Marine Sensor Streamer Stiffener with Pressure-Activated Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine geophysical sensor streamers face challenges in maintaining flexibility during deployment and unspooling while being resistant to flexure, compression, and extension to minimize noise in sensors during operation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a jacket with a strength member and stiffener elements, where the stiffener elements consist of a flexible, compressible tube filled with gas and filler elements that become rigid under hydrostatic pressure, reducing noise and maintaining flexibility at atmospheric pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the streamer is made flexible for spooling and unspooling, then deployment ease is improved, but noise resistance during operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The streamer's mechanical properties are made dynamic through the gas-filled tube that transitions from flexible at atmospheric pressure (during deployment) to rigid under hydrostatic pressure (during operation). This dynamic transformation allows the streamer to adapt its stiffness based on operational phase, resolving the contradiction between deployment ease and noise resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the streamer is changed by varying pressure parameters. At atmospheric pressure, the gas-filled tube remains expanded and flexible. Under hydrostatic pressure during operation, the gas compresses and the filler elements contact to create rigidity. This parameter change enables the streamer to satisfy both deployment and operational requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the streamer is made rigid to reduce noise, then noise resistance is improved, but deployment flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The streamer transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system that changes its mechanical properties. The gas-filled tube with filler elements provides a mechanism that automatically adjusts stiffness based on environmental pressure, enabling easy deployment when flexible and noise resistance when rigid.
Solution Approach 2:
The streamer self-adjusts its mechanical properties in response to environmental conditions. When deployed into water, the hydrostatic pressure automatically triggers the transition from flexible to rigid state without external intervention. The gas compression and filler element contact occur naturally under water pressure, making the streamer self-regulating.
3Ease of operation
If the streamer uses compressible material for flexibility, then deployment ease is improved, but structural stability under pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The streamer employs a composite structure combining compressible gas-filled tube material with rigid filler elements. This composite design allows the streamer to exhibit flexible behavior at atmospheric pressure while providing structural stability under hydrostatic pressure when the filler elements engage, resolving the contradiction between spooling flexibility and structural stability.
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 allows for easier deployment and retrieval while reducing noise-induced in sensors by becoming rigid under water pressure, enhancing data accuracy in marine geophysical surveys.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one stiffener element includes a gas filling the interior of a flexible, compressible tube and filler elements disposed in the gas. The filler elements have exterior shape and surface roughness such that upon compression of the gas, the filler elements are urged into contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A marine sensor streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends the length of the jacket. At least one stiffener element extends inside the length of the jacket. The at least one stiffener element includes a gas filling the interior of a flexible, compressible tube and filler elements disposed in the gas. The filler elements have exterior shape and surface roughness such that upon compression of the gas, the filler elements are urged into contact with each other, causing the streamer to become substantially rigid.