Flexible Energy Chain for Deep-Sea Cable Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy supply systems for offshore drilling operations, such as those for offshore wind turbine foundations, face challenges in replacing or supplementing individual lines within hard-sheathed cable bundles and managing tensile stresses, especially at great depths, leading to limitations in maintenance and load-bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
An energy supply device designed as a flexible, water-resistant energy guiding chain with load strands, high-tensile ropes running through the neutral axis, and transverse webs with holders for supply lines, allowing for easy replacement and reduced tensile stress on supply lines, utilizing flexible and impact-resistant materials for enhanced durability and buoyancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hard-sheathed cable bundles are used for supplying offshore machines, then the lines are protected and can be led down to the seabed, but individual lines cannot be replaced or supplemented in the event of defects or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The energy supply device is segmented into multiple independent supply lines that can be individually replaced. The load strands are divided into separate modular units with coupling elements, allowing individual lines to be exchanged without replacing the entire cable bundle, thus maintaining reliability while enabling adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed hard-sheathed bundle to a dynamic modular structure where lines can be added, removed, or replaced. The coupling elements and connectors enable the system to adapt its configuration based on operational needs and line conditions.
2Reliability
If hard-sheathed cable bundles are used, then lines are protected, but the load-bearing capacity becomes insufficient for very deep boreholes due to excessive tensile stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is separated from the protective sheathing function. High-strength ropes or cables are used specifically for load-bearing within the modular load strands, while the outer protective layers provide protection without compromising strength. This segmentation allows optimization of each function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy supply device uses composite construction combining high-strength materials (such as steel core ropes or high-tensile synthetic fibers) with protective sheathing materials. This composite structure provides both the necessary load-bearing capacity for deep boreholes and adequate protection against environmental factors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If supply lines are stored in holders on transverse webs, then lines can be easily exchanged and additional lines installed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse webs and holders serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the supply lines, enable easy attachment and detachment of lines, and facilitate the addition of new lines. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into modular load strands with standardized coupling elements and holders. This segmentation allows for systematic organization of supply lines and simplifies the exchange process, making the increased adaptability manageable despite the added structural elements.
4Ease of operation
If the energy guiding chain is made flexible with water-resistant material, then it can be handled easier and protected against water, but the material must provide sufficient strength for deep-sea operations
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible water-resistant material used for the load strands and brackets combines flexibility and water resistance with sufficient tensile strength for deep-sea operations. This composite material approach allows the chain to be easily handled while maintaining the strength required for heavy-duty offshore applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are optimized to achieve the right balance between flexibility for easy handling and tensile strength for deep-sea operations. By carefully selecting and engineering the material parameters, the system achieves both ease of operation and sufficient strength without compromise.
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
Enables flexible and efficient maintenance of supply lines, reduces tensile stress on cables, and provides robust protection against harsh conditions, facilitating easier handling and storage, suitable for deep-sea operations and other applications with high tensile stress.
Implementation Method 1
the material from which the tabs are made has a specific gravity lighter than that of water. Such a measure gives the entire energy chain a certain buoyancy, so that it is easier to handle and only small forces have to be applied to catch up with the energy chain
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an energy supply device for supply lines such as cables, hoses and other lines, particularly for supplying machines in the offshore field which are used under water, such as for supplying drill heads which drill substantially vertically downward. The essential novel features according to the invention are that the energy supply device is designed as an energy supply chain (1; 15), the energy supply chain (1; 15) has at least two parallel load strands (3; 16) having tabs (4; 17) arranged consecutively, the tabs (4; 17) are made of flexible, water-resistant material and are permanently connected together with the adjacent tabs into a load strand (3; 16) via coupling elements (5; 18), at least one respective tensile-resistant, water-resistant cable (6; 20) is guided through each of the load strands (3; 16) extending over the entire length of the energy supply chain (1; 15), the load strands (3; 16) formed from the tabs (4; 17) are connected to one another by cross-bridges (7; 19) arranged at intervals and the cross-bridges (7; 19) have holders (8) for receiving the supply lines (2).