Study of Temperature Field in Helical Carcass-Supported Flexible Cryogenic Pipes for Liquefied Natural Gas

Abstract

Helical carcass-supported composite flexible cryogenic pipes (HC-FCP) for liquefied natural gas (LNG) are critical components in floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) storage and offloading systems. The complex cross-sectional structure of HC-FCP must withstand cryogenic temperatures as low as −163 °C, which significantly affects the mechanical properties of the pipe materials. Predicting the temperature distribution within the pipe is essential for evaluating its performance under operational conditions. In this study, a three-dimensional axisymmetric steady-state heat transfer numerical model of HC-FCP is developed, achieving a maximum deviation of only 5.1% when compared to experimental temperature measurements. The temperature field at operational conditions exhibits a gradient distribution along the radial direction and a corrugated distribution along the axial direction. Additionally, the influence of external environmental factors on the pipe's temperature field is analyzed. The results indicate that the temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces increases with rising ambient temperature. Similarly, the temperature change between the inner and outer surfaces grows as wind speed increases, although the effect of wind speed on the pipe's temperature diminishes at higher wind speeds.