Detecting the formation of a deposit of material contained in a fluid on a heat flow detector by measuring the heat flow between the faces of the detector

摘要

A constant temperature difference DELTA T is determined for a reference heat flow between the first and second faces of the detector with no deposit. The heat flow between the two faces of the detector is measured continuously and variations above a threshold relative to the reference heat flow are detected. These variations indicate the formation of a deposit on the first side of the detector Process detects the formation of a deposit (1) of material contained in a fluid (3) on the first side (4) of a heat flow detector (5) in contact with the fluid, where the detector has a second face (6) away from the fluid. The temperature difference DELTA T has an absolute value of between 0.5 and 25o C and its sign is chosen to favor the formation of the deposit. In particular, the fluid contains hydrocarbons and the deposit is a hydrate, with DELTA T between +0.5 and +20o C, or the deposit is a paraffin and DELTA T is between +1 and +20o C. Alternatively, the deposit is ice and the fluid is a gas containing water, with DELTA T between +0.5 and +2o C, or the deposit is a solid product with an inverse solubility in water and fluid containing water and DELTA T is between -0.5 and -20o C. The reference heat flow is determined by calculation or experimentally. The process can include a stage of eliminating the deposit after it has been detected. An Independent claim is also included for carrying out the above process comprising means (14) for measuring the temperature difference; means (8) for controlling the temperature of the second face; a regulator (16) connected to the means of measuring the temperature difference and the means for controlling the temperature to maintain the temperature difference constant, and means (17) for treating the signal from the heat flow detector.