Anti-scour structure for submarine cable

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of submarine cables, and discloses an anti-scour structure for a submarine cable, which comprises a mounting body and a sand fixing part. The installation body is provided with a containing cavity matched with the outer wall of the submarine cable in shape and used for being installed on the outer wall of the submarine cable in a sleeving mode. The sand stabilization part is mounted outside the mounting body, the sand stabilization part comprises a supporting rod and a sand stabilization rod, the supporting rod extends in the radial direction of the submarine cable, one end of the sand stabilization rod is connected with the supporting rod, and the radial distance between the sand stabilization rod and the central axis of the submarine cable is gradually increased and then gradually decreased in the direction of the sand stabilization rod facing away from the supporting rod. By means of the structure of the anti-scour structure, the capacity of holding gravel around the submarine cable is enhanced, displacement of the submarine cable caused by water flow disturbance or external force dragging is prevented, a traditional mode of increasing the burial depth or increasing the coverage area of a cement board is not needed, the construction time is shortened, and the construction efficiency is improved. And the uncertainty of submarine cable laying caused by an overlong construction period is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of submarine cables, and in particular to an anti-scouring structure for submarine cables. Background Art

[0002] Submarine cables, as crucial equipment for cross-sea power transmission, play a vital role in ensuring the safety of cross-sea power transmission. In particular, submarine cables are expensive to build and install, and spare submarine cables are rarely installed in cross-sea power transmission. However, if a submarine cable is damaged, locating the fault is difficult, and repairs depend on sea conditions, resulting in long and uncertain repair cycles, which can seriously impact the quality of power transmission. With the rapid development of offshore wind power, the safety and reliability of submarine cables are becoming increasingly crucial to the overall operational efficiency of wind farms.

[0003] Currently, submarine cables used in existing engineering applications lack scour-resistant designs, failing to meet the growing demands of real-world projects. For example, if a submarine cable is washed onto the seabed from locations with turbulent currents, it can be easily dragged or struck by tow cables from passing ships or other structures. This can cause excessive bending, breakage, or other damage to the cable, seriously impacting its safe operation. To address this, submarine cables are primarily buried deeper to prevent exposure to the seabed. Alternatively, in areas with turbulent currents, concrete slabs are used to cover the buried soil to prevent seawater from scouring.

[0004] However, increasing the burial depth or increasing the coverage area of the cement board will greatly increase the construction cost and extend the construction period, causing the submarine cable installation period to exceed the construction window period and increase the uncertainty of installation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides an anti-scour structure for submarine cables to solve the problem that traditional measures of protecting submarine cables by increasing the burial depth or increasing the coverage area of cement slabs will cause the laying construction period of submarine cables to exceed the length of the construction window period, thereby increasing the uncertainty of laying.

[0006] Specifically, the anti-scour structure for submarine cables provided by the present invention includes a mounting body and a sand-fixing part. The mounting body is provided with a accommodating chamber that matches the shape of the outer wall of the submarine cable and is used to be sleeved and installed on the outer wall of the submarine cable; the sand-fixing part is installed outside the mounting body, and the sand-fixing part includes a support rod and a sand-fixing rod. The support rod extends in the radial direction of the submarine cable, and one end of the sand-fixing rod is connected to the support rod. In the direction away from the support rod, the radial distance between the sand-fixing rod and the central axis of the submarine cable shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing.

[0007] Beneficial effects: By directly sleeving the cable through the accommodating chamber that matches the outer wall shape of the submarine cable, support is provided for the submarine cable. Also, by extending the support rod in the radial direction of the cable, an installation base point is provided for the sand-fixing rod. Furthermore, by arranging the sand-fixing rod such that the radial distance from the cable center axis along the extending direction first increases and then decreases, the sand and gravel located on the side of the sand-fixing rod close to the submarine cable can be stably held around the submarine cable, guiding the sand and gravel to accumulate along the surface of the sand-fixing rod, thus achieving the stabilization of the sand and gravel.

