Composite Pipe Wall Segmentation for Tailored Circumferential Properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Composite pipes used in the oil and gas industry often lack variability in properties along their circumference, which can lead to inconsistent mechanical, thermal, and installation characteristics, making them less efficient for fluid transportation and installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A composite pipe design featuring a matrix with embedded reinforcing fibers, where specific circumferential segments have local variations in construction, such as fiber alignment, pre-stress, or material properties, to create preferential mechanical, thermal, or installation characteristics, allowing for controlled bending, stiffness, and thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If composite pipes have uniform circumferential construction, then manufacturing is simpler and more consistent, but mechanical properties, thermal performance, and installation characteristics lack variability and optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating circumferential segments with different fiber orientations, material compositions, or structural characteristics within the pipe wall. This allows different regions of the pipe to have optimized properties for specific functions (e.g., higher strength in bending zones, thermal insulation in specific areas) while maintaining overall structural integrity through the continuous matrix material.
2Strength
If composite pipes have local variations in construction, then mechanical strength, thermal performance, and installation flexibility are improved, but manufacturing precision and consistency become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pipe wall into distinct circumferential regions, each with tailored construction characteristics. This segmentation allows for controlled variation in fiber alignment, material composition, or layer configuration in specific zones while maintaining manufacturing control through defined segment boundaries and standardized manufacturing processes for each segment type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying key construction parameters (fiber orientation angles, material composition ratios, layer thicknesses) across different circumferential segments. These controlled parameter variations enable optimization of mechanical and thermal properties in specific regions while maintaining overall manufacturing consistency through systematic parameter management.
3Loss of substance
If composite pipes have local variations in construction, then material usage can be optimized, but the complexity of designing and implementing varied construction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes material usage by concentrating higher material density or stronger fiber orientations only in circumferential segments where mechanical strength is critically needed, while using lighter or simpler constructions in regions with lower stress requirements. This localized material optimization reduces overall material consumption while maintaining structural adequacy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pipe (200) comprises a pipe wall (202) formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix. At least one longitudinal portion (204) of the pipe wall (202) comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a variation in a property of the pipe (200).