Ballast system of floating hydrogen production platform and floating hydrogen production platform

Abstract

The invention relates to a ballast system of a floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform comprises a ballast water header pipe, a plurality of ballast tanks arranged in a lower floating body of the platform, and ballast water branch pipes and injection pumps which are arranged in stand columns of the platform. One end of the ballast water header pipe is communicated with the seawater pipeline, and the other end is communicated with the ballast water branch pipe. And one end of the ballast water branch pipe is communicated with the ballast water main pipe, and the other end is communicated with each ballast tank. The injection pump is provided with a fluid inlet, a suction port and an outlet, the fluid inlet is communicated with the ballast water branch pipe, the suction port is communicated with each ballast tank, and the outlet is used for being communicated to the outside of a ship board. The ballast water branch pipe can inject seawater into the fluid inlet, so that the injection pump can discharge the seawater in each ballast tank by taking the seawater pumped by the seawater pump as driving force. According to the ballast system, a seawater pump and a seawater pipeline which are arranged on the platform are utilized, and load adjustment of the platform can be achieved through cooperation of a ballast water header pipe, ballast water branch pipes, injection pumps and valves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of marine engineering technology, and in particular to a ballast system of a floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform. Background Art

[0002] During operation, floating platforms need to adjust draft, stability, heel and trim according to specific conditions. This task can be accomplished with the help of the ballast system by changing the amount of water in each ballast tank. At present, the ballast system of conventional offshore platforms is mainly the traditional pump ballast system, which is mainly composed of ballast water pumps, ballast water pipelines, related valve accessories, etc. The pipeline system, water pumps and ballast tanks are all arranged in the internal space of the lower floating body.

[0003] Unlike conventional large-scale offshore platforms that frequently operate the ballast water system for leveling, the floating hydrogen production platform is a hydrogen production experimental platform, and the ballast water system is only operated 2 to 4 times during the entire mission cycle to adjust the platform stability. If there is no lifting operation, the ballast water may not need to be adjusted during the operation, and the ballast system is not used frequently. In addition, due to the small size of the platform, the space inside the lower hull columns and pontoons is small, and it would be difficult to arrange too many complex systems in space. It is also inconvenient for staff to frequently enter and exit the lower hull for daily operations and system maintenance.

[0004] In addition, since the main deck of the hydrogen production platform is basically a dangerous area, and the access to the lower buoy is usually located at the top of the column, which is also in the dangerous area. This means that all types of cabins in the columns and the lower hull will be dangerous areas, including the pump room. The equipment in the cabin needs to use explosion-proof equipment, which is expensive. If a conventional ballast pump room is used, lighting, ventilation, fire protection, smoke detection and alarm systems are required, which increases additional configuration and cost. Summary of the invention

[0005] One purpose of the present invention is to solve the deficiencies in the prior art and provide a ballast system for a floating hydrogen production platform. To solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A ballast system for a floating hydrogen production platform, the platform comprises a seawater pump and a seawater pipeline, the seawater pump is used to pump seawater into the seawater pipeline; the ballast system comprises a ballast water main pipe and a plurality of ballast tanks arranged in a lower buoy of the platform, and ballast water branches and jet pumps arranged in each column of the platform;

[0007] The ballast water main pipe is arranged on the main deck of the platform, one end of the ballast water main pipe is connected to the seawater pipeline, and the other end is connected to the ballast water branch pipe. The ballast water main pipe is provided with a first valve, and the first valve is used to control the on and off of the ballast water main pipe;

[0008] Each ballast tank is provided with a connecting port, one end of the ballast water branch pipe is connected to the ballast water main pipe, and the other end is connected to the connecting port of each ballast tank. A second valve is provided on the ballast water branch pipe, and the second valve is used to control the opening and closing of the ballast water branch pipe;

[0009] A third valve is provided on the pipeline connecting the ballast water branch pipe and the connecting port of each ballast tank. When the third valve is opened, the ballast water branch pipe injects seawater into the ballast tank.

[0010] The jet pump has a fluid inlet, a suction port and an outlet. The fluid inlet is connected with the ballast water branch pipe, the suction port is connected with the connecting ports of each ballast tank, and the outlet is used to connect to the outside of the ship's side. A fourth valve is provided at the fluid inlet of the jet pump. When the fourth valve is opened, the ballast water branch pipe injects seawater into the fluid inlet, so that the jet pump can use the seawater pumped in by the seawater pump as driving force to discharge the seawater in each ballast tank.

[0011] In one embodiment, the ballast system further comprises a plurality of bypass pipes, each of which is disposed in each column, a first end of the bypass pipe is connected to the ballast water branch pipe, and a second end of the bypass pipe is used to connect to the outside of the ship;

[0012] The bypass pipeline is provided with a fifth valve, which is used to control the on-off of the bypass pipeline.

[0013] In one embodiment, each column is provided with a sea opening, and a sea valve is provided at the sea opening;

[0014] The outlet of the jet pump is communicated with the sea port, and the second end of the bypass pipeline is communicated with the sea port.

[0015] In one of the embodiments, a sixth valve is provided on the pipeline connecting the suction port of the jet pump and the connecting port of each ballast tank.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, a seventh valve is provided at the outlet of the jet pump.

