LNG Hose Connector Guide Means and Handling Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid transfer systems between structures, especially for LNG and vaporized LNG, face challenges with high dynamic forces and wave restrictions, requiring complex and heavy rigid systems that are cumbersome and risky, especially in open sea conditions, and lack effective solutions for handling flexible hoses during connection.
Innovation Solution
A flexible hose connection system with guide means and handling means that allows for easy positioning and locking of hose end connectors to receiving assemblies, reducing active dynamic masses and impact forces, and eliminating the need for swivels, using guide means that can pivot and landing/dampening mechanisms to manage wave movements and secure connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid loading arms with counterweights and swivel systems are used for fluid transfer, then connection reliability and structural stability are improved, but device complexity and wave height restrictions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid transfer function into separate rigid loading arms for each hose line, with each arm independently connected to the manifold. This segmentation allows simpler individual components rather than one complex integrated system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining connection reliability through redundant independent pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid loading arms are designed to be dynamically adjustable in position and orientation, allowing real-time adaptation to wave movements and relative structure positions. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain reliable connections without requiring overly complex fixed-configuration systems, as the arms can move to accommodate environmental conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid pipes and heavy counterweights are used in the loading arm system, then structural stability is improved, but active dynamic masses and impact forces on manifolds increase
Solution Approach 1:
Counterweights are strategically positioned on the loading arms to balance the weight of rigid pipes and operational loads. This counterbalancing reduces the net dynamic forces transmitted to the manifold during wave-induced movements, allowing structural stability to be maintained with lower impact forces on the connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
The system distributes mass and structural support across multiple spatial dimensions rather than concentrating it in vertical heavy counterweights. The rigid pipes and loading arms are arranged to leverage geometric distribution of mass, reducing single-point impact forces while maintaining overall structural stability through multi-dimensional support geometry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible hoses are used instead of rigid pipes, then adaptability to wave movements is improved, but handling difficulty and connection control in open sea increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rigid loading arms serve as intermediary structures between the fixed manifold and the flexible hose lines. These arms provide stable, easily controllable connection points that can be precisely positioned, while the flexible hoses attach to these intermediaries. This intermediary approach combines the ease of operating rigid structures with the adaptability of flexible hoses, as the rigid arms handle the difficult positioning while the flexible hoses absorb wave movements.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention concerns arrangements for connection of at least one hose carrying fluid especially LNG and/or vaporized LNG. A hose end (63) of the at least one hose has a hose end connector (91) to be connected to a receiving assembly (90) on a first structure (80) located in water. The hose end connector (91) is provided with guide means (102) and the receiving assembly (90) is provided with receiving means (71). The arrangement includes handling means for controlling the hose end connector (91) to position the guide means (102) into the receiving means (71) and accommodate the guide means (102) in the receiving means (71) so that the guide means (102) is supported in the receiving means (71) and the weight of the hose end connector (91) is transferred to the receiving means (71). The hose end connector (91) has a connecting position with a receiving pipe coupling (15) in the receiving assembly (90), with one receiving pipe coupling (15) provided for each hose end connector (91). The invention also includes methods for connection and disconnection of at least one hose carrying fluid especially LNG and/or vaporized LNG.