[0008] In an alternative embodiment, multiple groups of the sand-fixing parts are provided, and the multiple groups of the sand-fixing parts are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, any one group of the sand-fixing parts includes a plurality of sand-fixing parts arranged along the circumferential direction of the central axis of the submarine cable.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment, in any one of the sand-fixing parts, the sand-fixing rods are arranged in pairs and symmetrically distributed on both sides of the support rod.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the cross-section of the sand-fixing rod is arc-shaped.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the length direction of the sand-fixing rod is parallel to the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the sand-fixing part and the installation body are integrally formed.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the anti-erosion structure for the submarine cable further includes a reinforcement member, which is built into the installation body.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the reinforcement member is a cylindrical structure.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the materials of the installation body and the sand-fixing part are rubber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the specific embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0018] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the anti-erosion structure for the submarine cable provided by the embodiment of the present invention when installed outside the submarine cable;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a side view of the anti-erosion structure for submarine cables provided by the embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals:

[0021] 1. Installation body;

[0022] 2. Sand-fixing part; 21. Support rod; 22. Sand-fixing rod;

[0023] a. Submarine cable. Detailed implementation manners

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0025] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "inside", "outside", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application 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 should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

[0026] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0027] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "installation", "connection", and "coupling" 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 directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

[0028] In addition, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0029] The following combines Figure 1 and Figure 2 , and describes the embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] According to the embodiments of the present invention, an anti-erosion structure for submarine cables is provided, asFigure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in Figure 2 , the anti-scouring structure includes an installation body 1 and a sand-fixing part 2.

[0031] Among them, the installation body 1 is provided with a receiving chamber that matches the outer wall shape of the submarine cable a for sleeving and installing on the outer wall of the submarine cable a; the sand-fixing part 2 is installed outside the installation body 1. The sand-fixing part 2 includes a support rod 21 and a sand-fixing rod 22. The support rod 21 extends along the radial direction of the submarine cable a. One end of the sand-fixing rod 22 is connected to the support rod 21. In the direction away from the support rod 21, the radial distance between the sand-fixing rod 22 and the central axis of the submarine cable a shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing.

[0032] With such a setting, by directly sleeving the cable through the receiving chamber that matches the outer wall shape of the submarine cable a to provide support for the submarine cable a, and by extending the support rod 21 along the radial direction of the cable to provide an installation base point for the sand-fixing rod 22, and then by setting the sand-fixing rod 22 so that the radial distance from the cable central axis along the extension direction increases first and then decreases, the sand and gravel located on the side of the sand-fixing rod 22 close to the submarine cable a can be stably held in the surrounding space of the submarine cable a, guiding the sand and gravel to accumulate along the surface of the sand-fixing rod 22 to achieve stable sand and gravel.

[0033] That is, by using the structure of the anti-scouring itself, the ability to hold the sand and gravel around the submarine cable a is enhanced. Even if there is water flow scouring, the locking of the sand and gravel can be achieved, preventing the submarine cable a from shifting due to water flow disturbance or external dragging, without the need for traditional methods of increasing the burial depth or increasing the coverage area of the cement board, reducing the construction time, and avoiding the uncertainty of the laying of the submarine cable a caused by too long a construction period.

[0034] It should be noted that the number of the sand-fixing parts 2 is not specifically limited.

[0035] As one of the implementation manners, there are multiple groups of the sand-fixing parts 2.

[0036] Preferably, the multiple groups of the sand-fixing parts 2 are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable a.

[0037] With such a setting, by arranging the multiple groups of the sand-fixing parts 2 at intervals along the axial direction of the cable, the sand and gravel can be held at multiple positions (such as the water flow impact point, the terrain change point) on the buried path of the submarine cable a, the impact force of the water flow can be dispersed to multiple positions, reducing the scouring pressure borne by a single position, avoiding the limitations of relying on a single fixed point or large-area coverage in the traditional method, enabling the submarine cable a to obtain multi-point reliable support in its axial direction, and improving the phenomenon that the local area of the submarine cable a shifts due to water flow scouring.

[0038] Furthermore, the number of the sand-fixing parts 2 in each group is not specifically limited.

[0039] As one of the implementation manners, any group of sand fixation parts 2 includes a plurality of sand fixation parts 2 arranged in the circumferential direction of the central axis of the submarine cable a.

[0040] With such an arrangement, by arranging a plurality of sand fixation parts 2 in each group at intervals in the circumferential direction of the submarine cable a, after the submarine cable a is completed with landfill, it can hold sand and gravel in multiple directions in its circumferential direction.

[0041] That is, an annular sand fixation area is formed outside the submarine cable a, further improving the ability of the submarine cable a to hold the surrounding sand and gravel, and improving the phenomenon that the sand and gravel on one side of the cable is lost, and the cable is inclined or flipped due to local scouring or external force dragging.