[0017] In one embodiment, the jet pump is disposed in a pump cabin at the bottom of each column of the platform.

[0018] In one of the embodiments, the ballast system further comprises a plurality of vent pipes;

[0019] Each ballast tank is provided with a vent, one end of a vent pipe is connected to the vent, and the other end extends upward along the column to above the main deck.

[0020] In one of the embodiments, a first drain valve is provided on the ballast water main pipe, and the first drain valve can discharge the remaining water in the ballast water main pipe when it is opened.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating hydrogen production platform, comprising a lower buoy, a column, a main deck, a seawater pump and a seawater pipeline, and a ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform as described in any one of the above items;

[0022] The column support is set on the lower buoy, and the main deck support is set on the top of the column. The cooling water module, seawater desalination module and fire water module are arranged on the main deck, and the seawater pipeline is connected to the cooling water module, seawater desalination module and fire water module.

[0023] In one embodiment, the seawater pump is fixedly mounted on the outside of the column and is located more than 4 meters below the waterline; and / or

[0024] There are two seawater pumps, which serve as backup for each other.

[0025] In one embodiment, the seawater pipeline is arranged outside the column and on the main deck;

[0026] The portion of the seawater pipeline located on the main deck is provided with a second drain valve, which can drain the remaining water in the seawater pipeline when opened.

[0027] It can be seen from the above technical solution that the present invention has at least the following advantages and positive effects:

[0028] In the present invention, the ballast system includes a ballast water main pipe and multiple ballast tanks, as well as ballast water branch pipes and jet pumps arranged in each column of the platform. It utilizes the seawater pump and seawater pipeline configured on the platform, and can adjust the load of the platform through the cooperation of the ballast water main pipe, each ballast water branch pipe, each jet pump and each valve component.

[0029] Specifically, when filling the ballast tank with water, a seawater pump is used to inject seawater into the ballast tank through the ballast water main pipe and each ballast water branch pipe. When the seawater in the ballast tank needs to be discharged, the seawater supplied by the seawater pump is used to power the jet pump in the pump room through the ballast water main pipe and each ballast water branch pipe, and the seawater in the ballast tank is discharged out of the platform by the jet pump. Since the jet pump is powered by fluid and does not require a motor drive, there is no need to set up electrical equipment in the pump room, nor is there any need to configure the pump room with corresponding mechanical ventilation, fire protection system, communication and detection alarm system, lighting and other auxiliary systems in accordance with the specifications. Therefore, the pump room and system configuration can be simplified, solving the problem of insufficient space and difficulty in layout of the lower floating body; it can also reduce the construction cost and improve the economy of the platform; at the same time, since the pump room where the jet pump is located is located in the column, the frequency of staff entering the lower floating body for daily inspections can be reduced, improving safety and being more conducive to the daily management of the platform in the later stage. In addition, the reduction of water pumps and other auxiliary system settings in the pump room is also very beneficial to the overall weight control of the platform.

[0030] In addition, each ballast tank only needs to have one connecting port, which can be used as both an inlet for ballast water to enter the ballast tank and an outlet for ballast water to be discharged from the ballast tank. This can reduce the number of ballast tank openings, simplify the piping layout, and improve the safety of the ballast system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of the ballast system of a floating hydrogen production platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the arrangement of ballast tanks in the lower buoy of the ballast system shown.

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the piping arrangement of one of the ballast water branches of the ballast system shown.

[0034] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the control principle of ballast water entering the column and lower buoy in the ballast water branch pipe shown.

[0035] The following are the descriptions of the reference numerals:

[0036] 10-lower buoy; 11-column; 12-main deck; 13-seawater pump; 14-seawater pipeline; 15-cooling water module; 16-seawater desalination module; 17-fire water module;

[0037] 20-ballast water main pipe; 21-ballast tank; 22-connecting port; 23-ballast water branch pipe; 24-jet pump; 25-bypass pipeline; 26-sea port; 27-vent pipe;

[0038] 30-first valve; 31-second valve; 32-third valve; 33-fourth valve; 34-fifth valve; 35-sixth valve; 36-seventh valve; 37-sea valve; 38-first drain valve; 39-second drain valve;

[0039] 40-sampling valve; 41-stop valve; 42-filter; 43-check valve; 44-pressure gauge; 45-pressure sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Typical embodiments that embody the features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description. It should be understood that the present invention can have various changes in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the descriptions and illustrations therein are essentially used for illustration purposes rather than for limiting the present invention.

[0041] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that in the embodiments shown in the drawings, the indications of directions or positional relationships (such as up, down, left, right, front and back, etc.) are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation. These descriptions are appropriate when these elements are in the positions shown in the drawings. If the descriptions of the positions of these elements change, the indications of these directions also change accordingly.

