A post-embedding construction vessel and a post-embedding construction method for submarine cables

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of submarine cable laying, and in particular to a post-embedding construction vessel. The post-embedding construction vessel is equipped with a navigation system capable of communicating with a satellite, including a hull, a signal generating device, a signal sensing alarm device, a submarine cable positioning device, and an embedding device. The signal generating device and the submarine cable positioning device are both stored on the hull, and the signal sensing alarm device and the embedding device are both installed on the hull. When the post-embedding construction vessel is in use, it travels along the direct cable laying line through the navigation system, and by connecting the signal generating device to the submarine cable, the submarine cable continuously propagates and diffuses the signal to the surrounding space, while the signal sensing alarm device can detect the strength of the spatial signal in real time. When the hull is located directly above the submarine cable, the alarm issued by the signal sensing alarm device is the strongest. At this time, the position of the hull is recorded by the submarine cable positioning device, and the recorded position is buried by the embedding device, thereby completing the post-embedding of the submarine cable at that position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of submarine cable laying, and in particular to a post-embedding construction vessel and a submarine cable post-embedding construction method using the construction vessel. Background Art

[0002] Offshore wind farms have rapidly become one of the hot development directions of wind energy due to their advantages such as abundant wind energy resources, good stability, low turbulence intensity, and less land occupation. In order to send the electricity from the offshore section of the offshore wind farm, it is necessary to install submarine cables. At present, there are two main methods for constructing submarine cables: one is to construct submarine cables by burying them; the other is to construct submarine cables by direct laying.

[0003] Among them, the laying and burying of submarine cables requires that a burying plow be used to drag a trench on the seabed mud surface to complete the laying. In order to ensure the normal deployment and recovery of the burying plow, it is necessary to operate during flat tide or low flow rate periods, so it is often necessary to wait for the tide. In addition, the deployment, dragging and recovery of the burying plow itself also take a long time, which leads to a long construction period for the entire laying and burying construction. The direct laying of submarine cables only requires sinking the submarine cables on the seabed mud surface, which greatly shortens the construction period. However, even if the submarine cable is located in an offshore wind farm and is less affected by ship anchoring and fishing activities, there is still a certain risk. Therefore, this construction method is only used as a temporary measure during the rush installation period. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a post-burying construction vessel capable of burying a submarine cable in direct-laying construction.

[0005] The present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] The present invention provides a post-emplacement construction vessel equipped with a navigation system capable of communicating with a satellite, comprising a hull, a signal generating device, a signal sensing alarm device, a submarine cable positioning device and an emplacement device, wherein the signal generating device and the submarine cable positioning device are both stored on the hull, and the signal sensing alarm device and the emplacement device are both installed on the hull.

[0007] Preferably, the signal generating device is a transmitter of a path detector, and the signal sensing alarm device includes a signal detection rod, a controller and an alarm. The signal detection rod is arranged at the bottom of the hull, and the controller is connected to the signal detection rod and the alarm signal at the same time.

[0008] Preferably, the submarine cable positioning device is an RTK surveying and positioning instrument, and includes a base station and a mobile station that are independent of each other, and the base station and the mobile station are communicatively connected.

[0009] Preferably, it also includes an A-frame, the open end of the A-frame is hinged to one side of the hull, the first windlass and the second windlass are fixed on the A-frame, and the flushing and burying equipment is suspended on the first windlass so as to be movable up and down.

[0010] Preferably, the flushing and burying equipment comprises a shell and a high-pressure water pipe, both sides and the bottom of the shell are provided with openings, the bottom opening of the shell is installed with a high-pressure nozzle, and the openings on both sides of the shell are respectively connected to the high-pressure water pipe.

[0011] Preferably, the flushing and burying equipment further comprises an air compressor and a lifting pipe, the top of the shell is provided with an opening, and the lifting pipe is communicated with the air compressor and the top opening of the shell at the same time.

