Underwater Packer Sealing Structure for Stronger Pile-Sleeve Grouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater packers for offshore platforms face issues with the connection between the outer pile and casing being insufficiently firm due to the use of an annular sealing bag, leading to potential leakage of cement slurry and contamination from soft soil mud, and there is a need to optimize the design to reduce costs.
Innovation Solution
The design omits the sealing bag and uses resin flaps with a load-bearing and sealing function, incorporating protrusions and inclined surfaces for double-layer sealing, along with a sealing cloth and annular membrane to enhance sealing efficacy, ensuring secure contact between the outer pile and sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an annular sealing bag is used to pack cement, then sealing is improved, but the connection strength between outer pile and casing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is segmented into multiple resin flaps arranged around the annular space between the outer pile and casing. Each flap independently provides sealing, and their collective arrangement ensures both sealing effectiveness and direct contact for strong connection, replacing the single annular sealing bag.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular sealing bag is extracted/removed from the system. The patent replaces it with resin flaps that perform both sealing and load-bearing functions, allowing direct contact between the outer pile and casing for stronger connection while maintaining sealing through the flap structure.
2Reliability
If the resin flap length is increased to ensure sealing from any insertion position, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the resin flap length to a specific parameter value that provides sufficient sealing coverage for any insertion position while minimizing material usage. This parameter optimization ensures reliable sealing without excessive cost, balancing performance and manufacturing economy.
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 provides a strong, secure connection and effective sealing, preventing leakage while optimizing cost by allowing the sleeve to be inserted from any position, ensuring reliable grouting material containment.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing cloth connected between two adjacent resin flaps through thermal fusion
Implementation Method 2
an annular sealing membrane connected to a hinge joint of the resin flap through thermal fusion
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an underwater packer, including an outer pile, a sleeve arranged inside the outer pile, a plug arranged at a bottom end of the sleeve, a grouting pipeline arranged on the sleeve, several resin flaps arranged between the outer pile and the sleeve, and a sealing cloth connected between two adjacent resin flaps through thermal fusion, a bottom end of the resin flap is hinged on the plug, and a top end of the resin flap abuts an inner wall of the outer pile. The outer wall of the outer pile and the inner wall of the sleeve are in direct contact with the grouting material, allowing the connection between the outer pile and the sleeve to be more secured. The inclined surface formed in the top portion of the resin flap and the pressing surface of the protrusion abut the inner wall of the outer pile.