[0042] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0043] The ballast system of a traditional floating platform is to set up a pump room in the buoy and configure an electrically driven ballast pump and a seabed gate system. The entire ballast system is equipped with two sets of pipes for water injection and drainage. Each ballast tank is equipped with an injection port and a suction port. The entire pipe system and ballast tank are all inside the buoy. Because the motor that drives the ballast pump is located in the pump room, that is, the pump room contains electrical equipment, ventilation and fire protection systems are required to ensure safety; and personnel are required to conduct regular inspections, so lighting, alarm, communication and other systems are required; in addition, the equipment in the dangerous area needs to be explosion-proof, which is expensive. Therefore, the traditional ballast system is not suitable for use on floating hydrogen production platforms.

[0044] Based on this, the present invention proposes a ballast system for a floating hydrogen production platform, which is mainly suitable for ballast adjustment of the floating hydrogen production platform. It can simplify the pump room configuration, reduce the cost, reduce the risk of fire, reduce the number of staff inspections, and improve safety.

[0045] It is understandable that, although the present invention proposes a ballast system for a floating hydrogen production platform, the ballast system is also applicable to other types of floating platforms. It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that in order to apply the design of the ballast system for the floating hydrogen production platform to the design of the ballast system for other types of floating platforms, various modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions or other changes are made to the specific embodiments described below, and these changes are still within the scope of the principle of the ballast system for the floating hydrogen production platform proposed by the present invention.

[0046] See also Figure 1 As shown, the floating hydrogen production platform of the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a lower buoy 10, columns 11, a main deck 12, a seawater pump 13 and a seawater pipeline 14, and a ballast system. The main deck 12 is supported and arranged on the lower buoy 10 by a plurality of columns 11.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the seawater pump 13 is fixedly installed on the outside of the column 11. A portion of the seawater pipeline 14 is arranged on the outside of the column 11 corresponding to the seawater pump 13, and another portion of the seawater pipeline 14 is arranged on the main deck 12. The seawater pump 13 is used to pump seawater into the seawater pipeline 14.

[0048] In this embodiment, the seawater pump 13 and the seawater pipeline 14 are fixed to the outside of the platform column 11. Compared with the traditional hose winch type submersible pump, the seawater pump 13 of this embodiment is not affected by the weather when taking water, avoiding the risk of the pump body swaying and colliding with the platform due to sea waves, thereby effectively ensuring that the platform water intake system can work sustainably within the design range of environmental conditions.

[0049] For example, the seawater pump 13 can be fixed on the outside of the column 11 and located more than 4 meters below the waterline. In this way, the distance H between the water inlet of the seawater pump 13 and the waterline can be guaranteed to be at least 4 meters, so that the suction of surface organisms, surface debris and seabed mud can be well avoided to cause damage to the pump body and the pipeline system, ensuring that the water quality of the supplied seawater can meet the use standards and ensure the safety of the pump body and the pipeline system. At the same time, it also avoids the risk of the water inlet of the pump body being exposed above the water surface due to wind and waves at sea, ensuring the continuity of water supply to the pump body and the pipeline system.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the number of the seawater pumps 13 can be two, and the two seawater pumps 13 serve as backup for each other. In this way, when one of the seawater pumps 13 fails, the other seawater pump 13 can be activated to ensure continuous water supply to the platform. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of the seawater pumps 13 may not be limited to one or two, and the number of seawater pumps 13 may be determined according to the specific situation.

[0051] Accordingly, the number of the seawater pipeline 14 can be one or more. The seawater pumped by the multiple seawater pumps 13 can be collected into one seawater pipeline 14, and then the seawater pipeline 14 supplies each water module of the platform. Alternatively, the multiple seawater pumps 13 can also be configured with multiple seawater pipelines 14 in a one-to-one correspondence, and the multiple seawater pipelines 14 lead to each water module of the platform.

[0052] In the present application, the seawater pipeline 14 leads to each platform water module on the main deck 12, which is used to supply water to each water module. For example, a cooling water module 15, a seawater desalination module 16 and a fire water module 17 may be provided on the main deck 12. The seawater pipeline 14 can be connected to the cooling water module 15, the seawater desalination module 16 and the fire water module 17 respectively to supply water to the cooling water module 15, the seawater desalination module 16 and the fire water module 17.

[0053] For example, Figure 1 As shown, the seawater pipeline 14 may be provided with a number of valves and devices, including but not limited to a sampling valve 40, a stop valve 41, a filter 42, a check valve 43, a pressure gauge 44, and a pressure sensor 45. Various valves and devices are used to ensure the reliable operation of the seawater pipeline 14 and the sustainability of water use on the platform, and this application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the seawater pipeline 14 also leads to the ballast system, so that water can be supplied to the ballast system as needed through the seawater pump 13 and the seawater pipeline 14. Figures 1 to 4 , the specific embodiments of the ballast system of the present application are described in detail.

[0055] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in an embodiment of the present application, the ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform includes a ballast water main 20 and a plurality of ballast tanks 21 arranged in the lower buoy 10 of the platform, as well as ballast water branches 23 and jet pumps 24 arranged in each column 11 of the platform.

[0056] like Figure 2 As shown, a plurality of ballast tanks 21 are provided in the lower buoy 10. Ballast water is injected into each ballast tank 21 or discharged from each ballast tank 21, thereby ballast adjustment of the floating hydrogen production platform is performed. The ballast water is seawater, which is pumped into the seawater pipeline 14 through the seawater pump 13, and then led out to each ballast tank 21 under each column 11 through the ballast water main pipe 20.

