Patent Application
20100139130
The subject matter described herein relates to excavation of material in a submerged environment, potentially including oceans, lakes, seas, and the like.
Underwater excavation can be a complicated and expensive endeavor, particularly in situations that require excavation over substantial distances or at substantial water depths. One example of excavation over long distances involves burying of a pipeline, a cable, or some other extended apparatus between two or more locations. For example, a pipeline for transporting oil or some other petroleum product between an oil rig and an onshore terminal might advantageously be buried beneath the ocean or sea floor to minimize the risk of damage to the pipeline. Special equipment is required to efficiently and cost-effectively bury the pipe below the surface of the ocean or sea floor. One means of performing underwater excavation is via generation of a stream or jet of water that is used to displace material on the floor of the ocean, sea, lake, or the like and thereby create a hole, trench, or other underwater excavation. Other means of underwater excavating can include physical digging, cutting, or scraping devices that generally involve mechanical contact between such a device and the area of the underwater floor to be excavated. Such mechanical methods and apparatus can be undesirable in applications involving equipment such as pipes or cables that might become fouled or otherwise damaged by inadvertent contact with a mechanical digging, cutting, or scraping tool.
Currently available underwater excavating apparatus typically use hydraulic power generated on a surface vessel and transmitted to the underwater apparatus via hydraulic hoses. Because of the pressure drop in the hoses such apparatus are limited to depths of about 200 meters. The position of the excavating apparatus is generally controlled by two or more cables which are attached to the surface vessel and/or clump weights. This arrangement limits the maneuverability of the apparatus and the range it can be controlled. The current subject matter can advantageously address these and other limitations of currently available underwater excavation technologies.
In one aspect, an apparatus according to the current subject matter includes a main thruster body having an inlet for water intake and an outlet through which water is discharged. An umbilical junction that is structurally integral to the main thruster body is configured to connect to an umbilical at a first end of the umbilical. The umbilical connects at a second end to a surface vessel such that an outer armored sheath of the umbilical supports an underwater weight of the apparatus. The umbilical also provides electrical power to the apparatus via an electrical cable that runs from the surface vessel to the apparatus within the outer armored sheath. The apparatus also includes a main thruster propeller that is housed within the main thruster body and powered by the electrical power to generate a flow of water in through the inlet and out through the outlet of the main thruster body, a main hydraulic motor that drives the main thruster propeller, and a main thruster pump that is driven by the one or more electric motors. The main thruster pump drives the main thruster propeller by providing hydraulic pressure to the main hydraulic motor. Two or more adjustable positional thrusters are mounted outboard of the central axis on the main thruster body. Each thruster includes a thruster propeller that produces thrust. The two or more adjustable positional thrusters act in response to signals received from the controller unit via the data cable to provide thrust at one or more angles relative to the main axis to maintain a desired orientation, position, rotation, and/or depth of the main thruster body and to provide rotational thrust to counter torque produced by rotation of the main thruster propeller. Two or more positional thruster hydraulic pumps that are driven by the electric motors provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive the two or more positional thruster propellers.
In a second interrelated aspect, a method includes generating a downward directed jet of water from a single propeller in a main thruster body of an excavating apparatus whose underwater weight is supported by an umbilical connected to a surface vessel. The method also includes controlling one or more of the orientation, position, and rotation of the main thruster body by adjusting two or more positional thrusters mounted on the main thruster body. The umbilical includes an outer armored sheath that supports an underwater weight of the excavating apparatus, a data cable carrying signals from a controller unit on a surface vessel, and a power cable that supplies electrical power to operate the single propeller and other functions of the excavating apparatus. The controlling occurs remotely via the signals carried via the data cable.
