Offshore Reel Cooling via Interlayer Coolant Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea electrical cables and umbilicals experience heat buildup when partially exposed on reel spools, leading to damage due to inadequate cooling, with existing methods like spraying ocean water being messy and corrosive, and previous solutions failing to effectively dissipate heat across multiple layers.
Innovation Solution
A system for cooling or heating coiled lengths on a reel by creating a circulation path for a coolant, such as air or water, across and through the reel, using material barriers to ensure uniform cooling and monitoring temperature, preventing heat buildup and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ocean water is sprayed over the cable or umbilical to cool it, then cooling effect is achieved, but the reel and rig become corrosive and messy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coolant circulation system as an intermediary between the heat source (cable on reel) and the cooling medium (ocean water). The coolant absorbs heat from the cable through thermal conduction and convection, then transports this heat to a heat exchanger where ocean water removes it. This mediator approach achieves cooling while preventing direct contact between ocean water and the cable/reel, eliminating corrosion and mess.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple wraps of cable remain on the reel, then cable storage is efficient, but heat generated in middle wraps is trapped by outer wraps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic coolant circulation system to address heat buildup in multi-layer cable storage. Coolant is pumped through channels that penetrate through multiple wraps of cable, using fluid dynamics to force coolant flow through the trapped heat zones. The pressurized coolant circulation ensures heat removal from inner wraps even when surrounded by outer wraps, maintaining both storage capacity and thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by creating three-dimensional coolant flow paths through the multi-layer cable structure. Instead of surface-level cooling, coolant channels are positioned to penetrate through the radial layers of the reel, enabling heat removal from the interior wraps by accessing them through the thickness dimension of the cable stack.
3Temperature
If water is injected into the inside of the reel, then cooling may reach inner wraps, but the same corrosion and mess problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a two-stage intermediary system: first, a coolant (such as fresh water or glycol mixture) serves as the primary heat transfer medium that contacts the cable; second, a heat exchanger introduces ocean water as a secondary cooling medium that never contacts the cable or reel. This layered intermediary approach allows effective cooling of inner wraps while completely isolating the reel from corrosive salt water.
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 system effectively dissipates heat across multiple layers of the umbilical, preventing damage and ensuring uniform cooling without the mess and corrosion associated with water-based methods, while being durable, reliable, and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
unwanted heat that may be generated by electricity traveling through the coiled lengths may be cooled by providing a circulation of a coolant across and or through the reel
Implementation Method 2
providing a circulation of a coolant across and or through the reel
Implementation Method 3
using material barriers to ensure uniform cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A method of cooling an offshore reel with multiple layers of umbilical with heat generating electrical current flowing through internal wires by supplying a coolant through a wrap between the layers of the umbilical.