Flexible Pipe Mount Body for Distributed Cathodic Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible pipes in deep and ultra-deep water environments face challenges with corrosion due to seawater ingress and attenuation effects of cathodic protection systems, requiring additional end fittings and complex securing mechanisms, which increase cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves manufacturing flexible pipes with integrated cylindrical mount bodies over tensile armour wire layers, allowing for secure attachment of anodes and ancillary equipment at desired locations along the pipe, reducing attenuation effects and eliminating the need for frequent end fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cathodic protection anodes are mounted at end fittings of flexible pipes, then corrosion protection is provided, but the pipe requires frequent end fittings which increases cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the anode mounting location from the longitudinal dimension (end fittings) to the radial dimension (mounting points on the pipe body). By providing mounting points on the outer surface of the pipe body between end fittings, anodes can be attached at intermediate locations, reducing the need for frequent end fittings while maintaining corrosion protection coverage.
2Reliability
If secure mounting points are provided for anodes on the pipe body, then cathodic protection effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting points are integrated into the pipe body during the manufacturing process, specifically by providing recesses in the outer surface before the final protective coating is applied. This preliminary integration ensures that mounting points are ready for anode attachment without requiring complex post-manufacturing modifications, thus improving cathodic protection effectiveness while controlling manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If anodes are attached at intermediate locations remote from end fittings, then attenuation effects of cathodic protection are reduced, but additional mounting mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mounting function with the pipe body structure itself by providing recesses that are integral to the pipe manufacturing. This merging eliminates the need for separate, complex mounting mechanisms while enabling anode attachment at intermediate locations, thereby reducing attenuation effects without proportionally increasing device complexity.
4Reliability
If frequent end fittings are used to mount anodes, then corrosion protection is ensured, but cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cathodic protection system by distributing multiple mounting points along the pipe body between end fittings. This segmentation allows anodes to be attached at multiple intermediate locations, providing comprehensive corrosion protection coverage while reducing the total number of end fittings required, thus lowering cost and installation complexity.
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
This approach enables effective cathodic protection and equipment attachment without the need for frequent end fittings, reducing costs and complexity while maintaining electrical continuity and preventing corrosion, thus enhancing the operational reliability of flexible pipes in extreme environments.
Implementation Method 1
Cathodic protection is a mechanism for providing corrosion protection and such cathodic protection is well known to those skilled in the art. For example recommended practice DNV-RP-B401 or recommended practice DNV-RP-F103 provide guidelines for providing cathodic protection (CP) systems for submarine pipelines and flexible pipe risers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mount body (350) comprising a first open mouth at a first end of the cylindrical body (350) and a further open mouth at a remaining end of the cylindrical body, a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel recessed regions that extends circumferentially around the body, wherein the cylindrical body (350) is tapered at each end and at least one securing element is located between the recessed regions.