Bottom Sampler Seabed Pressure Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sediment sampling methods face challenges such as gas leakage, contamination, and equipment limitations when collecting gas-filled sediments from the seabed, particularly due to pressure changes and the need for large-scale drilling rigs, which are not suitable for shallow water environments.
Innovation Solution
A bottom sampler utilizing a cable and winch system to maintain seabed pressure, featuring a sample barrel with a valve mechanism and sediment permeation prevention plate, allowing for safe and efficient collection of gas-filled sediments while preventing gas emission and contamination, and enabling operation in both deep and shallow water environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sediment sampling apparatuses are used to collect gas-filled sediments from the seabed, then sediments can be collected, but gas leaks and sediments expand due to lowered pressure and raised temperature during the collection process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining high pressure and low temperature conditions within the sampling apparatus during the entire collection and transport process. The sealed container preserves the original seabed environmental parameters, preventing gas leakage and sediment expansion that would otherwise occur during conventional sampling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by pre-establishing pressure compensation mechanisms and sealed containment systems before sampling begins. The apparatus is designed with pressure-maintaining features that counteract the natural tendency toward pressure loss and temperature increase during retrieval, preventing harmful effects before they occur.
2Reliability
If pressure corers are used to maintain pressure and prevent gas emission, then gas leakage is prevented, but large-scale drilling rigs are required which are expensive and require many workers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sampling system into modular components: a sealed sampling container, a cable-suspended deployment mechanism, and a winch-based retrieval system. This modular approach eliminates the need for complex large-scale drilling rigs while maintaining pressure integrity through the sealed container design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a cable and winch system as an intermediary mechanism to deploy and retrieve the sampling apparatus without requiring complex drilling equipment. The cable-suspended system allows simple lifting device operation while the sealed container acts as an intermediary barrier that maintains pressure conditions throughout the process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If drilling rigs of drilling ships are used, then deep sea sampling is possible, but they cannot collect sediments near the seabed and are not suitable for shallow water environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a sampling apparatus that functions effectively across all water depths through cable suspension and winch-based deployment. The system can operate in shallow lakes and rivers as well as deep ocean environments, eliminating the limitation of drilling rigs that cannot sample near the seabed in shallow waters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by using a flexible cable suspension system that adapts to varying water depths and seabed conditions. The cable length and deployment mechanism can be adjusted dynamically, allowing the same apparatus to operate effectively from shallow to deep water environments while maintaining the ability to collect sediments near the seabed.
4Quantity of substance
If gas hydrates are collected from high pressure and low temperature environment, then samples can be obtained, but dissociation occurs rapidly during collection causing safety risks and sample contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining the original high pressure and low temperature conditions of the gas hydrate environment throughout the sampling and transport process. The sealed container preserves these critical parameters, preventing the dissociation that would otherwise occur when gas hydrates are exposed to lower pressure and higher temperature conditions during conventional collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-establishing pressure-maintaining and temperature-stabilizing conditions within the sealed container before sampling begins. This preparatory measure cushions against the environmental changes that would trigger dissociation, ensuring sample integrity and safety throughout the collection and transport process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bottom sampler comprising, a cable connecting plate, an outer fixing plate disposed at a lower side of the cable connecting plate, a sample barrel guide extending downwards from the outer fixing plate, and a sample barrel configured to have a sediment permeation prevention plate mounted at an outer peripheral end, and provided with a valve at opposite ends, the valve connected to a guide rod pivotally coupled to a first end of a lever operating arm, wherein the valve is closed depending on the pivoting of the lever operating arm when a seabed sample is introduced into the sample barrel to seal an inner part thereof. Accordingly, seabed samples such as gas-filled sediments can be collected and analyzed without pressure leakage.