[0057] Specifically, a plurality of ballast tanks 21 may be evenly arranged corresponding to each column 11. The platform may be provided with a plurality of columns 11, and a plurality of ballast tanks 21 may be provided in the lower floating body 10 below each column 11. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the platform is provided with four columns 11, and three ballast tanks 21 may be provided in the lower floating body 10 below each column 11, that is, the platform is provided with a total of twelve ballast tanks 21. The three ballast tanks 21 below each column 11 are arranged symmetrically in pairs about the center line of the lower floating body 10.

[0058] The ballast water main pipe 20 is arranged on the main deck 12 of the platform, and is used to connect the seawater pipeline 14 and the ballast water branch pipes 23 in each column 11. The ballast water main pipe 20 is provided with a first valve 30, and the first valve 30 is used to control the on-off of the ballast water main pipe 20. Therefore, when the platform needs to be loaded, the first valve 30 is opened, so that the seawater in the seawater pipeline 14 can enter the ballast water main pipe 20, and enter the ballast water branch pipes 23 in each column 11 through the ballast water main pipe 20.

[0059] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a ballast water branch pipe 23 is provided in each column 11. One end of the ballast water branch pipe 23 is connected to the ballast water main pipe 20, and the other end of the ballast water branch pipe 23 is connected to each ballast tank 21 below the column 11. For example, each ballast tank 21 is provided with a communication port 22, and the other end of the ballast water branch pipe 23 is connected to the communication port 22 of each ballast tank 21.

[0060] Among them, the ballast water branch pipe 23 can be arranged in the column 11 along the axial direction of the column 11. Since the ballast water main pipe 20 is located on the main deck 12 at the top of the column 11, each ballast tank 21 is located in the lower buoy 10 at the bottom of the column 11. Therefore, when the seawater in the ballast water main pipe 20 is injected into each ballast tank 21 through the ballast water branch pipe 23, the seawater flows downward by gravity, realizing the gravity water injection of the ballast system, which is conducive to reducing the pressure of the seawater pump 13 and improving the operation stability of the ballast system.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the ballast water branch pipe 23 may be provided with a second valve 31, and the second valve 31 is used to control the opening and closing of the ballast water branch pipe 23. For example, if the platform is provided with four columns 11, the ballast system may be provided with four ballast water branch pipes 23, and each ballast water branch pipe 23 is provided with a second valve 31. When ballast water needs to be injected into the ballast tank 21, the first valve 30 and each second valve 31 are opened, so that the seawater in the ballast water main pipe 20 can enter the ballast water branch pipe 23 in each column 11, and enter each ballast tank 21 below the column 11 through the ballast water branch pipe 23.

[0062] Further, see Figure 4 A third valve 32 is provided on the pipeline connecting the ballast water branch pipe 23 and the connecting port 22 of each ballast tank 21. When the third valve 32 is opened, the ballast water branch pipe 23 injects seawater into the ballast tank 21. Therefore, when it is necessary to inject ballast water into the ballast tank 21, the first valve 30, the second valve 31 and the third valves 32 are opened, so that the seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23 in each column 11 can enter each ballast tank 21 under the column 11 as needed, thereby improving the load adjustment accuracy of the ballast system.

[0063] like Figure 4As shown, a jet pump 24 is provided in each column 11. The jet pump 24 has a fluid inlet, a suction port and an outlet. The fluid inlet of the jet pump 24 is connected to the ballast water branch pipe 23 in the corresponding column 11. The suction port of the jet pump 24 is connected to the connecting port 22 of each ballast tank 21 under the corresponding column 11. The outlet of the jet pump 24 is used to connect to the outside of the ship. A fourth valve 33 is provided at the fluid inlet of the jet pump 24. When the fourth valve 33 is opened, the ballast water branch pipe 23 injects seawater into the fluid inlet, so that the jet pump 24 can use the seawater pumped in by the seawater pump 13 as a driving force to discharge the seawater in each ballast tank 21.

[0064] In this embodiment, when the ballast seawater in the ballast tank 21 needs to be discharged, the third valves 32 are closed, and the first valve 30, the second valve 31 and the fourth valve 33 are opened, so that the ballast water branch pipe 23 can inject seawater into the fluid inlet of the jet pump 24. The jet pump 24 can use the seawater supplied by the seawater pump 13 as a driving force to suck the seawater in each ballast tank 21 and discharge it to the side of the ship. Since the jet pump 24 is powered by fluid and does not need to be driven by a motor, there is no need to install electrical equipment in the pump cabin, nor is there a need for an auxiliary system. Therefore, the system configuration in the pump cabin can be simplified, the cost of the platform can be reduced, and the economic practicality of the platform can be improved.

[0065] In the embodiment of the present application, the seawater pumped in by the seawater pump 13 enters the ballast water main pipe 20 located on the main deck 12 through the seawater pipeline 14, and the jet pump 24 is arranged in the column 11. Therefore, a certain height difference can be formed between the ballast water main pipe 20 and the jet pump 24, thereby increasing the seawater pressure in each ballast water branch pipe 23, thereby providing sufficient driving force for the jet pump 24, so that the jet pump 24 can discharge the seawater in the ballast tank 21 more efficiently.

