Laterally Immobilized Insert Tape for Flexible Pipe FLIP Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible pipes used in deep and ultra-deep water environments face issues with flow-induced vibrations and pulsations (FLIP) due to internal carcass profiles, leading to 'singing' and potential pipe failure, with existing solutions being difficult to manufacture and maintain over the pipe's lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing an elongate tape with a cross-sectional profile featuring a body and laterally immobilized wing portions, which can be wound between carcass windings to reduce FLIP, using a process that involves forming and welding the tape to create a robust insert that alleviates residual stress and secures the wing portions, allowing for continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If insert profiles are used to reduce flow-induced vibrations and pulsations, then flow stability is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases and reliability decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The insert profile is divided into a body portion and multiple wing portions that can be laterally immobilised relative to each other. This segmentation allows each portion to independently respond to flow-induced vibrations, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing fatigue failure of the entire insert structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the insert have different structural characteristics - the body portion provides structural support while the wing portions are designed to interact with the fluid flow. The lateral immobilisation mechanism is applied locally at specific regions to prevent relative movement between wings and body, ensuring stable performance over the pipe's lifetime.
2Ease of operation
If wing portions are allowed to move laterally, then ease of insertion between carcass windings is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The wing portions are laterally immobilised to the body portion before the insert is installed in the pipe. This preliminary action ensures that the insert maintains its structural integrity during installation and operation, preventing relative movement that could lead to fatigue and failure while still allowing the wings to interact with the carcass windings.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex insert profiles are used to address FLIP, then flow stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex insert profile is segmented into a body portion and multiple wing portions that can be manufactured separately and then laterally immobilised together. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing each component to be produced using standard techniques, then assembled into the complex final structure, reducing overall manufacturing 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
The solution effectively mitigates fatigue and prevents relative motion between carcass windings, ensuring the tape performs throughout the expected lifetime of the flexible pipe, reducing the risk of failure and maintaining flow stability.
Implementation Method 1
securing adjacent regions of the wing portions and/or opposed regions of the body portion together thereby providing a windable elongate tape element having laterally immobilised wing portions
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an elongate sheet having a uniform thickness and a first and further spaced apart long edge, to a first pair of a plurality of spaced apart pairs of opposed forming roller elements, and via the pairs of roller elements, progressively forming a cross-sectional profile in the sheet that comprises a body portion comprising a folded central region of the sheet and a first and further wing portion that each extend away from the body portion and terminate at a respective long edge of the sheet, and securing adjacent regions of the wing portions and/or opposed regions of the body portion together thereby providing a windable elongate tape element having laterally immobilised wing portions.