Composite Deformation Absorber for Subsea Pipe Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea pipe systems in the oil and gas industry face significant deformations due to varying forces, stresses, and strains from pressure, temperature, and multiphase flows, leading to material fatigue and potential failure, as conventional steel pipes struggle to absorb axial expansion and contraction, and existing buckle regions induce unpredictable dynamic loads.
Innovation Solution
A pipeline system comprising a metallic pipe section coupled with a deformation absorber made of a composite material with a polyether ether ketone matrix and reinforcing fibers, which sustains greater strain than the metallic section, focusing deformation within the composite section to protect the metallic pipe from excessive stress and fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional steel pipes are used in subsea applications, then the pipe system can be manufactured with standard materials and processes, but the pipe system cannot effectively absorb axial expansion and contraction due to temperature variations, leading to material fatigue and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials consisting of a polyether ether ketone matrix with embedded reinforcing fibres to create a deformation absorber section. This composite construction provides both axial deformation absorption capability and sufficient mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability by enabling the pipe system to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction without material fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a localized deformation absorber section with distinct composite material properties between the metallic pipe sections. This local quality change allows specific regions to absorb axial deformation while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the pipe system, enabling targeted adaptation without compromising overall reliability.
2Reliability
If flow line buckle regions are created by reducing restraining forces through floatation, then axial expansion and contraction can be accommodated, but unpredictable dynamic loads are induced by multiphase flow and intermittent operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the pipe wall in the deformation absorber section by using composite material with different mechanical properties compared to conventional steel. This parameter change enables the section to absorb axial deformation while maintaining sufficient buckling resistance, thereby accommodating deformation without inducing harmful dynamic loads from multiphase flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material construction provides a favorable balance between axial deformation absorption and buckling resistance, eliminating the need for floatation-based buckle regions that induce unpredictable dynamic loads. The reinforcing fibres in the composite material provide sufficient structural support while allowing controlled deformation.
3Reliability
If the composite pipe section is designed to sustain greater strain than the metallic pipe section, then deformation is focused within the composite section protecting the metallic pipe, but the composite material must be specifically constructed with polyether ether ketone matrix and reinforcing fibres
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a composite material construction with polyether ether ketone matrix and embedded reinforcing fibres, which can be manufactured using established composite manufacturing techniques such as filament winding or pultrusion. This approach protects the metallic pipe sections from fatigue by concentrating deformation in the composite section, while the manufacturing complexity is managed through standard composite processing methods.
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
The composite pipe section effectively absorbs and manages deformation, minimizing strain on the metallic pipe, reducing the risk of material fatigue and failure, while maintaining structural integrity under axial, radial, and torsional loads, and accommodating thermal expansion and contraction.
Implementation Method 1
the composite material is constructed to cause the deformation absorber to sustain a greater level of strain than the metallic pipe section when the pipeline is subject to deformation
Implementation Method 2
the composite pipe section is constructed to bend in a lateral direction during deformation of the pipe system caused by an axial load
Implementation Method 3
Variations in temperature, for example, may result in repeated axial expansion and/or contraction of a pipe line
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5~6B
AI summary
A pipe system (410) comprises a metallic pipe section (414) having a wall comprising a metal material, and a deformation absorber coupled to the first pipe section (414) in end-to-end relation. The deformation absorber comprises a composite pipe (416) section having a wall comprising a composite material formed of at least a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix. The composite pipe section (416) is configured to sustain a greater level of strain than the metallic pipe section (414) when the pipe system (410) is subject to deformation by a load event.