Pile foundation and underwater production system

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model relates to the technical field of underwater construction, in particular to a pile foundation and an underwater production system, the pile foundation comprises two or more than two suction piles, connecting pieces, two or more than two branch pipes, a collecting manifold and two or more than two valves, and the suction piles are connected through the connecting pieces; one end of one branch pipe is connected to the internal space of one suction pile; the converging manifold is connected with the other ends of all the branch pipes, the converging manifold is provided with a first connecting port, and the first connecting port is used for being connected with a suction pump; one valve is arranged on one branch pipe, and one valve is used for controlling the closing and opening of one branch pipe and the flow of one branch pipe; when the pile foundation is installed to sink or withdrawn to be upwards pulled, the inner space of each suction pile is finally connected to the suction pump through the branch pipe, the valve and the confluence manifold. By means of the mode, the levelness of the pile foundation can be better adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiment of the utility model relates to the technical field of underwater construction, and in particular to a pile foundation and an underwater production system. Background Art

[0002] Suction pile foundation is an important underwater construction equipment. It is mainly installed by inserting suction piles into the bottom soil to form a stable structure similar to the foundation, and then serves as the anchor foundation of the mooring system or the support foundation of the underwater production system. It plays a huge role in underwater projects in oceans, lakes, rivers and rivers (such as marine oil and gas, offshore wind power, underwater aquaculture, underwater mining, marine scientific research, marine salvage, marine bridges, and other underwater pile foundations, etc.). During use, the existing suction pile foundation mainly uses a suction pump to suck or discharge the suction pile, so that the medium is discharged or discharged into the suction pump, so that a pressure difference is formed inside and outside the suction pile, and under the action of the pressure difference, the suction pile sinks or floats.

[0003] However, in the process of realizing the utility model, the inventor found that: in order to pursue higher stability, the suction pile foundation currently on the market is generally designed with multiple suction piles, and each suction pile is connected to a suction pump. During use, all suction pumps are mainly controlled to perform suction or discharge work to make all suction piles sink or float, and the sinking rate of the corresponding suction pile is controlled by controlling the displacement of each suction pump connected to the suction pile, thereby adjusting the horizontality of the suction pile foundation to meet the use requirements. However, because the pumping speed of multiple suction pumps is difficult to adjust to a uniform rate, there will be different pressure differences in each suction pile, resulting in difficulty in adjusting the horizontality of the suction pile foundation when multiple suction pumps are operating at the same time. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above problems, the embodiments of the present utility model provide a pile foundation and an underwater production system, which overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems.

[0005] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the utility model, a pile foundation is provided, comprising two or more suction piles, a connecting piece, two or more branch pipes, a confluence manifold and two or more valves, wherein the suction piles are connected via the connecting piece; one end of a branch pipe is connected to the inner space of a suction pile; the confluence manifold is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes, and the confluence manifold is provided with a first connection port, which is used to connect to a suction pump; a valve is provided on a branch pipe, and the valve is used to control the closing and opening of a branch pipe and the flow rate of a branch pipe; wherein, when the pile foundation is installed and sunk or recovered and pulled up, the inner space of each suction pile is finally connected to the suction pump via the branch pipe, the valve and the confluence manifold.

[0006] In some embodiments, one end of a branch pipe is connected to the top of the inner space of a suction pile, and the manifold is provided with a second connection port, and the second connection port is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes.

[0007] In some embodiments, the suction piles are connected into a whole through the connecting piece.

[0008] In some embodiments, a depth mark is provided on the outside of the suction pile, and the depth mark is used to monitor the sinking depth of the suction pile.

[0009] In some embodiments, the pile foundation further includes two or more level marking instruments, one of the level marking instruments is disposed on the top of one of the suction piles, and one of the level marking instruments is used to monitor the horizontal inclination angle of one of the suction piles.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first connection port is provided with a switch structure, and the switch structure is used to open and close the first connection port.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pile foundation further includes two or more sealing rings, one of the sealing rings surrounding a connection between the branch pipe and the manifold.