[0042] At the same time, compared with the traditional method that requires large-area cement covering or deep burial around the cable, the anti-scouring structure of this structure can form multi-point holding in the circumferential direction of the submarine cable a, which can reduce the material consumption and thus reduce the construction cost.

[0043] For example, the number of sand fixation parts 2 in each group is 12 to 18.

[0044] Preferably, as Figure 1 shown, the number of sand fixation parts 2 in each group is 14.

[0045] Furthermore, in any sand fixation part 2, the sand fixation rods 22 are arranged in pairs and are respectively arranged on both sides of the support rod 21.

[0046] With such an arrangement, by arranging the sand fixation rods 22 in each sand fixation part 2 in pairs and respectively on both sides of the support rod 21, the acting forces caused by water flow impact, external force dragging or terrain change are evenly dispersed, and the phenomenon that the cable rotates circumferentially or radially offsets due to uneven local stress is improved.

[0047] For example, 5 to 7 pairs of sand fixation rods 22 are provided at each support rod 21.

[0048] Preferably, as Figure 1 shown, 6 pairs of sand fixation rods 22 are provided at each support rod 21, which are divided into two columns and are respectively arranged on both sides of the support rod 21.

[0049] Furthermore, the two columns of sand fixation rods 22 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the support rod 21 with the support rod 21 as the symmetry center.

[0050] It can be stated that the shape of the sand fixation rod 22 is not specifically limited, and only a holding space formed in a centripetal direction (towards the side of the submarine cable a) is required.

[0051] For example, the cross section of the sand fixation rod 22 is arc-shaped, forming a smooth curved surface.

[0052] Of course, the cross-section of the sand-fixing rod 22 can also be bent.

[0053] Preferably, the cross-section of the sand-fixing rod 22 is arc-shaped.

[0054] With such a setting, by making the cross-section of the sand-fixing rod 22 arc-shaped, a holding cavity that is recessed towards the central axis of the submarine cable a is formed, guiding the sand and gravel to naturally flow into the cavity and accumulate. Under the constraint of the arc-shaped surface, a stable accumulation layer is formed, improving the holding effect on the sand and gravel and alleviating the phenomenon of sand and gravel loss.

[0055] At the same time, through the setting of the arc-shaped structure, the water flow is guided to be diverted along the curved surface, dispersing the kinetic energy of the water flow into the surrounding sand and gravel, reducing stress concentration, preventing local deformation or fracture of the sand-fixing rod 22, and maintaining a relatively good holding ability.

[0056] Furthermore, the cross-section of the sand-fixing rod 22 is preferably an arc-shaped structure with a central angle of 72°, and the range of the angle between the arc edge and the arc tangent is between 15 degrees and 20 degrees.

[0057] Similarly, the sand-fixing rod 22 is selected as an arc-shaped straight rod.

[0058] It can be explained that to improve the holding ability of the sand-fixing rod 22 to the sand and gravel. In one implementation, the length direction of the sand-fixing rod 22 is parallel to the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable a.

[0059] With such a setting, by making the length direction of the sand-fixing rod 22 parallel to the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable a, an axially extending anchoring belt is formed, guiding the sand and gravel to continuously accumulate along the axial direction of the submarine cable a, forming a continuous support layer, significantly increasing the frictional resistance between the submarine cable a and the surrounding sand and gravel, preventing the submarine cable a from axially shifting due to force, and enhancing the ability of the anti-scouring structure to resist scouring.

[0060] It can be explained that the forming method between the sand-fixing part 2 and the installation body 1 is not specifically limited.

[0061] For example, the sand-fixing part 2 and the installation body 1 are of a split structure, and can be connected by welding or detachable connection during installation.

[0062] Preferably, the sand-fixing part 2 and the installation body 1 are integrally formed.

[0063] With such a setting, by integrally forming the sand-fixing part 2 and the installation body 1 using a mold, the relative position, angle and other parameters of the sand-fixing part 2 and the installation body 1 are completely determined by the mold, eliminating the intermediate assembly steps, reducing assembly tolerances, and enhancing the reliability of the anti-scouring structure.

[0064] At the same time, by eliminating the step-by-step processing steps, production efficiency is improved and material waste in the production process, such as scraps cut off during cutting, is reduced.

[0065] In one embodiment, the anti-scour structure for a submarine cable further includes a reinforcement member built into the installation body 1 .