[0066] In one embodiment, the jet pump 24 may be disposed in a pump cabin at the bottom of each column 11 of the platform. Figure 2 As shown, three ballast tanks 21 may be provided in the lower floating body 10 below each column 11. That is, three ballast tanks 21 are correspondingly provided below the pump cabin at the bottom of each column 11. Therefore, the jet pump 24 in the pump cabin of each column 11 can regulate the ballast water of the corresponding three ballast tanks 21.

[0067] Among them, among the three ballast tanks 21 under each column 11, one ballast tank 21 can be located inside the bottom end of the column 11, and the other two ballast tanks 21 can be located in the lower floating body 10 respectively, ensuring that the three ballast tanks 21 are at the same height, which is more conducive to the rapid adjustment of the stability of the entire platform.

[0068] In this embodiment, the ballast tank 21 only needs to have one communication port 22, which can be used as both an inlet for ballast water to enter the ballast tank 21 and an outlet for ballast water to be discharged from the ballast tank 21. This can reduce the number of openings in the ballast tank 21, simplify the piping layout, and improve the safety of the ballast system.

[0069] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the first valve 30, the second valve 31, the third valve 32 and the fourth valve 33 are all remote control valves that can be remotely controlled to open and close, such as hydraulic remote control valves, electric remote control valves, etc. Therefore, the first valve 30, the second valve 31, the third valve 32 and the fourth valve 33 can all be remotely controlled to open and close without manual operation, thereby improving the automation of the ballast system. Of course, in other embodiments, each valve can also be manually operated as needed.

[0070] like Figure 4 As shown, preferably, a sixth valve 35 is provided on the pipeline connecting the suction port of the jet pump 24 and the connecting port 22 of each ballast tank 21. Among them, each sixth valve 35 adopts a remote control valve that can be remotely controlled to open and close. When it is necessary to discharge the ballast seawater in a ballast tank 21, close each third valve 32, open the fourth valve 33 and the sixth valve 35 on the pipeline connecting the connecting port 22 of the ballast tank 21 and the suction port of the jet pump 24, and the seawater in the ballast tank 21 can be sucked and discharged to the side of the ship. Therefore, by providing the sixth valve 35 on the pipeline connecting the suction port of the jet pump 24 and the connecting port 22 of each ballast tank 21, each ballast tank 21 can discharge ballast water to the outside as needed, thereby improving the load adjustment accuracy of the ballast system.

[0071] like Figure 4 As shown, preferably, a seventh valve 36 is provided at the outlet of the jet pump 24. The seventh valve 36 can be a remote control valve that can be remotely controlled to open and close. When the ballast seawater in the ballast tank 21 needs to be discharged, the third valves 32 are closed, and the fourth valve 33, the fifth valve 35 and the seventh valve 36 are opened. Then, the jet pump 24 can use the seawater supplied by the seawater pump 13 as a driving force to suck the seawater in each ballast tank 21 and discharge it to the side of the ship. By providing the seventh valve 36 at the outlet of the jet pump 24, the reliable operation of the jet pump 24 can be further guaranteed.

[0072] See also Figures 2 to 4In one embodiment of the present application, the ballast system further includes a plurality of bypass pipes 25, each of which is disposed in each column 11. The first end of the bypass pipe 25 is connected to the ballast water branch pipe 23, and the second end is used to be connected to the side of the ship. By providing the bypass pipe 25, the excess ballast water in the ballast water branch pipe 23 in each column 11 can be discharged to the side of the ship, so as to avoid the excess water from exerting a large pressure on the ballast water branch pipe 23, each ballast tank 21 and valve components, thereby facilitating the reliable and stable operation of the ballast system and extending the service life of the ballast system.

[0073] Furthermore, if Figure 4 As shown, the bypass pipeline 25 is provided with a fifth valve 34, which is used to control the on and off of the bypass pipeline 25. The fifth valve 34 can be a remote control valve that can be remotely controlled to open and close. When the water filling of each ballast tank 21 is completed, the first valve 30, the second valve 31, the third valve 32 and the fourth valve 33 can be closed, and the fifth valve 34 can be opened to discharge the excess ballast water in the ballast water branch pipe 23 in each column 11 to the side of the ship, thereby reducing the pressure on the pipeline and valve components.

[0074] See also Figure 4 In one embodiment, each column 11 is provided with a sea port 26. The outlet of the jet pump 24 is connected to the sea port 26, and the second end of the bypass pipe 25 is connected to the sea port 26. In this embodiment, the outlet of the jet pump 24 and the second end of the bypass pipe 25 are both connected to the sea port 26, so only one sea port 26 is required to be provided on the column 11, and seawater can be discharged overboard through the jet pump 24 or the bypass pipe 25, thereby reducing the number of sea ports 26 of the ballast system and improving the safety of the ballast system.