[0012] In some embodiments, the connecting piece is disposed at one end of each of the suction piles close to the branch pipe.

[0013] In some embodiments, the number of the connecting members is two or more, and two adjacent suction piles are connected by a connecting member.

[0014] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the utility model, there is provided an underwater production system, comprising the above-mentioned pile foundation.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the utility model are as follows: different from the prior art, the embodiments of the utility model provide a pile foundation, comprising two or more suction piles, a connecting piece, two or more branch pipes, a manifold and two or more valves, wherein the suction piles are connected via the connecting piece; one end of a branch pipe is connected to the inner space of a suction pile; the manifold is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes, and the manifold is provided with a first connection port, which is used to connect to a suction pump; a valve is provided on a branch pipe, and the valve is used to control the closing and opening of a branch pipe and the flow rate of a branch pipe; wherein, when the pile foundation is installed and sunk or recovered and pulled up, the inner space of each suction pile is finally connected to the suction pump via the branch pipe, the valve and the manifold. Through the above method, when the pile foundation includes two or more suction piles, during the use of the pile foundation, all the suction piles are sucked or discharged by only one suction pump. By adjusting the valve corresponding to each suction pile, the internal and external pressure difference of each suction pile can be better controlled to be the same, thereby better adjusting the horizontality of the pile foundation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without paying creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a pile foundation of an embodiment of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top view of the pile foundation;

[0019] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a pile foundation of another embodiment of the utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A top view of the pile foundation;

[0021] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of a pile foundation of another embodiment of the utility model;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Top view of the pile foundation.

[0023] The reference numerals in the specific implementation manner are as follows:

[0024] 100. Pile foundation; 1. Suction pile; 2. Pumping port; 3. Branch pipe; 4. First connection port; 5. Valve; 6. Connector; 7. Manifold; 8. Second connection port. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to facilitate the understanding of the utility model, the utility model is described in more detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or there can be one or more centered elements therebetween. When an element is described as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there can be one or more centered elements therebetween. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as those commonly understood by technicians in the technical field of the present invention. The terms used in this specification are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not used to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0027] In order to facilitate readers to understand the inventive concept of this application, the specific structure of the pile foundation is described below:

[0028] Suction pile foundation is an important underwater construction equipment. It is mainly installed by inserting suction piles into the bottom soil to form a stable structure similar to the foundation, and then serves as the anchor foundation of the mooring system or the support foundation of the underwater production system. It plays a huge role in underwater projects in oceans, lakes, rivers and rivers (such as marine oil and gas, offshore wind power, underwater aquaculture, underwater mining, marine scientific research, marine salvage, marine bridges, and other underwater pile foundations, etc.). During use, the existing suction pile foundation mainly uses a suction pump to suck or discharge the suction pile, so that the medium is discharged or discharged into the suction pump, so that a pressure difference is formed inside and outside the suction pile, and under the action of the pressure difference, the suction pile sinks or floats.

[0029] In order to pursue higher stability, the existing suction pile foundation is generally designed with multiple suction piles, and each suction pile is connected to a suction pump. During use, all suction pumps are mainly controlled to perform suction or discharge work to make all suction piles sink or float. The sinking rate of the corresponding suction pile is controlled by controlling the displacement of each suction pump connected to the suction pile, thereby adjusting the horizontality of the suction pile foundation to meet the use requirements. However, because the pumping speed of multiple suction pumps is difficult to adjust to a uniform rate, there will be different pressure differences in each suction pile, resulting in difficulty in adjusting the horizontality of the suction pile foundation when multiple suction pumps are operating at the same time.

