Flexible Conduit Working Envelope for Vessel Draft Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for arranging vessels interconnected via flexible conduits fail to account for changes in drafts during matter transfer, leading to sub-optimal operation and increased risk of conduit tautness, resulting in unsafe and costly operations with potential environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
Calculating manifold height differences and maximum operating distances for various vessel draft combinations to determine a more optimal working envelope that considers changes in vessel drafts, ensuring the conduit remains within a safe operational range and preventing unexpected tautness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conventional working envelope is used to arrange vessels, then the initial arrangement is simple, but the conduit may become taut unexpectedly due to draft changes during matter transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The method calculates manifold height differences and maximum operating distances for multiple draft combinations before arranging the vessels. This preliminary calculation of the optimal working envelope ensures that the vessels are positioned considering all potential draft changes during matter transfer, preventing conduit tautness before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters used to define the working envelope from a single maximum horizontal distance to multiple parameters including manifold height differences at various draft combinations. This multi-parameter approach accounts for the dynamic changes in vessel drafts during operation, improving reliability while maintaining ease of arrangement through systematic calculation.
2Device complexity
If the maximum horizontal distance is used to define the working envelope, then the arrangement is straightforward, but it does not account for changes in manifold height due to draft variations
Solution Approach 1:
The working envelope determination is segmented into multiple discrete draft combinations (e.g., minimum/maximum drafts of first and second vessels). For each combination, the manifold height difference is calculated separately, and the corresponding maximum operating distance is determined. This segmentation allows precise accounting of draft variations without creating an overly complex continuous model.
Solution Approach 2:
The method calculates maximum operating distances for more draft combinations than the minimum required (e.g., calculating for both minimum and maximum drafts of both vessels, plus intermediate combinations). This excessive calculation ensures that all potential operating conditions are covered, providing comprehensive precision while maintaining manageable complexity through discrete steps.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
There is provided a method of arranging a vessel assembly (10) comprising first and second vessels (12, 14) interconnected via a flexible conduit (16) for transferring matter between the first and second vessels (12, 14), a first end of the conduit (16) in fluid communication with a first manifold (18) of the first vessel (12), a second end of the conduit (16) in fluid communication with a second manifold (20) of the second vessel (14). The method comprises the steps of for each of a plurality of combinations of drafts of the vessels (12, 14), determining a respective manifold height difference between the respective heights of the first and second manifolds (18, 20) above a waterline; determining a respective maximum operating distance between the vessels (12, 14) at each manifold height difference, wherein each maximum operating distance between the vessels (12, 14) corresponds to the maximum distance to which the vessels (12, 14) can drift apart before the conduit (16) becomes taut at the respective manifold height difference; and arranging the vessels (12, 14) within a working envelope that corresponds to the plurality of maximum operating distances between the vessels (12, 14).