[0075] Preferably, a sea valve 37 may be provided at the sea port 26. The sea valve 37 may be a remote control valve capable of remotely controlling the opening and closing. The sea valve 37 can isolate the jet pump 24 and the bypass pipeline 25 from the outside world. Therefore, when the ballast system is in a non-draining state, closing the sea valve 37 can prevent seawater from flowing back, protect the jet pump 24 and the bypass pipeline 25 from being corroded by seawater, thereby facilitating the reliable and stable operation of the ballast system and extending the service life of the ballast system.

[0076] It can be understood that in some embodiments, a manual stop valve may be further provided between the jet pump 24 and the bypass pipeline 25 and the sea valve 37. The manual stop valve can close the sea port 26 by manual operation when the sea valve 37 fails, thereby ensuring the reliability of isolating the jet pump 24 and the bypass pipeline 25 from the outside world in the non-draining state of the system.

[0077] See also Figure 1In one embodiment, a first drain valve 38 is provided on the ballast water main pipe 20, and the first drain valve 38 can drain the remaining water in the ballast water main pipe 20 when it is opened. The first drain valve 38 can be set at the lowest point of the ballast water main pipe 20. The first drain valve 38 can be a remote control valve that can be remotely controlled to open and close. By setting the first drain valve 38, when the platform does not need to adjust the load or the load adjustment is completed, the first drain valve 38 can be opened to drain the remaining water in the ballast water main pipe 20, reduce the pressure on the ballast water main pipe 20 and the valve components thereon, and extend the service life of the ballast water main pipe 20 and the valve components thereon.

[0078] See also Figure 1 In one embodiment, the portion of the seawater pipeline 14 located on the main deck 12 is provided with a second drain valve 39, and the second drain valve 39 can drain the remaining water in the seawater pipeline 14 when it is opened. The second drain valve 39 can be set at the lowest point of the portion of the seawater pipeline 14 located on the main deck 12. The second drain valve 39 can be a remote control valve that can be remotely controlled to open and close. By setting the second drain valve 39, when the platform does not need water, the second drain valve 39 can be opened to drain the remaining water in the seawater pipeline 14, thereby reducing the pressure on the seawater pipeline 14 and the valve components thereon, and extending the service life of the seawater pipeline 14 and the valve components thereon.

[0079] See also Figure 4 In one embodiment of the present application, the ballast system further includes a plurality of vent pipes 27. Each ballast tank 21 is provided with a vent port, one end of the vent pipe 27 is connected to the vent port, and the other end extends upward along the column 11 to above the main deck 12. By providing the vent pipe 27, each ballast tank 21 can be connected to the outside air, the air pressure inside the ballast tank 21 and the outside is balanced, and the water intake and drainage of each ballast tank 21 are ensured to proceed smoothly.

[0080] It should be noted that, in one embodiment of the present application, each valve in the ballast system, such as the first valve 30, the second valve 31, the third valve 32, the fourth valve 33, the fifth valve 34, the sixth valve 35, the seventh valve 36, the sea valve 37, etc., can adopt a remote control valve that can be remotely controlled to open and close. Therefore, in actual operation, the operator can complete the intelligent operation of the ballast system in the control station, and the degree of automation is high.

[0081] Moreover, compared with the conventional ballast pump system, all valves of the ballast system of the present application are located outside the liquid tank. That is, all valves of the ballast system of the present application are arranged on the pipelines in the empty tanks of the main deck 12 and the column 11, which is convenient for personnel to enter and exit and operate and maintain.

[0082] See also Figures 1 to 4, take the platform with four columns 11, each column 11 is provided with a ballast water branch pipe 23 and a jet pump 24 as an example. For the convenience of description, the four ballast water branch pipes 23 in the four columns 11 are respectively referred to as ballast water branch pipe 23A, ballast water branch pipe 23B, ballast water branch pipe 23C and ballast water branch pipe 23D. The lower floating body 10 under each column 11 is provided with three ballast tanks 21, which can be ballast tank 21a, ballast tank 21b, and ballast tank 21c.

[0083] Specifically, the loading and unloading process of the ballast tank 21a, the ballast tank 21b, and the ballast tank 21c corresponding to the ballast water branch pipe 23A is used to specifically illustrate the loading and unloading process of the ballast system of the present application:

[0084] During ballasting, the first valve 30 is opened to introduce the seawater in the seawater pipeline 14 into the ballast water main pipe 20, and then the second valve 31 on the ballast water branch pipe 23A is opened to allow the seawater in the ballast water main pipe 20 to enter the ballast water branch pipe 23A. Then the third valve 32 on the pipeline from the ballast water branch pipe 23A to the ballast tank 21a is opened to allow the seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23A to be injected into the ballast tank 21a. After the seawater injection operation is completed, the third valve 32 is closed. The third valve 32 on the pipeline from the ballast water branch pipe 23A to the ballast tank 21b is opened to allow the seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23A to be injected into the ballast tank 21b. After the seawater injection operation is completed, the third valve 32 is closed. The third valve 32 on the pipeline from the ballast water branch pipe 23A to the ballast tank 21c is opened to allow the seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23A to be injected into the ballast tank 21c. After the seawater injection operation is completed, the third valve 32 is closed. Then close the first valve 30 and the second valve 31 on the ballast water branch pipe 23A, open the first drain valve 38, and discharge the excess seawater in the ballast water main pipe 20 to the designated position of the main deck 12. Open the sea valve 37 and the fifth valve 34, and discharge the excess seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23A overboard through the bypass line 25. After the discharge is completed, close the sea valve 37 and the fifth valve 34, and the ballasting operation is completed.

