Subsea Extraction Pipe Buoyancy and Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for extracting materials from the bottom of bodies of water, such as seabeds, are cumbersome and costly to operate, especially in storm conditions or when the surface installation needs to be temporarily moved, due to the need for reassembling the transport pipe and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A device with a buoyancy assembly around the transport pipe to maintain it in a vertical configuration, allowing for safer and more efficient operation by keeping the pipe submerged and operational regardless of surface conditions, and a flexible upper part that can disconnect from the surface assembly for easy reconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid transport pipe is used to connect the surface installation and bottom assembly, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates during storms or when surface movement is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The transport pipe is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid lower part for structural strength and a flexible upper part for ease of operation. The rigid lower part maintains its shape and provides structural integrity, while the flexible upper part can accommodate surface vessel movements and storm conditions without compromising the connection between bottom assembly and surface installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the transport pipe are assigned different mechanical properties: the lower part near the bottom assembly uses rigid material for strength, while the upper part uses flexible material for adaptability. This local differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally under different operational conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the entire transport pipe is made flexible, then the ease of operation is improved during surface movement, but the structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport pipe is segmented into rigid and flexible sections, with the rigid lower part maintaining structural strength and the flexible upper part providing ease of operation during surface vessel movements. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both strength and flexibility where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid lower part is positioned where structural strength is critical for maintaining the connection to the bottom assembly, while the flexible upper part is positioned where adaptability to surface movements is needed. This local quality differentiation optimizes both strength and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the transport pipe is raised during storms or equipment reassembly, then the safety is improved, but the loss of time increases due to reassembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible upper part dynamically adapts to storm conditions and surface vessel movements, allowing the transport pipe to remain submerged and operational without requiring raising during storms or equipment reassembly. This dynamic flexibility eliminates the need for time-consuming reassembly operations while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The change in mechanical properties from rigid to flexible in the upper part allows the system to transition from a static, time-consuming reassembly requirement to a dynamic, continuous operational state. The flexible section can accommodate surface movements and storm conditions without requiring pipe raising, thus reducing time loss while maintaining safety.
4Manufacturing precision
If a rigid transport pipe is used, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates during surface vessel movements
Solution Approach 1:
The transport pipe is segmented into a rigid lower part for manufacturing precision and a flexible upper part for adaptability during surface vessel movements. This segmentation allows the rigid section to maintain precise manufacturing tolerances for critical connections while the flexible section adapts to surface movements and storm conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid lower part is positioned where manufacturing precision is critical for maintaining stable connections to the bottom assembly, while the flexible upper part is positioned where adaptability to surface vessel movements is needed. This local quality differentiation achieves both precision and adaptability.
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
Enables safer and more cost-effective extraction of materials by maintaining the transport pipe in a vertical configuration, allowing for quick disconnection and reconnection, and facilitating permanent immersion without needing to be raised during storms or equipment reassembly.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyancy assembly (28) mounted around at least an upper region of the transport pipe (26) to ensure that it is maintained in a substantially vertical configuration in the body of water (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
This device comprises a bottom assembly (24) comprising means (50, 52) of gathering material from the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12) and a pipe (26) for transporting the gathered material, the pipe being connected at a first point (60) to the bottom assembly (24) and connected at a second point (62) to a surface assembly (20). The bottom assembly (24) comprises means (36) of anchorage into the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12). The extraction device (18) comprises a buoyancy assembly (28) completely immersed under the expanse of water (12). The buoyancy assembly (28) is secured to at least one upper region of the transport pipe (26) in order to keep the transport pipe (26) in a substantially vertical configuration in the expanse of water (12) between the bottom assembly (24) and the upper region when the second point (62) is disconnected from the surface assembly (20).