and

wherein the one or more intermediate serpentine header tracers have one or more bends to form the curved tracer panel.

3. The tracer panel of claim 2, wherein the two or more longitudinal tracers have one or more bends, and wherein the curved tracer panel is a longitudinal serpentine elbow panel.

4. The tracer panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more tracers comprise two or more longitudinal tracers; wherein the inlet header tracer is an inlet header manifold operatively coupled to first ends of the two or more longitudinal tracers; and wherein the outlet header tracer is an outlet header manifold operatively coupled to second ends of the two or more longitudinal tracers.

5. The tracer panel of claim 4, wherein the two or more longitudinal tracers have one or more bends, and wherein the curved tracer panel is a longitudinal parallel elbow tracer panel.

6. The tracer panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more tracers comprise two or more transverse tracers, wherein the two or more transverse tracers each have one or more bends that form the curved tracer panel.

7. The tracer panel of claim 6, wherein the inlet header tracer is an inlet header manifold operatively coupled to first ends of the two or more transverse tracers, and wherein the outlet header tracer is an outlet header manifold operatively coupled to second ends of the two or more transverse tracers.

8. The tracer panel of claim 7, wherein the inlet header manifold or the outlet header manifold have one or more bends, and wherein the curved tracer panel is a transverse parallel elbow panel.

9. The tracer panel of claim 6, wherein the two or more transverse tracers comprise three or more transverse tracers, wherein the tracer panel further comprising:

one or more converging serpentine header tracers operatively coupling converging ends of two transverse tracers; and

one or more diverging serpentine header tracers operatively coupling diverging ends of two transverse tracers;

wherein the one or more converging serpentine header tracers and the one or more diverging serpentine header tracers form a transverse serpentine elbow panel.

10. The tracer panel of claim 6, further comprising:

tracer bracing operatively coupling the two or more transverse tracers.

11. The tracer panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more tracers are operatively coupled to each other or the inlet header tracer and the outlet header tracer through tracer connectors.

12. The tracer panel of claim 11, wherein the tracer connectors comprise compression fittings, flared JIC fittings, butt welding, or socket welding.

13. The tracer panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more tracers are formed to a length on-site and operatively coupled to the inlet header tracer and the outlet header tracer on site.

14. The tracer panel of claim 13, wherein the inlet header tracer and the outlet header tracer are at least partially pre-formed by bending before shipping on-site.

15. The tracer panel of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more flexible members operatively coupling the two or more tracers, wherein the one or more flexible members are configured to allow installation of the tracer panel on structures having different curved surfaces.

16. The tracer panel of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more stiffeners operatively coupling the two or more tracers, wherein the one or more stiffeners aid in resisting deformation of the tracer panel.

17. The tracer panel of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more alignment members on the panel tracer configured to align the tracer panel with an upstream or downstream tracer panel.

18. A panel tracer system for heating or cooling a structure, the panel tracer system comprising:

two or more tracer panels operatively coupled in series, wherein the two or more tracer panels comprise: two or more tracers spaced apart from each other; an inlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers; and an outlet header tracer operatively coupled to at least one of the two or more tracers;

wherein the two or more tracer panels are at last partially curved to form curved tracer panels configured to be installed on one or more non-linear surfaces of the structure.

19. A method of forming a tracer panel for a panel tracer system for heating or cooling a structure, the method comprising:

receiving tracer panel configurations for the tracer panel, wherein the tracer panel configurations comprise at least: two or more tracers for the tracer panel; and header tracers for the tracer panel;

assembling the two or more tracers to the header tracers using tracer connectors on-site based on the tracer panel configurations, wherein the tracer panel is at last partially curved to form a curved tracer panel configured to be installed on a non-linear surface of the structure.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the two or more tracers are trimmed in the field on-site to form two or more customized tracers, wherein the header tracers are at least partially pre-formed header tracers, and wherein the two or more customized tracers are operatively coupled to the at least partially pre-formed header tracers in the field on-site.