[0030] The embodiment of the present application designs a pile foundation and a method for using the pile foundation, wherein the pile foundation includes two or more suction piles, a connecting piece, two or more branch pipes, a manifold and two or more valves, wherein the two or more suction piles are connected to the manifold through two or more branch pipes and the manifold, a valve is provided on each of the branch pipes, and the first connection port of the manifold is connected to a suction pump, and during the use of the pile foundation, the valve is mainly used to control the closing and opening of the branch pipe and the flow rate of the branch pipe, so as to adjust the internal and external pressure differences of each suction pile to be the same, thereby better adjusting the horizontality of the pile foundation.

[0031] See also Figure 1-2The pile foundation 100 includes two or more suction piles 1, a connector 6, two or more branch pipes 3, a manifold 7 and two or more valves 5, any two of the suction piles 1 are connected by a connector 6; one end of a branch pipe 3 is connected to the inner space of a suction pile 1; the manifold 7 is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes 3, and the manifold 7 is provided with a first connection port 4, the first connection port 4 is used to connect to a suction pump (not shown); one valve 5 is provided on one branch pipe 3, one valve 5 is used to control the closing and opening of the branch pipe 3, and to control the flow rate of the branch pipe 3; wherein, when the pile foundation 100 is installed and sunk or recovered and pulled up, the internal space of each suction pile 1 is finally connected to the suction pump through the branch pipe 3, the valve 5 and the manifold 7, and the suction pump is used to suck or discharge the medium into the two or more suction piles 1, so that the internal space of the two or more suction piles 1 forms a pressure difference with the outside, thereby causing the two or more suction piles 1 to sink or float. In this way, during the use of the pile foundation 100, all the suction piles 1 are only sucked or discharged by one suction pump, and by adjusting the valve 5 corresponding to each suction pile 1, the internal and external pressure difference of each suction pile 1 can be better controlled to be the same, thereby better adjusting the horizontality of the pile foundation 100. In addition, compared with the existing pile foundation 100 where multiple suction piles 1 are pumped or discharged by multiple suction pumps, the present application can only require one suction pump for operation, which not only saves costs but also reduces the number of suction pumps required, making it easier to transport. In addition, when the suction pump needs to be installed underwater on the pile foundation 100, the multiple suction pumps of the prior art require multiple underwater robots, divers or auxiliary tools for installation, while the one suction pump of the present application only requires one underwater robot, diver or auxiliary tool for installation, saving costs.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the suction pump has two working states, namely, a suction state and a discharge state, and the working state of the suction pump is the suction state by default. By changing the working direction of the suction pump, the working state of the suction pump can be changed to the discharge state. When the suction pump is connected to the first connecting port 4 of the manifold 7, the working state of the suction pump is the suction state by default. Starting the suction pump can suck the medium (the medium can be gas, liquid, solid or a mixture of at least two of them) inside the two or more suction piles 1 to the outside, so that the pressure of the internal space of the two or more suction piles 1 is less than the external pressure, thereby causing the two or more suction piles 1 to sink; when the working direction of the suction pump is changed and the working state of the suction pump is changed to the discharge state, the suction pump can discharge the external medium into the two or more suction piles 1, so that the pressure of the internal space of the two or more suction piles 1 is greater than the external pressure, thereby causing the two or more suction piles 1 to float.

[0033] For the first connection port 4 of the manifold 7, the first connection port 4 is in principle higher than the mud surface. During the use of the pile foundation 100, the first connection port 4 has three working conditions: a. Open, used for medium to flow into or out of the internal space of the suction pile 1. When all valves 5 are open, the first connection port 4 is in an open state. b. Connected to a suction pump, used to extract or discharge the medium through the suction pump. c. Closed. After the pile foundation 100 has sunk, when all valves 5 are closed, the first connection port 4 is in a closed state.

