Reinforced Polymer Strip Armouring for Offshore Umbilicals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore hydrocarbon-production umbilicals face challenges in deep water and dynamic environments due to increased loads, requiring stronger yet lighter designs that are also cost-effective and resistant to flexing and wear, as traditional steel wire armouring increases weight and is expensive to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
The use of cross-wound armouring layers composed of reinforced polymer strips, which provide improved strength and flexibility while being easier to manufacture, reducing the need for large machinery and minimizing wear during handling and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel wire armouring is used to increase umbilical strength, then the umbilical can withstand tensile loads, but the weight increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polymer strips with high-strength fibres (aromatic polyamide, aromatic polyester, liquid crystal fibre, high performance polyethylene, or aromatic heterocyclic polymer fibre) to create armouring layers that provide both strength and weight reduction. This composite structure allows the umbilical to withstand tensile loads while significantly reducing weight compared to traditional steel wire armouring.
2Strength
If steel wire armouring is used to increase umbilical strength, then the umbilical can withstand tensile loads, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The composite armouring layers made from polymer strips reinforced with high-strength fibres simplify manufacturing compared to traditional steel wire armouring. These composite materials can be more easily integrated into the umbilical structure and require less complex manufacturing processes, reducing both manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the required tensile strength.
3Strength
If traditional armouring materials are used, then the umbilical has sufficient strength, but the bending stiffness increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The use of composite materials with high-strength fibres embedded in polymer strips provides a favorable strength-to-stiffness ratio. These composite armouring layers maintain the necessary tensile strength while having lower bending stiffness compared to traditional steel wire armouring, thereby preserving the umbilical's flexibility and ease of handling during installation and operation.
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 achieves a reduced weight and lower bending stiffness, enhancing the umbilical's ability to withstand tensile and bending loads while maintaining ease of manufacture and reducing the risk of degradation, making it suitable for deep water applications.
Implementation Method 1
The yarns are formed from aromatic heterocyclic polymer fibre (PBO)... The reinforced polymer strips may have their reinforcement provided by one or more strands of one or more high strength organic yarns
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An offshore hydrocarbon-production umbilical comprising concentrically: an outer sheath, at least two cross-wound armouring layers, and a core enclosed by the armouring layers, and comprising a plurality of elongate active umbilical components, characterized in that each armouring layer comprises a plurality of reinforced polymer strips. The use of reinforced polymer strips to form the armouring layers achieves a reduced weight but still flexible arrangement, which is significantly easier to manufacture as far fewer strips are required to form the armouring layers compared with the large number of steel wires of conventional armouring layers.