[0085] When unloading, open the first valve 30 to introduce the seawater in the seawater pipeline 14 into the ballast water main pipe 20, and then open the second valve 31 on the ballast water branch pipe 23A to allow the seawater in the ballast water main pipe 20 to enter the ballast water branch pipe 23A. Then open the fourth valve 33, the seventh valve 36 and the sea valve 37 to allow the seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23A to enter the jet pump 24, acting as a power fluid to drive the jet pump 24 to form a vacuum. Open the sixth valve 35 on the pipeline connecting the ballast tank 21a with the suction port of the jet pump 24, suck the ballast water in the ballast tank 21a into the jet pump 24, and discharge it over the ship's side together with the seawater. After unloading is completed, close the sixth valve 35. Open the sixth valve 35 on the pipeline connecting the ballast tank 21b with the suction port of the jet pump 24, suck the ballast water in the ballast tank 21b into the jet pump 24, and discharge it over the ship's side together with the seawater. After unloading is completed, close the sixth valve 35. Open the sixth valve 35 on the pipeline connecting the ballast tank 21c and the suction port of the jet pump 24, suck the ballast water in the ballast tank 21c into the jet pump 24, and discharge it overboard together with the seawater. After the unloading is completed, close the sixth valve 35. Then close the first valve 30 and the second valve 31 on the ballast water branch pipe 23A, open the first drain valve 38, and discharge the excess seawater in the ballast water main pipe 20 to the designated position of the main deck 12. Maintain the open state of the fourth valve 33, the seventh valve 36 and the sea valve 37, so that the excess seawater in the ballast water branch pipe 23A can be discharged overboard through the jet pump 24. After the unloading is completed, close the fourth valve 33, the seventh valve 36 and the sea valve 37, and the unloading operation is completed.

[0086] The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform of the embodiment of the present invention include a ballast water main pipe 20 and a plurality of ballast tanks 21, as well as ballast water branches 23 and jet pumps 24 arranged in each column 11 of the platform. When water is injected into the ballast tank 21, seawater is injected into the ballast tank 21 through a pipeline by a seawater pump 13 outside the platform. When the seawater in the ballast tank 21 needs to be discharged, the seawater supplied by the seawater pump 13 is used to provide power to the jet pump 24 in the pump room through a pipeline, and the seawater in the ballast tank 21 is discharged outside the platform by the jet pump 24. Since the jet pump 24 is powered by fluid, it does not need to be driven by a motor, so there is no need to install electrical equipment in the pump room, nor is it necessary to configure the pump room with corresponding mechanical ventilation, fire protection system, communication and detection alarm system, lighting and other auxiliary systems in accordance with the specifications. Therefore, the system configuration in the pump room can be simplified, solving the problem of insufficient space and difficulty in arranging the lower floating body 10; it can also reduce the construction cost and improve the economic efficiency of the platform; at the same time, it also reduces the frequency of platform staff entering the lower floating body 10 for daily inspections, improves safety and is more conducive to the daily management of the platform in the later stage. In addition, the reduction of water pumps and other auxiliary system settings in the pump room is also very beneficial to the overall weight control of the platform.

[0087] In the ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform of the embodiment of the present invention, the seawater pump 13 with a motor is fixedly installed on the outside of the platform column 11 and is located in the seawater outside the hull. This makes the use of the seawater pump 13 more reliable, and it does not need to be equipped with a lifting winch, the cost is lower, and the seawater pump 13 does not occupy the space of the lower buoy 10 and the column 11. In addition, the seawater pumped by the seawater pump 13 can be used for multiple water modules such as ballast water, cooling water, fire water, and seawater desalination system, thereby realizing multiple uses of one pump, improving the utilization rate of the seawater pump 13, and improving the economic and practicality of the platform.

[0088] The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform of the embodiment of the present invention utilize the seawater pump 13 and seawater pipeline 14 configured on the platform, and set up a ballast water main pipe 20, each ballast water branch pipe 23 and each jet pump 24 and each valve to realize the load adjustment of the platform. Compared with the traditional ballast pump and seabed gate system, the seawater pump 13 also serves as a water intake pump for seawater cooling, fire fighting, seawater desalination and other systems. One pump has multiple uses and reduces the number of water pumps in the pump cabin, solving the problem of insufficient space in the lower buoy 10 of the floating hydrogen production platform and too many system settings causing layout difficulties. The use of a jet pump 24 in the pump cabin and the absence of electrical equipment can not only simplify the system configuration in the pump cabin, but also make the pump cabin no longer affected by the danger zone, that is, the pump cabin can be located in the danger zone, and there is no need to use explosion-proof equipment, which is conducive to reducing the construction cost of the platform.