[0034] In some embodiments, all of the branch pipes 3 and the confluence manifold 7 are located at the top of all of the suction piles 1, and one end of the branch pipe 3 is connected to the water suction port 2 at the top of the internal space of the suction pile 1. This is beneficial to the layout and routing of the branch pipes 3 and the confluence manifold 7, and can also simplify the structure of the pile foundation 100 and reduce the volume of the pile foundation 100; further, the confluence manifold 7 is provided with a second connecting port 8, and the second connecting port 8 is connected to the other end of all of the branch pipes 3; it can be understood that the number of the second connecting ports 8 can be two or more, and the second connecting port 8 is connected to the other end of the branch pipe 3.

[0035] In some embodiments, the suction piles 1 are connected into a whole through the connector 6, so that the multiple suction piles 1 are tightly connected together to form an integral structure, thereby significantly improving the stability of the entire structure and making the structure more solid and durable.

[0036] In some embodiments, a depth mark (not shown) is disposed on the outside of the suction pile 1 , and the depth mark is used to monitor the sinking depth of the suction pile 1 .

[0037] In some embodiments, the pile foundation 100 further includes two or more level marking instruments (not shown), one of which is disposed on the top of the suction pile 1, and one of which is used to monitor the horizontal inclination angle of the suction pile 1. The level detection device may be a bull's eye, a compass, a level (such as a bubble level, an electronic level, a magnetic level, a laser level, etc.), or a gyro theodolite.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first connection port 4 is provided with a switch structure (not shown), and the switch structure is used to open and close the first connection port 4. The switch structure can be a valve, a piston or a cover.

[0039] In some embodiments, the pile foundation 100 further includes two or more sealing rings (not shown), one of the sealing rings surrounding a connection between the branch pipe 3 and the manifold 7 to improve the sealing performance of the connection between the branch pipe 3 and the manifold 7 .

[0040] In some embodiments, the connector 6 is disposed at one end of each suction pile 1 close to the branch pipe 3 to make the connection between each branch pipe 3 and the suction pile 1 more stable. The connector 6 may be a connecting rod, a metal pipe or a cover plate.

[0041] In some embodiments, the number of the connecting members 6 is two or more, and two adjacent suction piles 1 are connected by a connecting member 6 to make the structure of the pile foundation 100 more stable.

[0042] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3-6 The number of the suction piles 1 of the pile foundation 100 is preferably two, three or four. Of course, the number of the suction piles 1 can also be more than four.

[0043] In order to facilitate readers to understand the inventive concept of the utility model, the use process of the pile foundation 100 is described below:

[0044] During the use of the pile foundation 100, the pile foundation 100 is first placed on the water surface and automatically sinks due to its own gravity. Then, the suction pump is connected to the first connection port 4 of the manifold 7, and the medium in the internal space of each suction pile 1 is extracted through the suction pump to form a pressure difference between the outside and the inside of each suction pile 1. Under the action of the pressure difference, the pile foundation 100 continues to sink. During the continuous sinking of the pile foundation 100, the valve 5 is adjusted so that the horizontal inclination angle of each suction pile 1 is within a preset error range. When the sinking depth of the pile foundation 100 reaches the preset depth, the valve 5 is adjusted to adjust the horizontal inclination angle of each suction pile 1. When the horizontal tilt angle of each suction pile 1 is within the preset error range, the installation and sinking of the pile foundation 100 is completed, and the pile foundation 100 can be put into operation. When the pile foundation 100 is put into operation, the working direction of the suction pump is changed to discharge the external medium into the internal space of each suction pile 1, so that a pressure difference is formed between the outside and the inside of each suction pile 1, and under the action of the pressure difference, the pile foundation 100 floats, and the valve 5 is adjusted to make the horizontal tilt angle of each suction pile 1 within the preset error range, so that the pile foundation 100 is recovered and pulled up.

