Depth Trigger Buoyancy Control for Marine Sensor Streamer Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine survey systems face issues with sensor streamers becoming disconnected or severed, leading to potential loss due to buoyancy changes, especially when filled with alcohol or oil, causing them to sink, and existing retrieval methods are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a retriever system incorporating a depth trigger mechanism that activates a lifting bag system and ballast weight system to compensate for buoyancy changes and selectively deploy a lifting bag or shed ballast weights when a predetermined depth is reached, ensuring the sensor streamer can be retrieved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor streamers are filled with alcohol or oil, then they become negatively buoyant and sink, but this causes complete loss of the sensor streamer when disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-installing lifting bags and ballast weight systems on sensor streamers before deployment. These systems are prepared in advance to counteract the negative buoyancy caused by alcohol or oil filling, enabling the streamer to be retrieved to the surface if disconnected, thus preventing complete loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by employing depth trigger mechanisms that respond to pressure changes at different water depths. The depth trigger activates the lifting bag system or releases ballast weights based on the predetermined depth conditions, changing the buoyancy parameters of the sensor streamer to enable surface retrieval.
2Reliability
If a lifting bag system is used to trigger surfacing, then the sensor streamer can be retrieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automated depth trigger mechanisms that automatically activate the lifting bag system or release ballast weights based on predetermined depth conditions. The system monitors its own operational state and autonomously executes retrieval actions without requiring external intervention, thereby managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs segmentation by dividing the retriever system into distinct functional modules: depth trigger mechanisms, lifting bag systems, and ballast weight systems. Each module performs a specific function, allowing for independent design, testing, and maintenance, which helps manage overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If depth trigger mechanisms are implemented, then selective deployment can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by employing depth trigger mechanisms that respond to pressure changes at different water depths. The depth trigger activates the lifting bag system or releases ballast weights based on predetermined depth conditions, changing the operational state of the retriever system to enable selective deployment.
4Stability of the object's composition
If ballast weights are used to compensate for buoyancy changes, then the sensor streamer can maintain depth, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies anti-weight by using ballast weights to counterbalance the negative buoyancy forces acting on the sensor streamer. The ballast weights are strategically positioned and sized to compensate for buoyancy changes caused by alcohol or oil filling, enabling the streamer to maintain its operational depth or be retrieved to the surface when needed.
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 system effectively prevents loss of sensor streamers by ensuring they surface when needed, maintaining data acquisition integrity and system functionality during marine surveys.
Implementation Method 1
a depth trigger mechanism that activates a lifting bag system... when a predetermined depth is reached
Implementation Method 2
an inflatable balloon system may trigger (i.e., a retriever system), which causes the sensor streamer to surface
Data Source
AI summary
Depth triggers for marine geophysical survey cable retriever systems. At least some of the illustrative embodiments include causing a submerged geophysical survey cable to surface. In some cases, the causing the cable to surface may include: fracturing a frangible link wherein the frangible link, before the fracturing, affixes position of a piston within a cylinder bore of a housing coupled to the geophysical survey cable, and the fracturing of the frangible link responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the geophysical survey cable reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth; moving the piston within the cylinder bore; and deploying a mechanism that makes the geophysical survey cable more positively buoyant.