Offshore Hydrocarbon Coupling Alignment at Large Lateral Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coupling systems for fluid transfer between a vessel and a hydrocarbon delivery installation at open sea face challenges in aligning the hose valve and coupling device at large lateral angles, leading to increased complexity and cost, and risk of hose handling rope wear due to rubbing against the coupling system.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system with a support frame and a remotely controlled drive system that includes multiple drive units for transverse, longitudinal, and rotational movements of the coupling device, allowing for alignment over a wider range of angles and reducing the risk of hose handling rope wear through a shield with radially extending protrusions and a spooling gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional coupling system with limited pendulum movement is used, then the coupling device can maintain position with minimal power consumption, but it cannot align with the hose valve at large lateral angles (above ±30°, ±60°, ±90°)
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is transformed from a static or limited-movement structure to a dynamic system with three independently controllable drive units that can actively adjust position in transverse direction, longitudinal direction, and rotation. This dynamic capability enables alignment at large lateral angles while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device is divided into three independently controllable segments or degrees of freedom, each handled by a separate drive unit. This segmentation allows each drive unit to focus on a specific movement type (transverse, longitudinal, rotational), simplifying control while achieving comprehensive alignment capability across large lateral angles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic positioning system (DP) is used to maintain vessel alignment, then coupling can occur at large lateral angles, but complexity and cost of the transferring procedure increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using dynamic positioning to move the entire vessel for alignment, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the vessel relatively stationary and using the coupling device's own actuation systems to reach and align with the hose valve. This local adjustment approach reduces overall system complexity and cost while achieving the same coupling capability.
3Ease of operation
If the coupling device is positioned closer to the vessel to reduce loads, then connection feasibility improves, but the risk of hose handling rope wear due to rubbing against the coupling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
A shield with radially extending protrusions is introduced as an intermediary element between the hose handling rope and the coupling device. This shield prevents direct contact and rubbing between the rope and coupling system components, eliminating wear while allowing the coupling device to operate close to the vessel for easier connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield with radially extending protrusions is pre-positioned around the coupling device before hose connection occurs. This preliminary protective measure ensures that when the hose handling rope operates near the coupling device, wear is prevented from the outset, allowing safe operation at reduced distances.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling system for fluid transfer between a bow area of an elongated vessel and a hydrocarbon delivery installation at open sea. The system includes a support frame for suspending the system to the vessel and a fluid receiving tube segment fixed to the support frame comprising a coupling device arranged at a first end of the tube segment and that establishes a leakage free coupling with a hose valve. The system further includes a remotely controlled drive system that simultaneously exerts a transverse force generating pendulum movements of the coupling device in the transverse plane, a longitudinal force generating pendulum movements of the coupling device in a longitudinal plane, and a rotational force generating rotational movement of at least part of the coupling device iteratively adjusting the rotational position of the at least part of the coupling device by regulating the rotational force.