Staggered Water Intake Riser Assembly to Prevent Offshore Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water intake riser assemblies for off-shore structures, such as FLNG plants, face issues with simultaneous clogging of tubular structures, which can disrupt water supply and create undesirable flow field effects, leading to potential interruptions in hydrocarbon processing.
Innovation Solution
A water intake riser assembly comprising a bundle of at least two tubular conduits with staggered distal portions, where one conduit's distal portion extends further than the other, reducing the likelihood of simultaneous blockage and allowing independent operation, thereby maintaining water supply and minimizing flow field interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple tubular conduits are arranged in a regular array, then water intake capacity is improved, but the risk of simultaneous clogging increases and flow field interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging tubular conduits at different vertical positions rather than in a regular symmetric array. Specifically, at least one tubular conduit has a distal end positioned at a different depth than others, creating an asymmetric configuration that prevents simultaneous clogging while maintaining water intake capacity. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that clogging events affecting one conduit do not necessarily affect others, thereby improving system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the water intake function across multiple independently positioned tubular conduits. Each conduit operates semi-independently with its own distal end position, allowing the system to maintain water intake capacity while distributing the clogging risk across segmented, non-uniform positions rather than having all conduits vulnerable at the same location.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple tubular conduits are arranged in a regular array, then water intake capacity is improved, but flow field interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric vertical positioning of tubular conduits disrupts the uniform flow field patterns that would occur in a regular array. By placing conduits at different depths, the patent creates varied flow paths and reduces constructive interference between adjacent conduits, thereby maintaining water intake capacity while minimizing flow field interference.
3Ease of manufacture
If all tubular conduits have the same length, then manufacturing is simplified, but inspection and cleaning difficulty increases when clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic variability in conduit lengths while maintaining manufacturability. By allowing at least one tubular conduit to have a different length than others, the system enables easier inspection and cleaning access for specific conduits without requiring complete system shutdown or complex disassembly, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining reasonable manufacturing simplicity.
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 configuration ensures continuous water supply to off-shore structures by reducing the risk of complete interruption due to clogging and enhances the independence of water inflow for each conduit, facilitating easier inspection and cleaning, while maintaining efficient hydrocarbon processing.
Implementation Method 1
a water intake riser assembly that is suspendable from an off-shore structure, comprising a bundle of at least a first tubular conduit and a second tubular conduit generally stretching side by side along a length direction
Implementation Method 2
the known array of tubular structures may cause an undesirable combined effect on the water flow field as it is being taken in from the ocean
Data Source
AI summary
A water intake assembly (105) is suspendable from an off-shore structure (102) is proposed. It has a bundle (106) of at least a first tubular conduit (106A) and a second tubular conduit (106B) generally stretching side by side along a length direction. At least a part of the distal portion (109) of the first tubular conduit extends further in the length direction than the second tubular conduit when in fully suspended condition. Described used of such a water intake riser assembly include: a method of producing a liquefied hydrocarbon stream and a method of producing a vaporous hydrocarbon steam.