We are passionate about heat exchange and about challenging projects. As for our client in the gas industry who needed a high quality Subsea Cooler with several restrictions and progressive features. 

Customer challenge

One of our clients has an offshore platform where they were installing a gas compressor. They did not have any water for cooling purposes, or electrical power to drive cooling equipment. In combination with very little available space on the platform. Therefore going subsea was the best alternative.

It posed a fascinating set of problems like: how to simulate it, what sizes of tubes to use in the heat exchanger, what sort of materials to use to prevent fouling and corrosion, how to manufacture it.

Our approach

It was clear that the ideal solution was to go subsea. The company could build a pipeline in super duplex material to transport the gas to the coast at enormous cost. But the plan was to cool down the gas with the Subsea Cooler submerged into the sea next to the platform.

We started with a thermal and mechanical design. Taking into account that to realize a Subsea Cooler which meets all the requirements, we had to design a total new concept, taking into account the form, welding and length of the tubes and selecting the right materials.

The solution

We both designed, manufactured, and put the Subsea Cooler into production. It uses the natural convection of seawater to cool the client’s process fluid.

Furthermore, the gas, when cooled, is less corrosive so they could use a pipeline from carbon steel instead of super duplex to transport the gas onshore. One of the benefits for the client.  

Another advantage is that this Subsea Cooler requires no space on the offshore platform itself, eliminating the costs of building a support structures.

And to operate the Subsea Cooler there is no need of rotatory equipment such as fans, motors, or gearboxes. This ensures that little-to-no maintenance is required and that it will last a long time. 

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