[0045] In an embodiment of the utility model, the pile foundation 100 includes two or more suction piles 1, a connecting piece 6, two or more branch pipes 3, a manifold 7 and two or more valves 5, any two of the suction piles 1 are connected by a connecting piece 6; one end of a branch pipe 3 is connected to the internal space of a suction pile 1; the manifold 7 is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes 3, and the manifold 7 is provided with a first connection port 4, which is used to connect to a suction pump (not shown); a valve 5 is provided on a branch pipe 3, and the valve 5 is used to control the closing and opening of a branch pipe 3, as well as the flow rate of a branch pipe 3; wherein, when the pile foundation 100 is installed and sunk or recovered and pulled up, the internal space of each suction pile 1 is finally connected to the suction pump through the branch pipe 3, the valve 5 and the manifold 7. In this way, during the use of the pile foundation 100, all suction piles 1 are pumped or discharged by only one suction pump. By adjusting the valve 5 corresponding to each suction pile 1, the internal and external pressure difference of each suction pile 1 can be better controlled to be the same, thereby better adjusting the horizontality of the pile foundation 100. In addition, compared with the existing pile foundation 100 in which multiple suction piles 1 are pumped or discharged by multiple suction pumps, the present application can only require one suction pump for operation, which not only saves costs, but also reduces the number of required suction pumps, making it easier to transport. In addition, when the suction pump needs to be installed underwater on the pile foundation 100, the multiple suction pumps of the prior art require multiple underwater robots, divers or auxiliary tools for installation, while the one suction pump of the present application only requires one underwater robot, diver or auxiliary tool for installation, saving costs.

[0046] The utility model further provides an embodiment of an underwater production system, wherein the underwater production system comprises the above-mentioned pile foundation 100. The function and structure of the pile foundation 100 may refer to the above-mentioned embodiment, and will not be described in detail here.

[0047] It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of the utility model are given in the specification and drawings of the utility model, but the utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described in the specification. These embodiments are not used as additional restrictions on the content of the utility model. The purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the utility model more thorough and comprehensive. In addition, the above-mentioned technical features continue to be combined with each other to form various embodiments not listed above, which are all regarded as the scope of the description of the utility model; further, for ordinary technicians in this field, they can be improved or transformed according to the above description, and all these improvements and transformations should belong to the scope of protection of the claims attached to the utility model.

Claims

1. A pile foundation, characterized in that: include: Two or more suction piles; A connecting piece, through which the suction piles are connected; Two or more branch pipes, one end of each branch pipe being connected to the inner space of each suction pile; A manifold is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes, and the manifold is provided with a first connection port, and the first connection port is used to connect to a suction pump; Two or more valves, one of the valves is disposed on one of the branch pipes, and one of the valves is used to control the closing and opening of one of the branch pipes and the flow rate of one of the branch pipes; Wherein, when the pile foundation is installed and sunk or recovered and pulled up, the inner space of each suction pile is finally connected to the suction pump through the branch pipe, valve and manifold.

2. The pile foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of a branch pipe is connected to the top of the inner space of a suction pile, and the manifold is provided with a second connection port, and the second connection port is connected to the other ends of all the branch pipes.

3. The pile foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suction piles are connected into a whole through the connecting piece.

4. The pile foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that: A depth mark is arranged on the outside of the suction pile, and the depth mark is used to monitor the sinking depth of the suction pile.

5. The pile foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pile foundation also includes two or more level marking instruments, one of which is arranged on the top of one of the suction piles, and one of the level marking instruments is used to monitor the horizontal inclination angle of one of the suction piles.

6. The pile foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connection port is provided with a switch structure, and the switch structure is used to open and close the first connection port.

7. The pile foundation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The pile foundation further comprises two or more sealing rings, wherein one of the sealing rings surrounds a connection between the branch pipe and the manifold.

8. The pile foundation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The connecting piece is arranged at one end of each suction pile close to the branch pipe.

9. The pile foundation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The number of the connecting pieces is two or more, and two adjacent suction piles are connected via a connecting piece.

10. A subsea production system, characterized in that: Comprising a pile foundation as described in any one of claims 1-9.

Images