Subsea Valve Actuation with Bucket Position Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea actuation systems face challenges in providing reliable and clear valve position indication under high pressure, water current, and poor visibility conditions, while also meeting industry regulations and ensuring ease of use and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A subsea actuation sub-system incorporating a position indicator and a rotation-to-linear mechanism, utilizing gears to convert rotational movement into visual indicators, allowing reliable and clear position indication of valves from a remotely operated vehicle, with components designed for durability and ease of maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a position indicator is provided in the subsea actuation system, then the valve position can be indicated, but the indication may not be clear or reliable under high pressure, water current, and poor visibility conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical position indication systems with a magnetic field-based detection system. A magnetic sensor detects the position of a magnetic element on the valve stem, converting mechanical position information into electrical signals that can be reliably transmitted and displayed despite harsh environmental conditions like high pressure and poor visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the valve stem and the position indicator. The magnetic element attached to the valve stem generates a magnetic field that is detected by the magnetic sensor, allowing indirect but reliable position measurement without direct mechanical connection, thus overcoming the harmful effects of the subsea environment.
2Reliability
If a complex position indicator system is used to ensure reliability, then the position can be indicated reliably, but the system becomes expensive and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive components such as a basic magnetic sensor and a small magnetic element that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. These simple components provide reliable position indication without the high cost and complexity of sophisticated mechanical or electronic systems, making the overall system more cost-effective and easier to manufacture.
3Reliability
If a robust position indicator is provided to meet industry regulations and standards, then compliance is achieved, but the system becomes cumbersome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces cumbersome mechanical position indication mechanisms with a streamlined magnetic field-based system. This substitution maintains regulatory compliance through reliable position detection while significantly reducing system complexity, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages, gears, or visual indicators that would be problematic in the subsea environment.
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 system provides accurate and durable valve position indication, meeting industry standards and regulatory requirements, while being cost-effective and easy to use, even in harsh subsea environments.
Implementation Method 1
The position indicator comprises a first gear and a second gear, the two gears converting the rotation of the shaft to a visual position indicator element outside the bucket. The first gear is arranged on the shaft. The second gear comprises an element.
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea actuation sub-system comprising a position indicator and a rotation-to-linear mechanism is disclosed. The rotation-to-linear mechanism being fixable to a subsea structure comprising a valve with a valve stem, and being connectable to the valve stem of the valve for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position, the rotation-to-linear mechanism comprising a shaft with an end for receiving rotational input from a separate retrievable motor actuator, the end being positioned within a cylindrical bucket, the bucket comprising a cylindrical opening in an axial direction of the bucket and a through opening, in a radial direction, in a side of the bucket, the shaft extending through a bottom of the bucket to the rotation-to-linear mechanism. The position indicator indicating the position of the output movement of the rotation-to-linear mechanism on the valve stem, the position indicator being arranged to interact with the shaft within the bucket.