[0012] The present invention also provides a method for post-embedding construction of a submarine cable, which uses the post-embedding construction vessel as described in any one of the above items and comprises the following steps:

[0013] S1: Enter the "Submarine Cable Laying Route Dot Record Sheet" of the submarine cable direct laying construction record into the navigation system of the post-buried construction ship to obtain the submarine cable route, and shut down the power transmission of the submarine cable to be buried;

[0014] S2: disconnect the submarine cable to be buried from the connection port, and connect the signal generating device to the submarine cable to be buried;

[0015] S3: The post-buried construction ship moves forward in an S shape on the submarine cable route, determines the position of the submarine cable to be buried according to the alarm intensity of the signal sensing alarm device, records the position information of the submarine cable to be buried through the submarine cable positioning device, and adjusts the buried equipment to the top of the position to carry out the buried operation;

[0016] S4: Repeat step S3 until the rear buried construction ship has completed the entire submarine cable route.

[0017] Preferably, in step S3, before the post-embedded construction vessel advances in an S-shape along the cable route, a diver first goes into the water to explore the connection position of the cable to be buried and attaches a locator, and then corrects the cable route.

[0018] Preferably, in step S3, when the rear-burial construction ship advances in an S-shape along the coastal cable route, each time the rear-burial construction ship turns, the length of the submarine cable to be buried passed by the rear-burial construction ship is not less than fifty meters.

[0019] Preferably, in step S3, after the flushing and burying operation is completed, the diver dives into the sea to confirm the flushing and burying effect. If the flushing and burying effect is poor, the flushing and burying operation is performed again at the location.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] When in use, the post-burying construction ship of the present invention can travel along the direct cable laying line through the navigation system, and by connecting the signal generating device to the submarine cable to be buried, the submarine cable to be buried can continuously transmit the circumferential diffusion signal coaxial with the submarine cable to be buried to the surrounding space, and the signal sensing alarm device can detect the strength of the spatial signal in real time. When the hull is located directly above the submarine cable to be buried, the alarm emitted by the signal sensing alarm device is the strongest. At this time, the position of the hull is recorded by the submarine cable positioning device, and the recorded position is buried by the burying device, thereby completing the post-burying of the submarine cable at that position.

[0022] Since the submarine cable post-embedding construction method of the present invention adopts the above-mentioned post-embedding construction vessel, it naturally also has the above-mentioned beneficial effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0023] Obviously, the present invention can bury the submarine cable in direct laying construction. When used in conjunction with the existing submarine cable direct laying construction method, it can not only greatly shorten the construction period of the submarine cable laying, but also effectively protect the laid submarine cable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the construction status of the back-burial construction ship in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The reference numerals are described as follows:

[0026] 1. Hull

[0027] 2. Burying equipment

[0028] 21. Shell

[0029] 22. High-pressure water pipe

[0030] 23. Air compressor

[0031] 24. Lifting pipe

[0032] 3. A-shaped frame DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The specific embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, but not to limit the present invention.

[0034] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0036] Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, “plurality” means two or more.

[0037] See also Figure 1 This embodiment provides a post-burial construction vessel equipped with a navigation system capable of communicating with a satellite, including a hull 1, a signal generating device, a signal sensing alarm device, a submarine cable positioning device and a burial device 2, the signal generating device and the submarine cable positioning device are both stored on the hull 1, and the signal sensing alarm device and the burial device 2 are both installed on the hull 1.

[0038] When in use, the post-burying construction vessel of this embodiment can travel along the direct cable laying route through the navigation system, and by connecting the signal generating device to the submarine cable to be buried, the submarine cable to be buried can continuously transmit the circumferential diffusion signal coaxial with the submarine cable to be buried to the surrounding space, and the signal sensing alarm device can detect the strength of the spatial signal in real time. When the hull 1 is located directly above the submarine cable to be buried, the alarm issued by the signal sensing alarm device is the strongest. At this time, the position of the hull 1 is recorded by the submarine cable positioning device, and the recorded position is buried by the burying device 2, so that the post-burying of the submarine cable at that position can be completed. At the same time, the post-burying construction vessel of this embodiment, when used in conjunction with the existing direct cable laying construction method, can not only greatly shorten the construction period of submarine cable laying, but also effectively protect the laid submarine cable.

[0039] Preferably, in this embodiment, diving equipment is also stored on the hull 1 so that the crew can perform underwater operations as divers as needed.

