ASSEMBLY OF VIV Suppression Plates SERIES

Abstract

The present invention relates to Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) suppression plate arrays, and in particular to VIV suppression plate arrays installed in subsea pipelines. The present invention provides a VIV suppression plate array assembly (9, 11), comprising a fin support shell (23, 25) configured to be disposed on the outer surface of a portion of the pipeline, with at least one fin of the fin array (15) having a fin tip (35) and a fin base (37). The fin support shell of the series of plates (23, 25) includes an opening (29) configured for the insertion of the fin (15) therein, and the fin (15) is provided at the base of the fin with an anchor (39), which anchor is configured for engagement of the fin support shell (23, 25) on the duct side of the opening.Further, the opening is a hole. In addition, the hole is sized to allow the fin (15) to be inserted into the hole from the side of the hole that is the conduit, with the tip of the fin (35) leading until the base of the fin (37) engages the shell.