Flexible Pipe Pressure Armour Asymmetrical Interlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible pipes face challenges in manufacturing due to asymmetrical pressure armour layers, which lead to handling difficulties and limited internal and external pressure resistance capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A pressure armour layer formed by interlocking helically wound tapes with specific elongate tape elements featuring lip portions and recessed portions, allowing for improved stability and increased thickness without widening, enhancing burst and collapse resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an asymmetrical Z-shape pressure armour layer is used, then burst resistance is improved, but handling during manufacturing becomes difficult and the wire tends to roll over on its side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing a pressure armour layer with an asymmetrical cross-sectional profile featuring a hooked end. This asymmetrical shape provides enhanced burst resistance while the specific configuration of the hook and body section allows for controlled interlocking during helical winding, resolving the handling issue that would otherwise result from asymmetry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting through the interlocking mechanism where the hooked end of one pressure armour layer nests into a corresponding recess or valley region of the adjacent winding. This nesting arrangement enables stable helical winding and maintains structural integrity without the wire rolling over during manufacturing
2Ease of manufacture
If the wire height to width ratio is constrained, then manufacturing is simplified, but the internal and external pressure resistance capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the pressure armour layer by introducing an asymmetrical profile with a hooked end and optimizing the height to width ratio. This parameter modification allows the wire to achieve greater height without excessive widening, thereby increasing pressure resistance capability while remaining manufacturable through standard helical winding processes
3Strength
If a thicker pressure armour layer is desired, then burst and collapse resistance is improved, but the layer width increases making handling more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the thickness-width tradeoff by utilizing the asymmetrical cross-sectional profile with the hooked end configuration. This dimensional optimization allows the pressure armour layer to achieve greater effective thickness for improved burst and collapse resistance while controlling the overall width to maintain ease of handling during manufacturing and installation
Data Source
AI summary
An elongate metallic or polymeric or composite tape is disclosed along with a method of manufacturing such tape. The tape is of a type suitable for forming at least one helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body for transporting production fluids. The tape is configured for interlocking of adjacent windings in the layer of tape by nesting a hooked region of a winding in a valley region of an adjacent winding. The tape comprises first and second elongate tape elements arranged in contacting relation.