Pipe Laying Filling Control with Volume Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe filling control devices are unreliable in choppy waters, leading to unpredictable suction and discharge of treatment fluid, causing resonance issues and potential damage, especially during pipe laying interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A device with a section reduction element and a liquid volume compensation tank that directs discharged water into a larger volume tank rather than back into the treatment fluid system, minimizing pressure drop and preventing damage, while maintaining effective treatment fluid injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the pipe is filled with water during laying to stabilize it on the seabed, then the pipeline stability is improved, but water treatment fluid is lost through suction and backflow during water movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: a first conduit for water introduction, a second conduit for treatment fluid injection, and a compensation chamber. This segmentation allows independent control of water filling and treatment fluid dosing, preventing treatment fluid loss while maintaining pipeline stability through controlled water filling.
Solution Approach 2:
A compensation chamber acts as an intermediary element between the water filling system and the treatment fluid injection system. This chamber captures and compensates for water volume variations caused by pipe oscillations, preventing suction and backflow that would otherwise cause treatment fluid loss.
2Reliability
If treatment fluid is continuously injected to account for unpredictable water suction, then treatment fluid availability is improved, but the cost and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where water volume variations are automatically detected through pressure changes in the compensation chamber, and treatment fluid injection is adjusted accordingly. This ensures treatment fluid is only dosed when actually needed, maintaining reliability while minimizing unnecessary consumption and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the injection rate of treatment fluid based on real-time water volume changes in the pipe. By changing the injection parameter (flow rate) in response to varying suction conditions, the system maintains adequate treatment fluid availability while avoiding excessive dosing during periods of low water movement.
3Reliability
If the pipe volume is increased to accommodate water suction during interruptions, then the buffer capacity is improved, but the device complexity and initial treatment fluid requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as a buffer for water volume variations, a reference pressure chamber for treatment fluid injection, and a control element for preventing suction. This multi-functionality provides the needed buffer capacity without requiring separate systems, thereby limiting complexity increase.
4Ease of operation
If resonance phenomena are allowed to occur during pipe oscillations, then the natural pipe movement is maintained, but damage to the control device and pumps occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation chamber is pre-configured to compensate for water volume variations before resonance phenomena can cause damaging suction. By providing advance cushioning capacity, the system allows natural pipe movements to occur while preventing the extreme pressure variations that would otherwise damage control devices and pumps.
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
Ensures reliable pipe filling and treatment fluid management even in rough waters, reducing the risk of resonance damage and contamination, and allowing for controlled filling and treatment fluid distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid volume compensation tank (42) defining a variable volume (44) for receiving liquid
Implementation Method 2
equipment (36) for injecting a treatment fluid into the water introduced into the pipe through the upstream section (34)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2~5
Figure 4
AI summary
The device comprises: - an upstream portion (34) defining an inlet (48) for introducing water; - injection equipment (36) for injecting a treatment fluid into the water introduced into the upstream portion (34), - an intermediate portion (38) mounted downstream of the injection equipment (36) to receive the water containing the treatment fluid; - a downstream portion (40) for conveying water toward the fluid transporting pipe (12) in the process of laying. It comprises: - a reservoir compensating for the volume of liquid (42), having a variable volume (44) for receiving water displaced from the fluid transport pipe (12), - a coupling (46) to which the intermediate portion (38), the downstream portion (40) and the liquid volume compensation reservoir (42) are connected, the inlet cross section (S3) of the liquid volume compensation reservoir (42), considered at the level of the coupling (46), being greater than 40 times the internal cross section (S1) of the intermediate portion (38), considered at the level of the coupling (46). This device operates reliably even when the stretch of water is disturbed.