Subsea Fluid Storage Bladder Collapse via Rotatable Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea fluid storage systems face challenges in maintaining a predictable and repeatable volume, often experiencing unwanted over- or under-pressurization due to the difficulty in controlling the fluid storage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A subsea fluid storage system comprising a pressure-balanced reservoir with a soft, collapsible bladder and a rotatable piston that allows for predictable and repeatable collapse, using a piston rotator and guide sleeve or helical tubes with rollers to manage fluid pressure and prevent binding, along with valves and sensors for leak detection and pressure regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a soft bladder is used for fluid storage, then the system can be compact and flexible, but the volume becomes unpredictable and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using a rotatable piston that changes the geometric parameters of the bladder (length, diameter, volume) through rotation. The piston's rotation transforms the bladder from an extended state to a collapsed state in a controlled, predictable manner, converting an unpredictable soft volume into a controllable parameter-based system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through sensors that detect the piston position and bladder state, providing information back to the control system. This feedback mechanism ensures predictable volume control by monitoring and adjusting the piston rotation to achieve the desired bladder collapse and fluid discharge.
2Quantity of substance
If the bladder collapses completely to empty fluid, then fluid removal is complete, but the bladder may bind against the reservoir wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the binding problem by adding rotational motion as a new dimension to the piston movement. Instead of simple linear collapse, the piston rotates while moving, causing the bladder to collapse in a spiral or twisted manner that prevents it from binding against the reservoir wall, enabling complete fluid removal without operational interference.
3Productivity
If pressure is increased to force fluid out, then fluid discharge is faster, but over-pressurization can damage the system
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service through pressure-balanced design where the bladder's own elastic recovery force and the controlled piston rotation work together to discharge fluid without requiring excessive external pressure. The bladder naturally pushes fluid outward as it collapses, and the system regulates this self-generated pressure to prevent over-pressurization damage.
4Device complexity
If the piston moves linearly to collapse the bladder, then the mechanism is simple, but the bladder binds and fluid removal is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static linear piston movement into a dynamic rotational motion. The rotatable piston introduces rotational dynamics that enable the bladder to collapse without binding, completing fluid removal while maintaining relatively simple mechanical components. The rotation converts a simple linear mechanism into a more effective dynamic system.
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 ensures a stable and controlled fluid storage by maintaining a balance between interior and exterior pressures, preventing damage to the bladder and ensuring complete fluid removal, while also providing protection against over- or under-pressurization and leak detection.
Implementation Method 1
soft bladder (20) disposed within pressure balanced reservoir (10)... rotatable piston (30) configured to rotate axially, twisting soft bladder (20) as rotatable piston (30) travels along a predetermined axis within pressure balanced reservoir (10)
Implementation Method 2
pressure balanced reservoir (10)... maintaining a balance between an interior and an exterior of soft bladder (20)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Using a subsea fluid storage system 1 comprising a soft bladder (20) disposed within a pressure balanced reservoir (10), a rotatable piston (30) disposed at least partially within the pressure balanced reservoir where a top of the soft bladder is in communication with the rotatable piston, and a piston rotator (50) operative to rotate and twist the rotatable piston as the rotatable piston travels along a predetermined axis within the pressure balanced reservoir, a predictable and repeatable collapse of the soft bladder may be obtained by allowing the rotating piston (30) to cooperatively travel about the piston rotator (50) to twist the soft bladder (20) as the rotating piston moves along the predetermined axis in such a manner as to collapse the bladder inward, thereby emptying the bladder of fluid within the bladder. The rotation of the piston pulls the soft bladder away from an interior of the pressure balanced reservoir, thereby preventing binding or pinching of the bladder with respect to the interior of the pressure balanced reservoir. In configurations, fluid is allowed to enter the pressure balanced reservoir via a valve (54) until a balance is achieved between an interior and an exterior of the pressure balanced reservoir.