[0040] Preferably, the signal generating device is a transmitter of a path detector, and the signal sensing alarm device includes a signal detection rod, a controller and an alarm. The signal detection rod is arranged at the bottom of the hull 1, and the controller is connected to the signal detection rod and the alarm signal at the same time.

[0041] After the transmitter of the path detector is connected to the buried submarine cable to be struck, it can emit an audio signal to the buried submarine cable to be struck, so that the buried submarine cable to be struck can continuously transmit the circumferential audio signal coaxial with the buried submarine cable to be struck to the surrounding space, and the signal detection rod can receive the audio signal emitted by the buried submarine cable to be struck and transmit it to the controller. After receiving the signal from the signal detection rod, the controller controls the alarm to sound an alarm, and the alarm of the alarm is strengthened as the audio signal received by the signal detection rod is strengthened. When the hull 1 is located directly above the buried submarine cable to be struck, the alarm emitted by the alarm is the strongest, thereby accurately judging the position of the buried submarine cable to be struck.

[0042] Preferably, the submarine cable positioning device is an RTK surveying and positioning instrument, and includes a base station and a mobile station that are independent of each other, and the base station and the mobile station are communicatively connected.

[0043] When the submarine cable positioning device is in use, the base station can be set just above the end of the submarine cable to be buried, and the mobile station can be set on the hull 1. The distance between the mobile station and the base station, as well as the precise coordinates of each, can be checked through the mobile station, so as to conveniently record the position of the hull 1. When the alarm emitted by the signal sensing alarm device is the strongest, the position of the hull 1 is the position of the submarine cable to be buried.

[0044] Preferably, see Figure 1 The rear burying construction ship also includes an A-frame 3, the opening end of the A-frame 3 is hinged to one side of the hull 1, and the first and second windlasses are fixed on the A-frame 3. The burying equipment 2 can be suspended on the first windlass so as to move up and down.

[0045] When the flushing and burying equipment 2 is in use, the A-frame 3 in an inclined outward state is first fixed by external equipment, and then the submarine cable to be flushed and buried is adjusted to a position below the A-frame 3 by the second winder, and then the flushing and burying equipment 2 is sunk into the sea and positioned above the submarine cable to be flushed and buried by the first winder. After that, the flushing and burying equipment 2 is started to flush out a trench from the muddy surface of the seabed where the submarine cable to be buried is located, and the submarine cable to be buried sinks into the trench by itself. After a period of time, the mud and sand flushed away by the flushing and burying equipment 2 re-sediment and fill the trench, thereby realizing the post-burying operation of the section of the submarine cable.

[0046] It should be noted that, in order to ensure the flushing and burying effect of the flushing and burying device 2, the flushing and burying device 2 can be adjusted to the position just above the submarine cable to be flushed and buried with the cooperation of a diver.

[0047] Preferably, in this embodiment, the burying device 2 is provided with a sensing device for detecting the burying degree of the submarine cable, and the sensing device is connected to the controller signal.

[0048] Specifically, in this embodiment, the sensing device is a distance sensor. When the distance sensor detects that the distance from the seabed mud surface reaches a set value, the alarm will sound an alarm through the controller, which means that the depth of the groove flushed by the flushing and burying equipment 2 meets the requirement and the submarine cable can be well flushed and buried.

[0049] Preferably, see Figure 1 The flushing and burying equipment 2 includes a shell 21 and a high-pressure water pipe 22. Both sides and the bottom of the shell 21 are provided with openings. The bottom opening of the shell 21 is installed with a high-pressure nozzle. The openings on both sides of the shell 21 are connected to the high-pressure water pipe 22 respectively.

[0050] When the flushing and burying equipment 2 is working, the high-pressure nozzle is less than 50 cm away from the seabed mud surface. High-pressure water is introduced into the shell 21 through the high-pressure water pipe 22 and sprayed out through the high-pressure nozzle, thereby flushing out a groove for burying the submarine cable on the seabed mud surface. After the submarine cable sinks into the groove by its own weight, the mud can naturally return to sedimentation, thereby completing the flushing and burying.

[0051] Preferably, see Figure 1 The flushing and burying equipment 2 also includes an air compressor 23 and a lifting pipe 24. The top of the shell 21 is provided with an opening, and the lifting pipe 24 is connected to the top openings of the air compressor 23 and the shell 21 at the same time.