[0066] With such a configuration, by embedding a reinforcement member in the installation body 1 , the installation body 1 is reinforced, thereby improving the ability of the installation body 1 to resist impact.

[0067] It can be explained that there is no specific limitation on the shape of the reinforcement member, which may be cylindrical or semi-cylindrical, as long as it has the ability to protect the submarine cable a placed therein.

[0068] Preferably, the reinforcement is a cylindrical structure.

[0069] In this way, by setting the reinforcement into a cylindrical structure, a cylindrical support frame is formed, which improves the compression and bending resistance. When the seabed fluid impacts or external force drags, the force applied is dispersed, and the phenomenon of deformation or rupture caused by stress concentration is improved, so that the anti-scour structure can be used stably for a long time.

[0070] Furthermore, the reinforcement is a cylindrical structure, forming a pipeline support and providing an installation basis for integrating other functional modules (such as sensors and cable channels).

[0071] Furthermore, the reinforcement is made of corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel, fiberglass or epoxy-coated steel.

[0072] Such an arrangement enables the mounting body 1 to remain stable when subjected to stress, significantly improving the compression, bending and shearing resistance of the mounting body 1 and preventing the anti-scouring function from failing due to bending or twisting.

[0073] In one embodiment, the mounting body 1 and the sand-fixing portion 2 are made of rubber.

[0074] In this way, by setting the material of the installation body 1 and the sand-fixing part 2 to rubber, its high damping characteristics (such as strong impact resistance) can be utilized to effectively absorb the energy of dynamic loads such as water flow impact and dragging, thereby reducing the force transmitted to the submarine cable a wrapped inside it.

[0075] In the preparation of the anti-scour structure provided in the above embodiment, the reinforcement member is placed in a mold, and then the installation body 1 and the sand-fixing part 2 are cast in the mold. After the casting is completed, the installation body 1 and the sand-fixing part 2 are cooled. After cooling, the whole is demolded.

[0076] It should be noted that during the preparation process, the hardness of the anti-erosion structure needs to be detected. When the requirements are not met, adjustments should be made in a timely manner to ensure that the hardness value is maintained within the set range. In addition, the sand fixation ability of the sand fixation component also needs to be detected.

[0077] For the anti-erosion structure provided in the above embodiment, during installation, the submarine cable a and the anti-erosion structure made of rubber material are placed on the laying vessel. At this time, one end of the installation body 1 along its length is provided with an opening, and an accommodation chamber extending along the length direction is provided inside. When laying the submarine cable a, the sleeving work between the installation body 1 and the submarine cable a is carried out synchronously. By adopting the method of laying and sleeving simultaneously, after the sleeving is completed, the other end of the installation body 1 along the length direction is welded.

[0078] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An anti-scouring structure for submarine cables, characterized in that, include: The installation body (1) is provided with a receiving chamber having a shape matching the outer wall of the submarine cable (a) and is used for being sleeved and installed on the outer wall of the submarine cable (a); A sand-fixing portion (2) is installed outside the installation body (1), and the sand-fixing portion (2) includes a support rod (21) and a sand-fixing rod (22). The support rod (21) extends in the radial direction of the submarine cable (a), and one end of the sand-fixing rod (22) is connected to the support rod (21). When the sand-fixing rod (22) is in a direction away from the support rod (21), the radial distance between the sand-fixing rod (22) and the central axis of the submarine cable (a) shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing.

2. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sand-fixing parts (2) are provided in multiple groups, and the multiple groups of sand-fixing parts (2) are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable (a).

3. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to claim 2, characterized in that: Any group of the sand-fixing parts (2) comprises a plurality of sand-fixing parts (2) arranged along the circumferential direction of the central axis of the submarine cable (a).

4. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to claim 3, characterized in that In any of the sand-fixing parts (2), the sand-fixing rods (22) are provided in pairs and are respectively arranged on both sides of the support rod (21).

5. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The cross section of the sand-fixing rod (22) is arc-shaped.

6. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to claim 5, characterized in that: The length direction of the sand-fixing rod (22) is parallel to the axial direction of the central axis of the submarine cable (a).

7. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The sand fixing portion (2) and the mounting body (1) are integrally formed.

8. The anti-erosion structure for submarine cable according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Also includes: A reinforcement member is built into the installation body (1).

9. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to claim 8, characterized in that: The reinforcement member is a cylindrical structure.

10. The anti-scour structure for submarine cables according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The material of the mounting body (1) and the sand-fixing part (2) is rubber.

Images