Subsea Accumulator Volume Reduction via Variable Displacement Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea accumulator systems face inefficiency as they require high initial pressure to operate low-pressure functions, leading to wasted energy due to throttling and excessive volume, where the pressure decreases as fluid is discharged, necessitating larger and higher-pressure accumulators to meet varying operational demands.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with pumps and motors arranged to provide lower pressure at the start and higher pressure at the end of the stroke, utilizing energy more efficiently by directing fluid flow according to operational requirements, and employing variable displacement pumps to adjust pressure and flow rates dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional accumulators are used with compressed gas to pressurize fluid, then substantial volume of fluid can be pressurized and discharged, but the pressure decreases as fluid is discharged requiring larger and higher-pressure accumulators
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the displacement of pumps to match the varying pressure requirements during the stroke. As fluid is discharged and pressure decreases, the variable displacement pumps increase their displacement to maintain the required pressure profile, resolving the contradiction between maintaining pressure stability and providing substantial fluid volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the pump system by using variable displacement pumps that can adjust their displacement ratio. This allows the system to modify flow rate and pressure output dynamically, enabling the accumulator to deliver consistent pressure throughout fluid discharge without requiring larger or higher-pressure accumulators.
2Reliability
If higher pressure is provided by the accumulator than is needed, then the lowest pressure from the accumulator can exceed the highest operational pressure of the system, but energy is wasted as heat through throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The variable displacement pumps dynamically adjust their output to match the exact pressure requirements of the operated function throughout the stroke. This eliminates the need to provide excessive pressure that would require throttling, thereby preventing energy waste while ensuring pressure adequacy for all operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure and flow parameters dynamically using variable displacement pumps. Instead of maintaining a constant high pressure that exceeds operational needs, the pumps adjust their displacement to provide precisely the pressure required at each moment, eliminating throttling losses while maintaining reliable pressure delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If larger and higher-pressure accumulators are used to meet varying operational demands, then sufficient pressure and volume are available, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses variable displacement pumps that can change their displacement ratio dynamically to adapt to varying operational demands. This allows a single, appropriately-sized accumulator system to provide the full range of pressure and volume requirements without needing multiple accumulators or oversized equipment, maintaining operational flexibility while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable displacement pump system serves multiple functions within a single configuration. The same pump system handles both low-pressure high-volume requirements and high-pressure low-volume requirements by adjusting its displacement, eliminating the need for separate accumulator systems for different operational phases and reducing overall system complexity.
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 reduces the required accumulator volume by up to 50%, minimizing wasted energy and allowing the same or smaller accumulators to handle increased tasks, while ensuring fluid flow meets operational pressures without excessive heat loss.
Implementation Method 1
pumps and motors arranged according to the method of this invention
Implementation Method 2
providing for the flow of fluids in a subsea environment in which volumes are required to be stored under pressure
Data Source
AI summary
In a subsea system where subsea devices are operated using a pressurized fluid from one or more accumulators, the method of providing flow of pressurized fluid to operate a device which is greater than the flow from an accumulator providing the flow, comprising discharging the accumulator to drive one or more motors, driving one or more pumps by the one or more motors, the one or more pumps having a larger displacement than the one or more motors such that the one or more pump outputs a greater volume of fluid than the motor consumes, and delivering the output of the one or more pumps to operated the subsea device.