Flexible Pipe Outer Sheath Reinforcement Against Abrasion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater flexible pipes face issues with abrasion, tearing, and crack propagation in the outer protective and sealing sheath, which can weaken their resistance to hydrocarbon fluid pressure and external pressures, leading to potential rupture and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a reinforcing tape made of non-woven fibers embedded within the polymer material of the outer protective and sealing sheath, which creates a strong mechanical bond to enhance resistance to friction, abrasion, tearing, and hoop stress, thereby improving the pipe's durability and service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outer protective and sealing sheath is made of polymer material to protect the pipe, then the pipe gains protective function, but the sheath becomes vulnerable to abrasion, tearing, and crack propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polymer material with reinforcing tapes made of synthetic fibers (such as aramid, polyethylene, or polypropylene). The reinforcing tapes are embedded within the polymer material of the outer protective and sealing sheath, creating a composite structure that maintains the protective function while significantly enhancing resistance to abrasion, tearing, and crack propagation.
2Force
If tensioners strongly compress the flexible pipe to transmit tightening forces, then the retaining forces are sufficient, but the outer protective and sealing sheath risks degradation at the contact zone
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of polymer material reinforced with embedded synthetic fiber tapes provides enhanced mechanical strength and abrasion resistance. This allows the outer protective and sealing sheath to withstand the strong compression forces from tensioners during installation without degrading, as the reinforcing tapes distribute and resist the localized stresses at contact zones.
3Stress or pressure
If the pipe layers are highly compressed under circumferential stress and external pressure, then the pipe maintains structural integrity, but the outer protective and sealing sheath suffers from abrasion, wear, and crack initiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes composite materials where synthetic fiber tapes are embedded within the polymer matrix of the outer protective and sealing sheath. This composite structure enhances the sheath's ability to resist circumferential stress and external pressure while simultaneously providing superior resistance to abrasion, wear, and crack initiation compared to pure polymer material.
4Stability of the object's composition
If adhesive and/or aramid fiber reinforced strips are wound around tensile armor plies, then the armor wires are held in place and bird cage swelling is limited, but the strips may not remain in position and cause abrasion to the protective sheath
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the problematic adhesive and aramid fiber reinforced strips with a composite structure where synthetic fiber tapes are embedded within the polymer material of the outer protective and sealing sheath. This integration eliminates the issue of strips moving or causing abrasion, as the reinforcing elements are permanently bonded within the polymer matrix, providing stable armor wire positioning without harmful friction.
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 reinforcement significantly increases the mechanical properties of the outer protective and sealing sheath, reducing the risk of damage from abrasion, tearing, and hoop stress, while maintaining the sheath's protective function and extending its service life without additional bonding means.
Implementation Method 1
a reinforcing tape consisting of a non-woven material based on fibers at least partially embedded inside said polymer material of said protective sheath and external sealing, for mechanically binding together said reinforcing tape and said protective and external sealing sheath
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention concerns a flexible tubular pipe (1) intended for transporting hydrocarbons, made from a stack of separate successive layers comprising at least, from the inside to the outside, an inner sealing sheath (4), a short-pitch helical winding (5) made from a metal part, at least one tensile armour ply (6, 7) wound with a long pitch and an outer protection and sealing sheath (8) made from polymer material comprising two opposing faces (81, 82), respectively inner and outer faces, characterised in that it comprises at least one reinforcing strip (9) made from a non-woven fibre material (10) at least partially embedded within said polymer material of said outer protection and sealing sheath (8), so as to mechanically link said reinforcing strip (9) and said outer protection and sealing sheath (8) together.