Riser Assembly Gas Handler for Deck Space Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling a marine riser system are time-consuming and costly due to the need to bend pipes to fit through the limited deck space of a vessel, which complicates the installation and increases the risk of pipe deformation during underwater operations.
Innovation Solution
A riser assembly with a gas handler that includes an external casing for housing all pipes, a gas vent pipe to divert gases outside the riser, and guide brackets to secure and align the pipes, reducing the need for pipe bending and protecting against deck interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If pipes are bent to fit through limited deck space, then the riser assembly can be installed on the vessel, but the installation time increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a 2D bent-pipe configuration to a 3D spatial arrangement where pipes pass through the gas handler housing in different directions. The housing provides a three-dimensional space that accommodates multiple pipes without requiring them to bend, thus reducing installation time while fitting within the limited deck area.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas handler housing acts as an intermediary structure that receives and routes multiple pipes through it. Instead of bending pipes to navigate around each other, the housing serves as a central hub that directs pipes through designated openings, simplifying the installation process and reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If pipes are bent to fit through limited deck space, then the riser assembly can be installed on the vessel, but the risk of pipe deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional space within and around the gas handler housing to route pipes directly without bending. Pipes pass through the housing in different spatial dimensions, eliminating the need for deformation and maintaining structural integrity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas handler housing serves as a protective intermediary that guides pipes through its structure. The housing provides a controlled pathway that prevents pipes from being bent or deformed during installation and operation, thereby reducing the risk of failure.
3Length of stationary object
If pipes are attached to the outside of the riser, then the overall exterior diameter can be reduced, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pipe routing function with the gas handler housing structure. Instead of separately attaching pipes to the riser and then routing them around the gas handler, the pipes are integrated into the housing design, passing through it directly. This combination simplifies the assembly process while maintaining a compact overall diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas handler housing serves multiple functions: it houses the gas handling mechanism, provides structural support, and acts as a conduit for multiple pipes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pipe routing components, simplifying manufacturing and assembly while keeping the overall diameter compact.
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
This solution streamlines the assembly process by allowing all pipes to pass through a housing, reducing the overall diameter and preventing pipe deformation, thus enhancing the efficiency and safety of underwater operations.
Implementation Method 1
a piston configured to move along the elongated cavity... an elastomeric body configured to be pressed by the piston to close the elongated cavity
Data Source
AI summary
Method, riser assembly and gas handler for diverting gas from a riser. The riser assembly includes a riser having a first end and a second end and a conduit extending from the first end to the second end; a gas handler connected to the riser and provided between the first end and the second end, the gas handler having an external casing; plural pipes attached to an outside of the riser such that at least one pipe of the plural pipes enters through the external casing; and a gas vent pipe configured to start at the gas handler and extend towards the second end of the riser and the gas vent pipe is further configured to divert a gas from the gas handler through the outside of the riser.