Subsea Hot Stab Connector High Flow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea hot stab connections face challenges in achieving high fluid flow rates necessary for offshore oil and gas production, requiring improved systems and methods to enhance fluid transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A subsea fluid connector design featuring a body with multiple fluid passages and openings, including a transition chamber, that provides a high flow capacity path through a combination of independent fluid passages and a standardized API connection profile, allowing for increased effective flow area and separate fluid flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional hot stab connection designs are used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but fluid flow capacity is insufficient for high flow rate requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is divided into multiple independent fluid passages, each handling a portion of the total fluid flow. This segmentation allows the total flow capacity to be distributed across several parallel passages, increasing overall flow capacity while keeping each individual passage relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a transition chamber that creates a three-dimensional flow distribution network. Fluid enters through a single port and is distributed through the transition chamber to multiple openings at a different axial position, adding a spatial dimension to the flow path configuration and enabling high flow capacity without proportionally increasing linear dimensions.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple fluid passages and openings are added to increase flow capacity, then fluid flow capacity is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transition chamber serves multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes fluid to multiple passages, provides structural support for the openings, and acts as a flow mixing chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional precision-critical components while achieving the desired flow capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the fluid passages, particularly by making them elongated or oblong rather than circular, and by positioning multiple openings at axially displaced locations. These parameter changes increase the effective flow area while allowing for more tolerant manufacturing specifications compared to traditional designs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate fluid flow paths are created for different flow rates, then adaptability to different flow sizes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector provides dynamic adaptability through its transition chamber design, which automatically distributes fluid flow among multiple passages based on the operating conditions. The system can accommodate different flow rates without requiring manual configuration or additional valves, as the flow naturally distributes through the available passages.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fluid passages are merged into a single connector body with a unified transition chamber. This combining of multiple flow paths into one integrated structure provides the adaptability of multiple passages while avoiding the complexity of separate, independently controllable flow path systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea fluid connector is disclosed. The body of the connector has a first portion and a connection profile portion, a first port through an outer surface of the first portion, a plurality of openings through an outer surface of the connection profile portion, and a plurality of fluid passages through the body and coupled between the first port and the plurality of openings. The subsea fluid connector may have a first fluid flow path extending through the plurality of fluid passages between the first port through the outer surface of the first portion and the plurality of openings through the outer surface of the connection profile portion, and a second fluid flow path extending through a fluid passage between a second port through the outer surface of the first portion and a third port through the outer surface of the connection profile portion.