Hydrodynamic Wing Control Device for Marine Seismic Streamers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control devices for marine seismic streamers suffer from noise interference with hydrophone signals, complex and vulnerable electro-mechanical constructions, and lack of wireless energy and signal transfer, leading to instability and increased risk of streamer entanglement and damage.
Innovation Solution
A control device featuring smart wings that integrate power supply, drive means, and sensors, allowing for wireless energy and signal transfer, and easy mounting/demounting, with rotatable wings for independent adjustment of streamer position and reduced mechanical connections to prevent leakage and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electro-mechanical control devices are used, then streamer position control is achieved, but noise interference with hydrophone signals occurs and mechanical vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electro-mechanical control systems with a pure hydrodynamic control system. The control device uses hydrofoil wings that generate lift forces through water flow to control streamer position, eliminating mechanical actuators, motors, and electronic sensors that cause noise interference with hydrophone signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the noisy electro-mechanical components (motors, sensors, electrical connections) from the control device, retaining only the essential hydrodynamic control elements (wings, body structure) that can function passively in the water flow.
2Ease of operation
If complex electro-mechanical constructions are used, then control functionality is achieved, but device vulnerability and mechanical failure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electro-mechanical constructions with a simple hydrodynamic system consisting of a body and hydrofoil wings. The control functionality is achieved through passive hydrodynamic forces generated by water flow over the wings, eliminating vulnerable mechanical actuators and electrical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control mechanism from active electro-mechanical actuation to passive hydrodynamic parameter utilization, where the wings' angle of attack and orientation relative to water flow determine the control forces, simplifying the system while maintaining functionality.
3Use of energy by moving object
If wired connections are used for power and control, then energy supply is achieved, but leakage risk and mechanical failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes all wired electrical connections, power cables, and electronic components from the control device. The system operates passively using hydrodynamic forces, eliminating leakage risks and mechanical failure points associated with wired connections.
4Reliability
If traditional control devices are used, then streamer position control is achieved, but deployment time and survey preparation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control device into simple, modular components (body and wings) that can be easily attached to and removed from the streamer. This segmentation enables rapid deployment and retrieval operations, reducing survey preparation time while maintaining effective position control.
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 provides a robust, efficient, and cost-effective means to control streamer position, reducing noise interference, enhancing stability, and facilitating faster deployment and recovery, while minimizing the risk of entanglement and mechanical failure.
Implementation Method 1
a wing unit (1102) having a longitudinal axis and arranged rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the streamer... the wing unit... for generating a lift force in a specified direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device (10, 5O, 100) for controlling the position of an instrumented cable towed in water, such as a marine seismic streamer, and/or a towed instrumented cable array (streamer) with the possibility to control the individual instrumented cables, both in shape and position, in relation to other instrumented cables and by that counteract cross currents and/or other dynamic forces which affect a towed array behind a seismic survey vessel. The control device (10, 50, 100) is adapted for plain and rapid mounting and demounting so that the streamer easily can be deployed and recovered, and in an easy way be reeled onto and out from a drum. The control device is further entirely or partly arranged for wireless/contactless transfer of energy and/or communication, i.e. signals/data, between a main body and wings. The control device, motor and drive gear housings (51) provided with wings (52) or wings (11, 102) house drive means (22), power supply (23), electronics and sensor means.