Suction Anchor Conduit Flow Control in Permeable Seabed Formations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction anchors and well support structures face challenges in permeable formations like sand or mixed sand-clay, where water flow paths are unpredictable, leading to reduced penetration resistance and potential installation failures.
Innovation Solution
A suction anchor design with a nested conduit and adjustable valves to control water flow paths through the skirt and conduit, allowing simultaneous and controlled evacuation of internal and external volumes to optimize penetration into permeable formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conduit is added to the suction anchor for well foundation support, then the anchor can serve dual purposes (anchoring and well construction), but the water flow paths become unpredictable and penetration resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction anchor is segmented into two separate evacuation systems: one for the skirt interior volume and one for the conduit inner volume. This segmentation allows independent control of water flow paths, ensuring predictable and optimized penetration by preventing cross-flow interference between the skirt and conduit
Solution Approach 2:
Variable orifice valves are introduced to dynamically control the evacuation rates of water from the skirt and conduit. By adjusting the orifice sizes during installation, the system adapts to different formation conditions and optimizes the fluidization process, maintaining low penetration resistance while supporting dual functionality
2Speed
If water is evacuated from the suction anchor to create suction, then penetration into the formation is improved, but in permeable formations water flows unpredictably around and through the conduit reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through variable orifice valves that allow operators to monitor and adjust water evacuation rates in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that water flows predictably through the intended paths (along the skirt exterior and conduit exterior), maintaining reliable penetration control in permeable formations
Solution Approach 2:
The variable orifice valves act as intermediaries between the evacuation pump and the water volumes. They mediate the water flow to ensure it follows predictable paths, preventing unpredictable cross-flow around and through the conduit while maintaining effective suction for penetration
3Strength
If internal structures are added to increase load capacity, then the anchor can support heavier loads, but penetration resistance increases during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is temporarily closed at its lower end during the penetration phase. This preliminary action prevents water from flowing through the conduit, eliminating additional penetration resistance. After successful installation, the conduit is opened to provide structural support and well construction pathways, thus achieving both easy installation and high load capacity
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
Enhances the installation success of suction anchors and well support structures by minimizing water flow path variability and optimizing penetration resistance, ensuring stable anchoring in permeable soils.
Implementation Method 1
a suction pump (18) is connected to a suction line (15) that is fluidly connected to an internal water mass (4) within the skirt (12). The under-pressure generated inside the suction anchor (10) by evacuating water from the suction line (15) causes water to be displaced from the surrounding body of water (1) external to the skirt (12) into the internal water mass (4) within the suction anchor (10)
Implementation Method 2
the water flow around the skirt tip (17) causes fluidization of the sand, which reduces resistance to further penetration of the skirt (12) into the sub-bottom
Data Source
AI summary
A suction anchor has a skirt open at one end and closed at another end to define an interior volume. At least one conduit nested within or adjacent to the skirt, is open at one end and closed at another end to define an inner volume. A suction line is fluidly connected to the interior volume through a first valve. A second valve is fluidly connected between the inner volume and either the suction line or the interior volume. The first valve and the second valve are operable to cause water flow at respective selected rates along both the skirt and the conduit from a body of water when the interior volume and the inner volume are evacuated and the suction anchor is disposed on the bottom of a body of water.