Bi-metallic Pipe Spooling with Internal Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reeled lay method for marine pipelines is not commercially viable for bi-metallic pipes due to bending and wrinkling issues, and existing solutions require frequent overpressuring and pressure-relieving steps when joining pipeline sections.
Innovation Solution
A method of spooling bi-metallic pipes onto a reel by maintaining fluid pressure within the pipe sections during joining, allowing for simplified and faster spooling by using plugs to lock in pressurized fluids and minimize bending moments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the reeled laying method is used for bi-metallic pipes, then the pipeline laying speed is improved, but the pipe sections wrinkle and bend due to bending moments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-pressurizing the pipe sections with fluid before spooling onto the reel. This internal pressure creates outward forces that counteract the bending moments and wrinkling forces during the reeling process, allowing the pipe to maintain its structural integrity while being spooled at high speed.
2Reliability
If frequent overpressuring and pressure-relieving steps are used to prevent deformation, then the pipe section integrity is improved, but the spooling process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining fluid pressure within the pipe sections throughout the entire spooling and joining process. This eliminates the need for repeated cycles of pressurizing and depressurizing, as the continuous pressure support prevents deformation from the outset while simplifying the overall process flow.
3Productivity
If bi-metallic pipes are spooled onto a reel, then the reeled laying efficiency is improved, but the liner wrinkles and bends under bending loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pressurizing the pipe sections before spooling, creating internal forces that counteract the external bending loads during reeling. This prevents the liner from wrinkling or bending while maintaining the efficiency benefits of the reeled laying method.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the successful spooling of bi-metallic pipes onto a reel while maintaining internal pressure, reducing wrinkling and bending, and allows for efficient reeled lay method deployment by simplifying the spooling process.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining an internal preferably hydrostatic pressure in at least first and second pipe sections
Implementation Method 2
maintaining an internal preferably hydrostatic pressure in at least first and second pipe sections
Data Source
AI summary
A method of spooling a marine pipeline (90) including a plurality of bi-metallic pipe sections (10) (66) onto a reel (60) including at least the steps of: (a) filling a first pipe section with a fluid (12); (b) spooling the first pipe section onto the reel; (c) filling a second pipe section with a fluid (78); (d) joining the first pipe section with the second pipe section wherein at least one of the first and second pipe sections maintains the fluid (12,78) therein; and (e) spooling the second pipe section onto the reel.