Flexible Pipe Fluid Barrier Latching System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid permeation barriers in flexible pipes used for hydrocarbon transportation across bodies of water are not sufficiently robust, allowing aggressive species to migrate through the polymer sheath and impairing the strength of armoring layers, and their manufacturing process is complex and requires additional cumbersome equipment.
Innovation Solution
A flexible pipe with a latching system in the overlapping region of the fluid barrier tape, comprising protrusions and recesses, and a metal layer applied via Chemical Vapor Deposition, which enhances fluid tightness without additional equipment complexity, by securely engaging the exterior and interior surfaces of the fluid barrier tape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid permeation barrier with overlapping film barrier is used, then fluid tightness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible polymer tape with integrated latching features (protrusions and recesses) that can be wound around the pipe to form a fluid barrier. This thin film approach replaces complex multi-layer film barriers while maintaining fluid tightness through the latching mechanism that prevents overlapping tape edges from separating.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching system is self-forming during the winding process. The protrusions and recesses automatically engage with each other as the tape is wrapped around the pipe, creating a self-latching mechanism that secures the overlapping regions without requiring additional bonding equipment or complex manufacturing steps.
2Reliability
If film barrier overlapping is provided to increase permeation resistance, then fluid tightness is improved, but manufacturing robustness decreases due to sensitivity to manufacturing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The latching system provides a mechanical safety margin before fluid migration can occur. The protrusions and recesses create a physical interlock that must be overcome for the tape edges to separate, providing a buffer against manufacturing variations, improper winding tension, or thermal expansion that might otherwise compromise the overlapping barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The tape combines polymer material with integrated latching features (protrusions and recesses) to create a composite structure that provides both fluid barrier functionality and mechanical interlocking. This composite design ensures that even if the polymer overlap is imperfect, the latching features maintain the barrier integrity.
3Reliability
If complex manufacturing processes with multiple steps are used, then fluid barrier performance is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fluid barrier function, the overlapping structure, and the latching mechanism into a single integrated tape component. This merging eliminates the need for separate film barrier layers and bonding steps, allowing the barrier to be applied in one continuous winding operation while maintaining high fluid tightness through the integrated latching features.
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 latching system effectively confines aggressive species within the pipe, improving the fluid tightness and load capacity of the armoring layers, while simplifying the manufacturing process by reducing the need for complex equipment and minimizing polymer bridges that allow fluid migration.
Implementation Method 1
The metal layer is obtainable by Chemical Vapor Deposition
Data Source
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AI summary
The flexible pipe (10), comprises: - at least a sheath (20) defining a central passage (16) for conveying fluids, - at least a reinforcing layer (24, 25) around the sheath (20), - at least a fluid permeation barrier (26) comprising a fluid barrier tape, the fluid barrier tape having a cylindrical shape and defining at least an overlapping region between an exterior edge of a fluid barrier tape and an interior edge of the fluid barrier tape, - a latching system, latching an exterior surface of the overlapping region to an interior surface of the overlapping region.