Subsea Cooler Pipe Support for Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submerged coolers in subsea applications face challenges such as marine bio-fouling, corrosion, thermal expansion leading to longitudinal elongation of piping, and structural integrity issues due to temperature variations, as well as difficulties in regulating cooling efficiency and managing abrasion and vibration loads.
Innovation Solution
A pipe support arrangement with moveable and insulated pipe support beams, utilizing brackets and restraining means to limit longitudinal translation and prevent corrosion, while allowing for unobstructed seawater flow and enhanced structural integrity, and using materials with low friction coefficients to mitigate marine bio-fouling and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooler pipes are made of corrosion-resistant alloys with oxide layers, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the oxide layer is soft and cannot withstand abrasion, leading to increased corrosion rates when sliding occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A Teflon® coating is applied as an intermediary layer between the corrosion-resistant alloy pipe surface and the pipe support bracket. This coating protects the soft oxide layer from abrasion during sliding movements while maintaining the underlying corrosion resistance of the alloy material.
2Strength
If pipe support beams are firmly welded to the frame to ensure structural integrity, then structural strength is improved, but fabrication complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe support system is segmented into separate components: the pipe support beam is detachably connected to the frame via brackets using bolts instead of welding. This allows the beam to be firmly secured for structural integrity while enabling easier fabrication, assembly, and maintenance without welding operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pipe support beam is rigidly fixed to prevent movement, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion of the piping causes stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe support beam is designed with moveable connections via brackets that allow controlled sliding movements. This dynamic capability enables the beam to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the piping while maintaining structural stability during operation.
4Reliability
If the pipe support beam is allowed to move freely to accommodate thermal expansion, then thermal expansion accommodation is improved, but structural stability and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system uses bolted joints with controlled clearance parameters that allow limited sliding movements for thermal expansion while maintaining sufficient structural stability. The bracket design parameters enable controlled movement within specific ranges while preventing excessive displacement.
5Reliability
If sliding between component parts is prevented to protect the oxide layer, then corrosion resistance is improved, but thermal expansion causes stress buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The Teflon® coating serves as a protective intermediary that enables controlled sliding movements without directly exposing the soft oxide layer to abrasion. This allows the system to accommodate thermal expansion through movement while the coating protects the underlying corrosion-resistant surface.
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 solution effectively addresses marine bio-fouling, corrosion, and structural integrity issues, ensuring efficient cooling, reduced abrasion, and improved resistance to thermal expansion and vibration, while simplifying fabrication by avoiding welding of pipe support beams to the frame.
Implementation Method 1
longitudinal elongation of the cooler piping, due to thermal expansion
Implementation Method 2
The surfaces of the brackets in contact with the pipe support beam and the surfaces of the pipe support beam in contact with the brackets can be polished
Implementation Method 3
the seawater passes through the common volume at a relatively slow rate due to natural convection, i.e. the seawater rises through the subsea cooler since it is heated by the fluid to be cooled
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The present invention relates to improved subsea or submerged cooler designs for subsea applications, and particularly to a unique pipe support arrangement (5, 16, 17, 18) in a submerged cooler (20), an improved submerged cooler frame (1) and an improved submerged cooler (20).