Pass-Through Tether Management for ROV Launch and Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current launch and recovery systems for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are limited by tether capacity, require armored umbilicals, and involve significant costs and environmental impacts due to the need for large vessels and hydraulic power units, while also posing safety risks during heavy weather deployments.
Innovation Solution
A pass-through tether management system that eliminates the need for armored umbilicals by using a continuous, neutrally buoyant synthetic rope with a traction system and constant tension mechanism, reducing deck weight and vessel size, and incorporating all-electric components to eliminate hydraulic power units, along with passive guidance and overload protection for safer operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional armored umbilical is used for ROV deployment, then the ROV can be connected to the host platform, but the system weight increases and deck space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the umbilical function into two separate components: a lightweight synthetic rope for mechanical support and positioning, and a separate electrical cable for power and data transmission. This segmentation eliminates the need for heavy armored umbilicals while maintaining all necessary functions, directly resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The synthetic rope is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing mechanical support, enabling ROV positioning, and serving as a guide for cable deployment. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliable ROV connection without requiring the heavy armored structure of traditional umbilicals.
2Ease of operation
If a dedicated marine vessel with large cranes and full crew is used for ROV deployment, then the ROV can be deployed and recovered, but operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential ROV deployment and recovery functions from the complex dedicated marine vessel platform. By using a simplified launch and recovery system that can operate from smaller vessels or even shore-based locations, the patent eliminates the need for expensive dedicated MSVs with large cranes and extensive crews, directly addressing the contradiction between operational capability and cost reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simpler, less expensive equipment for ROV deployment and recovery that does not require the permanent infrastructure of dedicated marine vessels. This approach uses cost-effective solutions that can be deployed temporarily as needed, significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining deployment capability.
3Force
If hydraulic power units are used for tether management, then the system can handle heavy loads, but maintenance requirements increase and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces hydraulic power units with electric motors and winches for tether management. This substitution eliminates the complexity of hydraulic systems including pumps, reservoirs, and fluid management, while providing equivalent or superior force capabilities. The electric system requires minimal maintenance and has no environmental impact from hydraulic fluid leakage, directly resolving the contradiction between tether handling capacity and maintenance requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the ROV operates at greater distances from the host platform, then the operational flexibility increases, but the tether capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic tether management system with winches that can pay out and retrieve tether as needed, rather than relying on fixed spool capacity. This allows the ROV to operate at extended distances while the tether length can be adjusted dynamically based on operational requirements. The electric winch system can rapidly deploy or retrieve tether, providing flexibility that overcomes the limitation of fixed tether capacity.
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 allows for extended ROV excursion distances, reduced maintenance and troubleshooting, simplified tether replacement, and improved safety during heavy weather, while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs by eliminating hydraulic systems and reducing deck space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A pass through tether management system that eliminates the need for armored umbilicals by using a continuous, neutrally buoyant synthetic rope
Data Source
AI summary
A launch and recovery management system with a pass through tether for an offshore object. The system turns a free flying remotely operated vehicle system into a tether management controlled system by separately supporting the tether management system frame with an independent load line so the tether or umbilical only passes through the frame going direct to a remotely operated vehicle. A traction system coupled with a constant tension system on the tether management system topside maintains the tether or umbilical directly below the launch and recovery system down to the desired working depth thereby avoiding any slack or impacts of current forces.