Subsea Crossing Bridge Structure for Conduit Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea conduits crossing each other on the seabed without proper securing can lead to abrasion, thermal, and electrical interference, posing potential hazards, especially when one conduit is a high voltage power cable.
Innovation Solution
A crossing bridge with a shell having chambers that fill with seawater, allowing conduits to pass under and over, sealed by hydrophilic valves, and supported by structural elements to prevent contact and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conduits are not properly secured at the crossing, then the installation process is simpler and faster, but abrasion occurs which may lead to fault and potential hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The crossing bridge acts as an intermediary structure between two crossing conduits. It provides a dedicated support mechanism that prevents direct contact between conduits, eliminating abrasion hazards while maintaining installation efficiency through a pre-fabricated modular design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If one conduit is thermally and electrically shielded from the other conduit, then thermal and electrical interference is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crossing bridge serves as a physical intermediary that separates two conduits in space, preventing thermal and electrical interference through spatial isolation. This approach achieves shielding without requiring complex additional shielding structures, as the bridge itself provides the necessary separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The crossing bridge introduces a vertical dimension to the conduit arrangement, allowing conduits to pass above and below the bridge structure. This spatial separation in the vertical dimension effectively shields conduits from thermal and electrical interference without requiring complex lateral shielding mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a crossing bridge structure is installed to secure conduits, then abrasion and interference are prevented, but the installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crossing bridge is designed as a multi-functional universal structure that simultaneously provides mechanical support, abrasion prevention, thermal isolation, and electrical shielding. By consolidating multiple protective functions into a single integrated component, the design reduces overall system complexity despite the added structural element.
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
Prevents abrasion and electrical interference by maintaining conduit separation, ensuring stable conduit positioning and reducing heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the hydrophilic valves may comprise at least one seal that expands in response to absorption of seawater and thereby closes the hydrophilic valve
Implementation Method 2
at least one seal that expands in response to absorption of seawater
Data Source
AI summary
A crossing bridge for subsea use and a method of installing the crossing bridge is provided. The crossing bridge comprises: a first passageway arranged to enable a first subsea conduit to pass under the crossing bridge; a second passageway arranged to enable a second subsea conduit to pass over the crossing bridge and over the first subsea conduit; one or more chambers for storing seawater when the crossing bridge is submerged in seawater; and one or more valves configured to enable seawater to enter the chamber when the crossing bridge is submerged in seawater.