Flexible Pipe Supporting Layer for Armour Wire Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible pipe technologies face challenges in maintaining electrical continuity across tensile armour wires, leading to inadequate corrosion protection and increased complexity and cost due to the need for frequent end fittings and complex securing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A flexible pipe design incorporating a supporting layer with a helically wound constraining tape element and an electrically conductive tape element that provides both electrical connectivity and radial support to tensile armour wires, reducing attenuation effects and enabling effective cathodic protection without the need for frequent end fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flexible pipe is used without a continuous supporting layer, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but electrical continuity across tensile armour wires is lost leading to inadequate corrosion protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical conductivity function and the mechanical support function into a single integrated supporting layer. This layer contains both conductive elements (for electrical continuity and cathodic protection) and non-conductive supportive elements (for radial support), merging multiple functions into one component rather than using separate layers for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting layer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing radial support to prevent wire buckling, maintaining electrical continuity across tensile armour wires, and enabling effective cathodic protection. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function.
2Reliability
If frequent end fittings are installed to provide cathodic protection, then corrosion protection is improved, but the complexity and cost of the pipe system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting layer itself provides the electrical continuity and cathodic protection function that would otherwise require separate end fittings and securing mechanisms. The layer serves its own structural purpose while simultaneously enabling corrosion protection, eliminating the need for additional protective components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cathodic protection function from the end fittings and integrates it directly into the supporting layer. This removes the dependency on frequent end fittings for corrosion protection, allowing the use of fewer end fittings while maintaining adequate protection.
3Reliability
If a supporting layer is added to provide radial support and electrical continuity, then corrosion protection and structural support are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting layer is constructed as a composite structure combining conductive materials (for electrical continuity) and non-conductive supportive materials (for radial support). This composite approach allows both functions to be achieved within a single layer that can be manufactured as an integrated component.
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 ensures continuous electrical connectivity between tensile armour wires, enhances radial support to prevent buckling, and reduces the frequency of anode placement, thereby decreasing costs and complexity while maintaining effective corrosion protection.
Implementation Method 1
the electrically conductive tape element makes electrical contact with and thereby electrically connects multiple tensile armour wires
Implementation Method 2
the constraining tape element comprises a high strength elongate tape, wherein the ratio of thickness to width of the tape is at least 1:5
Data Source
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AI summary
Flexible pipe body, a flexible pipe and a method of manufacturing pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body comprises a tensile armour layer and a supporting layer radially outside, or radially inside, and in an abutting relationship with the tensile armour layer. The supporting layer comprises a helically wound constraining tape element and a helically wound electrically conductive tape element.