Subsea Insulation Shroud Internal Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea insulation shrouds face challenges in achieving dimensional accuracy and flexibility due to expensive tooling and rigidity requirements, which hinder adaptation to changing system needs and increase the risk of hydrate formation in deepwater wells.
Innovation Solution
An insulation shroud with an internal support structure, comprising a frame and mesh material, is designed to provide rigidity while allowing for precise molding and easy adaptation, using a molding process that positions the support structure within the insulating material to maintain thermal insulation and facilitate installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an outer plastic shell is used to provide rigidity to the insulation, then the insulation maintains structural integrity, but it is difficult to obtain shells with sufficient dimensional accuracy and the tooling is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation shroud is divided into two functional components: a flexible insulation material and a separate internal support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the insulation material provides thermal protection while the internal support structure provides rigidity and dimensional accuracy, eliminating the need for expensive outer plastic shell tooling
Solution Approach 2:
The rigidity function is extracted from the outer plastic shell and transferred to an internal support structure made of wire mesh or rigid material. This internal support structure is positioned within the insulation material, allowing the insulation to maintain its insulating properties while gaining the necessary structural support without requiring expensive external molding tooling
2Strength
If expensive tooling is used to make the outer plastic shell, then sufficient rigidity is achieved, but the profile cannot be easily changed as system requirements change
Solution Approach 1:
The internal support structure is designed to be adaptable to different connector profiles and system requirements. Rather than requiring new expensive tooling for each profile change, the internal support structure can be repositioned, reconfigured, or replaced within the insulation material, allowing the insulation shroud to adapt to changing system requirements efficiently
3Stability of the object's composition
If the insulation material is made rigid enough to prevent distortion, then it can seal against the connector, but it increases the risk of hydrate formation due to reduced thermal insulation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation shroud is divided into two functional components: a flexible insulation material and a separate internal support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the insulation material provides thermal protection while the internal support structure provides rigidity and dimensional accuracy, eliminating the need for expensive outer plastic shell tooling
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation shroud combines flexible insulation material with an internal support structure made of wire mesh or rigid material. This composite construction provides both the thermal insulation properties of the flexible material and the structural stability of the rigid internal support, preventing distortion and sealing against the connector while maintaining effective thermal insulation to prevent hydrate formation
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 enhances dimensional accuracy, reduces production costs, and effectively prevents hydrate formation by maintaining thermal insulation and structural integrity, addressing the limitations of prior art designs.
Implementation Method 1
provide insulation around the components to delay the cooling of the hydrocarbon fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to an insulation shroud with internal support structure. In one illustrative embodiment, the insulation shroud includes a body adapted to be positioned around a subsea component, the body including an insulating material having an internal support structure positioned therein and a door.