[0052] While the high-pressure nozzle is flushing the seabed mud surface, the air compressor 23 is started to continuously deliver high-pressure air to the lifting pipe 24, thereby reducing the flow pressure gradient in the lifting pipe 24, so that the seawater in the lifting pipe 24 is continuously lifted and discharged, reducing the silting effect of the seabed mud and improving the flushing efficiency of the submarine cable.

[0053] Preferably, in this embodiment, the diameter of the lifting pipe 24 is 400 mm.

[0054] This embodiment also provides a method for back-buried construction of a submarine cable, using a back-buried construction vessel as described in any one of the above items, and comprising the following steps:

[0055] S1: Enter the "Submarine Cable Laying Route Dot Record Sheet" of the submarine cable direct laying construction record into the navigation system of the post-buried construction ship to obtain the submarine cable route, and shut down the power transmission of the submarine cable to be buried;

[0056] S2: disconnect the submarine cable to be buried from the connection port, and connect the signal generating device to the submarine cable to be buried;

[0057] S3: The post-buried construction ship moves forward in an S shape on the submarine cable route, determines the position of the submarine cable to be buried according to the alarm intensity of the signal sensing alarm device, records the position information of the submarine cable to be buried through the submarine cable positioning device, and adjusts the buried device 2 to be just above the position to carry out the buried operation;

[0058] S4: Repeat step S3 until the rear buried construction ship has completed the entire submarine cable route.

[0059] In step S1, the "Submarine Cable Laying Route Record Table" records the route coordinates and sheltered point locations of the submarine cable during direct cable laying construction, and enters them into the navigation system of the post-burying construction ship. On the one hand, it can provide guidance for the travel path of the post-burying construction ship, and on the other hand, it can also facilitate the post-burying construction ship to rest in a sheltered point in time when the sea conditions are bad. Since the post-burying construction of the submarine cable must be carried out when the submarine cable is out of power, the power transmission of the submarine cable to be buried must be shut down before the post-burying construction ship starts to enter the site for construction.

[0060] It should be noted that the post-burying construction vessel should enter the "Submarine Cable Laying Route Record Form" after the equipment inspection is completed.

[0061] The equipment inspection of the post-burial construction vessel is as follows: the deck group is responsible for debugging the burial equipment 2, the diving group is responsible for debugging the diving equipment, and the technical group is responsible for debugging the navigation system, signal generating equipment, signal sensing alarm equipment and submarine cable positioning equipment.

[0062] Preferably, in this embodiment, the shutdown of the power transmission of the submarine cable to be buried is specifically: providing the power outage demand to the relevant units, and the relevant units perform the shutdown operation.

[0063] In step S3, since the post-burying operation of the submarine cable is often carried out some time after the submarine cable is laid, the post-burying construction ship advances in an S-shape to achieve back-and-forth scanning of the submarine cable to be buried, so that the post-burying construction ship can pass directly above the submarine cable as much as possible to ensure the accuracy of the re-determined submarine cable route coordinates.

[0064] Preferably, in step S3, before the post-embedded construction ship advances in an S-shape along the cable route, a diver first goes into the water to find the connection position of the cable to be buried and attaches a locator, and then corrects the cable route. The locator can continuously send its own position information to the navigation system of the post-embedded construction ship, so that the post-embedded construction ship can correct the cable route.

[0065] It should be noted that, if necessary, divers can be equipped with diving phones, through which divers can promptly report the seabed conditions to the crew on the post-burial construction vessel.

[0066] Preferably, in step S3, when the post-burial construction ship advances in an S-shaped manner along the coastal cable route, each time the post-burial construction ship is turned, the length of the submarine cable to be buried that the post-burial construction ship passes through is not less than fifty meters. Although the shorter the interval between the post-burial construction ships each time, the better the burial effect on the submarine cable, the distance should not be too large, which will lead to a long burial operation period. Each time the post-burial construction ship is turned, the length of the submarine cable to be buried that the post-burial construction ship passes through is not less than fifty meters in the length direction, which can improve the efficiency of the burial operation on the basis of ensuring the burial effect of the submarine cable.

