Seawater Intake Riser With Distributed Ballast for Stable Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seawater intake risers with solid ballast systems require heavy-duty cranes for installation, have restrictive installation windows, and can be unstable under non-optimal sea conditions, necessitating long wire slings and increasing the risk of uncontrolled movements during deployment.
Innovation Solution
A seawater intake riser using a distributed ballast system with a string of interconnected ballast elements, allowing for easier installation and improved stability by reducing the need for heavy-duty cranes and minimizing axial added mass and drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rigid pipes are used for seawater intake risers, then structural strength is maintained, but corrosion damage accumulates over time reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining corrosion-resistant alloy (such as stainless steel or titanium) with protective coatings or cladding layers. This composite structure provides both the structural strength of the alloy and enhanced corrosion resistance through the protective outer layer, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength and improving corrosion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting alloys with specific compositional ratios (e.g., chromium content in stainless steel, titanium purity) to achieve optimal balance between strength and corrosion resistance. By adjusting material parameters rather than using single-material solutions, the system achieves both structural integrity and corrosion protection.
2Reliability
If protective coatings are applied to prevent corrosion, then corrosion resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective coating function with the structural component by integrating the coating application directly into the pipe manufacturing process. This combining approach allows the protective layer to be applied during fabrication rather than as a separate post-processing step, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining corrosion protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs self-service mechanisms where the protective coating is designed to self-prime and self-heal to some extent. The coating composition includes additives that automatically adhere to the substrate and repair minor defects without requiring external intervention, thereby simplifying maintenance and reducing operational complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If material costs are reduced by using standard alloys, then manufacturing cost decreases, but corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using corrosion-resistant alloys specifically in the seawater contact portions of the riser system, while using more economical materials for non-critical sections. This localized application of high-performance materials optimizes the balance between manufacturing cost and corrosion resistance, avoiding the need to expensive materials throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes material parameters by selecting cost-effective alloys with optimized compositions for specific corrosion environments. By carefully adjusting alloying elements and heat treatment parameters, the system achieves adequate corrosion resistance at lower material costs compared to using premium alloys throughout the entire structure.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 3D~3E
AI summary
A seawater intake riser (100) is configured for intake of water from a body of water including a riser pipe (106), a riser head (104) configured for connection to a water tank in a vessel and a riser inlet (102) configured for the intake of water. The riser head arranged at a proximal end of the riser pipe and the riser inlet arranged at a distal end of the riser pipe. The riser inlet includes a grid element (110) with openings allowing water to flow into the interior of the riser pipe while blocking objects floating in the flowing water to enter. The grid element includes a connector configured to attach a ballast (108) to the grid element. The ballast is a distributed plurality of ballast elements (120) in a string. The string at one end thereof connected to the connector. The ballast elements in the string are spaced apart from each other by intermediate lines.