Submerged Float and Tubular Pipe Installation for Deep Sea Towers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing depth of seabeds requires longer and bulkier risers and floats for self-supporting towers, making installation methods more complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
The method involves separately transporting and installing the float and tubular pipe, with the float being submerged and tilted vertically before the pipe is suspended, eliminating the need for pivoting mechanisms and allowing for simpler and less expensive installation by using ordinary lifting means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the float and tubular pipe are transported together using towing means, then they can be installed as a combined assembly, but their increasingly large dimensions for deeper seabeds make this method more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The installation method is divided into separate phases: first transporting and installing the float independently, then separately transporting and attaching the tubular pipe. This segmentation allows each component to be handled with appropriate equipment for its specific size and weight, avoiding the complexity of towing combined bulky assemblies to great depths.
2Ease of operation
If pivoting members are used to allow the pipe to pivot from horizontal to vertical position, then the pipe can be properly positioned, but this adds complexity to the installation system
Solution Approach 1:
The float is preliminarily positioned and submerged in a vertical orientation before the tubular pipe is attached. This preliminary action eliminates the need for pivoting mechanisms, as the pipe is already in its final vertical position when suspended from the float, thereby reducing system complexity.
3Length of moving object
If bulky floats are used to keep long tubular pipes suspended vertically in deep marine environments, then the pipes can reach greater depths, but the installation becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The installation procedure is segmented into distinct steps: float deployment, float positioning, and pipe attachment. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently, making the overall process of installing extremely long towers more manageable and less complex despite the increased scale.
4Device complexity
If the float and pipe are transported independently, then ordinary lifting means of modest capacity can be used, but additional steps are required to connect them
Solution Approach 1:
The float is preliminarily submerged and positioned in the water before the pipe is attached. This preliminary action allows the use of modest-capacity lifting equipment for each component separately, while the pre-positioning of the float minimizes the additional steps required for connection, thereby maintaining installation efficiency.
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 approach simplifies and reduces the cost of installing self-supporting towers in deep sea environments by allowing independent transportation and installation of the float and pipe, reducing the complexity and expense associated with larger dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the float exerts a surface-directed upward force that keeps the rising tubular pipe vertically away from the anchoring facility
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for installing a self-supporting tower. According to the method, an anchoring mechanism (32) is provided and installed on said bed, and a float (18) and a tubular pipe (68) are provided. Next, said float (18) and said tubular pipe (68) are submerged, then said float (18) and the tubular pipe (68) are driven towards said bed (12) in order to hitch one of the ends (72) of said tubular pipe to said anchoring mechanism (32), while said float (18) is securely fastened to the other (70) of the ends in order to keep said pipe (68) vertical above said anchoring mechanism (32). According to the invention, said tubular pipe (68) and said float (18) are supplied separately, and the float (18) is kept submerged at a distance away from said anchoring mechanism (32); and said tubular pipe (68) is suspended from said float (18) via said other (70) of said ends.