Subsea Fluid Conduit Connection Arrangement With Pivotable Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing subsea connection arrangements face challenges in aligning and securing heavy and stiff pipelines or flow-lines due to the high forces and moments required, which can increase time and cost for connection operations.

Innovation Solution

A displaceable connection arrangement with a coupling device mounted on a slideable and pivotable frame, allowing the frame and coupling device to move relative to the supporting unit, reducing the forces needed for alignment and enabling tilting and pivoting to match the angles of the pipeline or flow-line ends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the coupling device is immovably secured to the displaceable supporting unit, then the structure is simple and stable, but high forces and moments are required for aligning the pipeline termination with the coupling device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforces and moments required for alignmentVSAvoidstructure of coupling device mounting

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is made movable relative to the supporting unit through slideable and pivotable mounting, allowing dynamic adjustment during alignment operations. This reduces the forces and moments needed by enabling the coupling device to adapt its position and orientation to match the pipeline termination angles, rather than requiring fixed rigid alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection arrangement is divided into separable components: the supporting unit and the frame with coupling device. The frame can move independently relative to the supporting unit, allowing the alignment function to be separated from the displacement function, thereby reducing the forces required for alignment while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the coupling device is fixed to the supporting unit, then the alignment process requires high forces and moments, but the structure remains simple

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment processVSAvoidforces required for alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The frame's ability to slide and pivot relative to the supporting unit provides dynamic adaptability during alignment operations. This movement capability allows the coupling device to naturally accommodate angle mismatches between the pipeline termination and coupling device, significantly reducing the forces and moments required for proper alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Force

If the frame is slideable and pivotable, then the forces for alignment are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforces and moments required for alignmentVSAvoidmounting mechanism of frame

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8408842B2Connection arrangement for subsea connection of fluid conduits

Publication Date: 2013.04.02 VETCO GRAY SCANDINAVIA

AI summary

A connection arrangement for subsea connection of at least a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit. A supporting unit displaceably supports the connection arrangement against a supporting surface. A coupling device couples and secures the fluid conduits to the connection arrangement thereby interconnecting the fluid conduits to each other. A frame carries the coupling device and is slideably and/or pivotably mounted to the supporting unit so as to allow the frame and the associated coupling device to slide and/or pivot in relation to the supporting unit.