Depth-Triggered Buoyancy Control for Marine Sensor Streamers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine geophysical 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, and existing retrieval methods are inadequate for such scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a retriever system incorporating a lifting bag system and ballast weight system with depth trigger mechanisms that deploy inflatable lifting bags and shed ballast weights when a predetermined depth is reached, ensuring the sensor streamers can surface and maintain neutral buoyancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor streamers are filled with alcohol or oil to maintain buoyancy, then they can float on the surface, but they become negatively buoyant and sink when disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor streamer is divided into multiple sections with independent buoyancy control. Inflatable buoyancy sections can be independently activated along the streamer length, allowing different segments to be recovered even if others remain submerged. This segmentation enables reliable recovery of disconnected streamers by inflating buoyancy sections at strategic locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The buoyancy of the sensor streamer is changed from fixed to variable by incorporating inflatable buoyancy sections. These sections can transition from deflated (negative or neutral buoyancy) to inflated (positive buoyancy) states, allowing the streamer to adapt its buoyancy characteristics based on operational needs and recovery requirements.
2Reliability
If an inflatable balloon system is used to trigger surfacing, then the sensor streamer can be recovered, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Buoyancy sections are pre-installed along the sensor streamer in a deflated state during manufacturing. The inflation mechanism is pre-positioned but remains inactive until needed. This preliminary preparation allows rapid activation of buoyancy without requiring complex real-time system assembly or complex retrieval equipment on the vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor streamer incorporates self-contained buoyancy sections with integrated inflation mechanisms that can be activated remotely or automatically. Once triggered, the buoyancy sections self-inflate using stored compressed gas, eliminating the need for external inflation equipment or complex manual intervention during recovery operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If ballast weights are used to compensate for buoyancy changes, then neutral buoyancy can be maintained, but the system becomes more complex and harder to retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy compensation system transitions from static ballast weights to dynamic inflatable buoyancy sections. The inflatable sections can be adjusted in real-time by controlling inflation levels, allowing flexible adaptation to varying buoyancy requirements without the complexity of mechanical ballast adjustment systems. The system can be deflated and collapsed when not needed, reducing drag and simplifying retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic inflation of buoyancy sections instead of mechanical ballast weights. Compressed gas stored in the streamer inflates elastic buoyancy sections to provide the required buoyant force. This pneumatic system is simpler than mechanical ballast systems, as it requires only gas storage and delivery mechanisms rather than complex weight attachment and release systems.
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 solution effectively prevents the loss of sensor streamers by ensuring they surface when disconnected and compensates for buoyancy changes, allowing for continued data acquisition and reducing equipment loss.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable balloon system may trigger (i.e., a retriever system), which causes the sensor streamer to surface
Implementation Method 2
a compressed gas cylinder in fluid communication with the lifting bag, the compressed gas cylinder having a seal thereover
Implementation Method 3
moving a first piston within the cylinder responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth
Implementation Method 4
compensates for buoyancy changes, allowing for continued data acquisition
Data Source
AI summary
Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.