Immobilized Insert Tape for Flexible Pipe FLIP Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 prone to performance degradation over time.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for manufacturing an elongate tape with a cross-sectional profile featuring a body and laterally immobilized wing portions, which can be wound between carcass windings of a flexible pipe to reduce FLIP, using a process that includes forming and welding the tape to create a robust insert that alleviates residual stress and secures wing portions, allowing for continuous operation over the pipe's lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If insert profiles are used to reduce flow-induced vibrations and pulsations, then pipe reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and performance degrades over time
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is divided into a body portion and multiple wing portions that can be independently formed and then assembled. The body portion is formed first, and then wing portions are attached to its sides, creating a segmented structure that reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the FLIP mitigation function
Solution Approach 2:
The body portion of the insert is pre-formed before the carcass windings are applied. This preliminary formation allows the insert to be prepared in advance with consistent geometry, reducing manufacturing complexity during the pipe assembly process while ensuring reliable FLIP reduction performance
2Reliability
If insert profiles are inserted between carcass windings to mitigate FLIP, then flow stability is improved, but the insert is prone to performance degradation and failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The wing portions are merged with the body portion through attachment processes that create a unified structural unit. This merging ensures that the insert maintains its geometric integrity and FLIP mitigation performance throughout the service life, preventing the performance degradation that occurs with separate or loosely attached components
Solution Approach 2:
The insert provides localized flow stabilization at critical positions between carcass windings. By concentrating the flow stabilization function in specific locations where it is most needed, the insert maintains effective performance over time without requiring the entire structure to be uniformly complex
3Reliability
If complex insert profiles are manufactured to reduce FLIP, then pipe performance is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex insert profile is segmented into a body portion and wing portions that can be manufactured separately using simpler processes. The body portion is formed first, and then wing portions are attached, breaking down the manufacturing complexity into manageable stages while maintaining the overall performance benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The body portion is preliminarily formed using straightforward manufacturing processes before the wing portions are added. This preliminary formation step allows for consistent geometry to be achieved with simpler equipment, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty while preserving the performance-enhancing complex profile
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 elongate tape performs reliably for extended periods, reducing the risk of pipe failure and maintaining flow stability by acting like a plate in tension, thus addressing the challenges of FLIP and manufacturing complexity.
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
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.