Short J-Lay Tower Pipe Deployment With Multi-Fall Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
J-lay pipeline systems face stability issues due to the self-weight of the tower and vessel acceleration, leading to fatigue and increased mass, and the double-drum hoist winch system is inefficient in terms of load capacity and speed, with rope redundancy and reconfiguring processes being impractical.
Innovation Solution
A system with a shorter J-lay tower and a multi-fall rope system, where the loading arm is raised using a hoist winch and pulleys, and the pipe section is lowered through a series of strokes, with a moveable clamping element and hang off clamp working together to deploy the pipe, allowing for efficient movement and reduced tower height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional double-drum hoist winch system is used to raise and lower the loading arm and pipe sections, then the system can perform basic deployment functions, but the load capacity and operational speed are insufficient and rope redundancy creates practical difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional double-drum hoist winch mechanical system with a multi-fall rope system that uses a single winch drum. This substitution maintains the mechanical lifting function while improving efficiency through optimized rope configuration and fall arrangement, eliminating the need for complex drum reconfiguring and providing better load capacity and speed characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-fall rope system employs dynamic rope management where multiple falls are systematically paid out and taken in during the lifting and lowering operations. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing load conditions and achieve higher productivity without requiring a complex multi-drum mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If a tall J-lay tower is used to support the loading arm and pipe sections, then the system can accommodate deep water deployments, but the self-weight of the tower causes stability issues and fatigue on the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight system that balances the self-weight of the J-lay tower and the loading arm assembly. By providing counterbalancing forces, the system reduces the net load on the vessel structure, minimizing stability issues and fatigue while maintaining the tower's ability to accommodate deep water deployments through its full range of motion
Solution Approach 2:
The J-lay tower is designed as a multi-functional structure that not only supports the loading arm and pipe sections but also houses the counterweight mechanism and provides guidance for the pipe during deployment. This integrated design achieves water depth adaptability while reducing the tower's effective weight impact on vessel stability through clever structural arrangement
3Stability of the object's composition
If the J-lay tower is made shorter to reduce mass and improve stability, then vessel stability improves, but the ability to deploy pipe sections efficiently is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hang-off clamp as an intermediary device that transfers the pipe section from the loading arm to the deployed position. This intermediate clamping mechanism allows the pipe to be securely held and controlled during deployment, compensating for the reduced tower height and maintaining deployment efficiency without requiring a tall tower structure
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment process is segmented into distinct phases: loading arm positioning, pipe section clamping by the hang-off clamp, and controlled lowering. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally within a compact tower configuration, maintaining productivity while reducing overall tower height and mass
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 reduces the height and mass of the tower, enhances operational efficiency, and allows easier tower lowering when not in use, enabling stable vessel operation and faster deployment with reduced instability, especially in rough weather.
Implementation Method 1
A system with a shorter J-lay tower and a multi-fall rope system, where the loading arm is raised using a hoist winch and pulleys
Implementation Method 2
The loading arm is raised using a hoist winch and pulleys
Implementation Method 3
with a moveable clamping element and hang off clamp working together to deploy the pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, apparatus and method for building and deploying an elongate element in a J-lay operation is provided. The system includes an upright structure (206), a holding element for holding a segment of the elongate element (204) adjacent to the upright structure (206), a moveable clamping element (222) for clamping the segment and lowering the segment, wherein the upright structure (206) is shorter in length than the segment, wherein the moveable clamping element (222) is moveable through a stroke length, and the stroke length is shorter than the segment.