[0089] In the ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform of the embodiment of the present invention, each ballast tank 21 only needs to have one communication port 22, and the communication port 22 can be used as both a water inlet for ballast water to enter the ballast tank 21 and a water outlet for ballast water to be discharged from the ballast tank 21. Thus, the number of openings in the ballast tank 21 can be reduced, the pipeline layout can be simplified, and the safety of the ballast system can be improved.

[0090] The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform according to the embodiment of the present invention can discharge the excess ballast water in the ballast water branch pipe 23 in each column 11 to the side of the ship by setting the bypass pipeline 25, so as to avoid the excess water from exerting a large pressure on the ballast water branch pipe 23, each ballast tank 21 and the valve components, thereby facilitating the reliable and stable operation of the ballast system and extending the service life of the ballast system.

[0091] In the ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform and the floating hydrogen production platform according to the embodiment of the present invention, the outlet of the jet pump 24 and the second end of the bypass pipe 25 are both connected to the sea outlet 26. Therefore, only one sea outlet 26 needs to be opened on the column 11, and the seawater can be discharged overboard through the jet pump 24 or the bypass pipe 25, thereby reducing the number of sea outlets 26 of the ballast system and improving the safety of the ballast system.

[0092] The above embodiments are merely exemplary descriptions of the structures. The structures in the embodiments are not fixed combination structures. In the absence of structural conflicts, the structures in multiple embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0093] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several typical embodiments, it should be understood that the terms used are illustrative and exemplary, rather than restrictive. Since the present invention can be embodied in a variety of forms without departing from the spirit or essence of the invention, it should be understood that the above embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted broadly within the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims, so all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the claims or their equivalents should be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A ballast system for a floating hydrogen production platform, the platform comprising a seawater pump and a seawater pipeline, the seawater pump is used to pump seawater into the seawater pipeline; characterized in that: The ballast system includes a ballast water main pipe and a plurality of ballast tanks arranged in the lower buoy of the platform, and ballast water branch pipes and jet pumps arranged in each column of the platform; The ballast water main pipe is arranged on the main deck of the platform, one end of the ballast water main pipe is connected to the seawater pipeline, and the other end is connected to the ballast water branch pipe. The ballast water main pipe is provided with a first valve, and the first valve is used to control the on and off of the ballast water main pipe; Each of the ballast tanks is provided with a connecting port, one end of the ballast water branch pipe is connected to the ballast water main pipe, and the other end is connected to the connecting port of each of the ballast tanks, and a second valve is provided on the ballast water branch pipe, and the second valve is used to control the on and off of the ballast water branch pipe; A third valve is provided on the pipeline connecting the ballast water branch pipe and the connecting port of each ballast tank. When the third valve is opened, the ballast water branch pipe injects seawater into the ballast tank. The jet pump has a fluid inlet, a suction port and an outlet. The fluid inlet is connected to the ballast water branch pipe, the suction port is connected to the connecting port of each ballast tank, and the outlet is used to connect to the outside of the ship's side. A fourth valve is provided at the fluid inlet of the jet pump. When the fourth valve is opened, the ballast water branch pipe injects seawater into the fluid inlet, so that the jet pump can use the seawater pumped in by the seawater pump as a driving force to discharge the seawater in each ballast tank.

2. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a plurality of bypass pipelines, each of which is disposed in each of the columns, a first end of the bypass pipeline is connected to the ballast water branch pipe, and a second end of the bypass pipeline is used to connect to the outside of the ship; The bypass pipeline is provided with a fifth valve, and the fifth valve is used to control the on-off of the bypass pipeline.

3. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the columns is provided with a sea opening, and a sea valve is provided at the sea opening; The outlet of the jet pump is communicated with the sea port, and the second end of the bypass pipeline is communicated with the sea port.

4. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sixth valve is provided on the pipeline connecting the suction port of the jet pump and the connecting port of each ballast tank.

5. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: A seventh valve is provided at the outlet of the jet pump.

6. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The jet pump is arranged in a pump cabin at the bottom of each column of the platform.

7. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included are a plurality of vent tubes; Each of the ballast tanks is provided with a vent, one end of the vent pipe is connected to the vent, and the other end extends upward along the column to above the main deck.

8. The ballast system of the floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ballast water main pipe is provided with a first drain valve, which can drain the remaining water in the ballast water main pipe when the first drain valve is opened.

9. A floating hydrogen production platform, characterized in that: A ballast system comprising a lower buoy, a column, a main deck, a seawater pump and a seawater pipeline, and a floating hydrogen production platform as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8; The column support is arranged on the lower floating body, the main deck support is arranged on the top of the column, a cooling water module, a seawater desalination module and a fire-fighting water module are arranged on the main deck, and the seawater pipeline is connected to the cooling water module, the seawater desalination module and the fire-fighting water module.

10. The floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 9, characterized in that: The seawater pump is fixedly mounted on the outside of the column and is located more than 4 meters below the waterline; and / or There are two seawater pumps, and the two seawater pumps serve as backup for each other.

11. The floating hydrogen production platform according to claim 9, characterized in that: The seawater pipeline is arranged on the outside of the column and on the main deck; The portion of the seawater pipeline located on the main deck is provided with a second drain valve, and the remaining water in the seawater pipeline can be drained when the second drain valve is opened.

Images