[0067] Preferably, in this embodiment, each time the rear burying construction vessel is turned, the length of the submarine cable to be buried is fifty meters.

[0068] Preferably, in step S3, after the flushing and burying operation is completed, the diver dives into the sea to confirm the flushing and burying effect. If the flushing and burying effect is poor, the flushing and burying operation is performed again at the location to ensure the quality of the post-burying construction of the submarine cable.

[0069] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention. These improvements and substitutions should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A backwash construction vessel equipped with a navigation system capable of communicating with a satellite, characterized in that: The invention comprises a hull (1), a signal generating device, a signal sensing alarm device, a submarine cable positioning device and a burying device (2), wherein the signal generating device and the submarine cable positioning device are both stored on the hull (1), and the signal sensing alarm device and the burying device (2) are both installed on the hull (1). By connecting the signal generating device to the submarine cable to be buried, the submarine cable to be buried continuously transmits a circumferential diffusion signal coaxial with the submarine cable to be buried to the surrounding space; the signal generating device is a transmitter of a path detector, the signal sensing alarm device comprises a signal detection rod, a controller and an alarm, the signal detection rod is arranged at the bottom of the hull (1), and the controller is simultaneously connected to the signal detection rod and the alarm signal; the submarine cable positioning device is an RTK measurement and positioning instrument, and comprises a base station and a mobile station which are independent of each other, the base station and the mobile station are connected to each other, and the base station and the mobile station are connected to each other. The mobile station is communicatively connected to the station; it also includes an A-shaped frame (3), the open end of the A-shaped frame (3) is hinged on one side of the hull (1), a first windlass and a second windlass are fixed on the A-shaped frame (3), and the flushing and burying equipment (2) is suspended on the first windlass so as to be movable up and down; the flushing and burying equipment (2) includes a shell (21) and a high-pressure water pipe (22), both sides and the bottom of the shell (21) are provided with openings, the bottom opening of the shell (21) is equipped with a high-pressure nozzle, and the openings on both sides of the shell (21) are respectively connected to the high-pressure water pipe (22); the flushing and burying equipment (2) also includes an air compressor (23) and a lifting pipe (24), the top of the shell (21) is provided with an opening, and the lifting pipe (24) is simultaneously connected to the air compressor (23) and the top opening of the shell (21).

2. A method for post-burying a submarine cable, characterized in that: The back-buried construction ship according to claim 1 is used, and includes the following steps: S1: Enter the "Submarine Cable Laying Route Marking Record Sheet" of the submarine cable direct laying construction record into the navigation system of the post-buried construction ship to obtain the submarine cable route line, the "Submarine Cable Laying Route Marking Record Sheet" records the route coordinates and wind shelter point locations of the submarine cable during the submarine cable direct laying construction, and shuts down the power transmission of the submarine cable to be buried; S2: disconnecting the submarine cable to be buried from the connection port, and connecting the signal generating device to the submarine cable to be buried; S3: the post-burial construction vessel moves in an S-shape on the submarine cable route, determines the position of the submarine cable to be buried according to the alarm intensity of the signal sensing alarm device, records the position information of the submarine cable to be buried through the submarine cable positioning device, and adjusts the burial device (2) to be directly above the position to perform the burial operation; S4: Repeat step S3 until the post-embedding construction vessel has completed the entire submarine cable route.

3. The method for back-buried submarine cable according to claim 2, characterized in that: In step S3, before the post-embedding construction ship advances in an S-shape along the cable route, a diver first goes into the water to explore the connection position of the cable to be buried and attaches a locator, and then corrects the cable route.

4. The method for back-buried submarine cable according to claim 2, characterized in that: In step S3, while the post-embedding construction ship is advancing in an S-shape along the cable route, each time the post-embedding construction ship is turned, the length of the submarine cable to be buried covered by the post-embedding construction ship is not less than fifty meters.

5. The method for back-buried submarine cable according to claim 2, characterized in that: In step S3, after the flushing and burying operation is completed, the diver dives into the sea to confirm the flushing and burying effect. If the flushing and burying effect is poor, the flushing and burying operation is performed again at the location.

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