In a third interrelated aspect, a system includes a control and power unit configured to be carried on a surface vessel and an umbilical that includes at least one electrical power cable, at least one data cable, and a weight-bearing outer sheath. The umbilical is configured to be connected at a first end to a winch on the surface vessel and also has a second end. The electrical power cable carries high voltage electricity from the control and power unit, and the data cable carries signals to and from the control and power unit. The system also includes an underwater excavation tool that includes a main thruster body having an inlet disposed at a top end of the main thruster body, an outlet disposed at a bottom end, and a central axis running from the top end to the bottom end. An umbilical junction is located on the central axis and connected to the second end of the umbilical such that a weight of the underwater excavation tool is supported by the weight-bearing outer sheath. A plurality of power packs each include an electrical motor and a positional thruster hydraulic fluid pump and one or more main thruster hydraulic fluid pumps driven by the electrical motor. A power junction receives power from the electrical power cable and distributes it to the electrical motors in each of the plurality of power packs. A main hydraulic motor receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from the one or more main thruster hydraulic fluid pumps of each of the plurality of power packs and drives, in a single radial direction, a single main thruster propeller mounted about the central axis within the main thruster body. A plurality of adjustable positional thrusters are mounted outboard of the central axis on the main thruster body and each supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid by the positional thruster hydraulic fluid pump of one of the plurality of power packs. Each thruster includes a thruster propeller that produces thrust. The plurality of adjustable positional thrusters act in response to signals received from the control and power unit via the data cable to provide thrust at one or more angles relative to the main axis to maintain a desired orientation, position, and/or rotation of the main thruster body and to provide rotational thrust to counter torque produced by rotation of the main thruster propeller.
One or more of the following optional features can also be included in these and other aspects of the current subject matter. The apparatus or system can optionally include exactly four adjustable positional thrusters and/or exactly one main thruster propeller within the main thruster body. Alternatively, one or more second main thruster propellers can be included on the central axis. The main thruster propeller or propellers can optionally rotate in only one radial direction about the central axis. The apparatus or system can optionally include two main hydraulic motors that drive the main thruster propeller, four positional thrusters, four electric motors, four positional thruster fluid pumps, and eight main thruster fluid pumps. One of the four motors, one of the four positional thruster fluid pumps, and two of the eight main thruster fluid pumps can be housed in one of four power packs secured outboard of the main thruster body. The electric motor of each power pack can drive the one positional thruster fluid pump that drives one of the four positional thrusters and also drive the two main thruster pumps of the power pack that provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the two main hydraulic motors. One or more surveying devices can be mounted on the main thruster body. The surveying devices can include one or more of a multi-beam sonar unit, an obstacle avoidance sonar unit, and a video camera.
The apparatus can further include the controller unit, the umbilical, and/or the power supply that is connected to a surface vessel power source and that includes one or more electrical transformers that provide a stepped up high voltage current to the at least one electrical cable in the umbilical. The controller unit can include an interlock that causes shutdown of the main thruster propeller if rotation of the main thruster body beyond a threshold angle about the umbilical is detected. One or more sensors can be included that monitor one or more parameters selected from a group consisting of: input and output pressure of the adjustable positional thrusters, input and output pressure of the main thruster body, pressure of one or more auxiliary hydraulics systems, ambient water pressure, differential pressure between the main thruster body inlet and ambient water pressure, differential pressure between the main thruster body outlet and ambient water pressure, rotation of the main thruster body about the umbilical, and position and orientation of the main thruster body.
The single propeller can be driven by one or more main hydraulic motors that are provided with hydraulic fluid pressure from one or more main thruster pumps that are driven by one or more electric motors powered by the electric power. The electrical power supplied by the power cable can power one or more electric motors that drive at least one main thruster hydraulic fluid pump that drives the single propeller and one or more positional thruster hydraulic fluid pumps that provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to drive the one or more positional thrusters. Data can be transmitted from one or more sensors on the excavating apparatus to the controller unit via the data cable, the one or more sensors monitoring one or more parameters selected from a group consisting of: input and output pressure of the adjustable positional thrusters, input and output pressure of the main thruster body, fluid pressure of one or more auxiliary hydraulics systems, ambient water pressure, differential pressure between the main thruster body inlet and ambient water pressure, differential pressure between the main thruster body outlet and ambient water pressure, rotation of the main thruster body about the umbilical, position and orientation of the main thruster body, and the revolutions per minute. The controller unit can command an automatic shutdown of the single propeller if rotation of the main thruster body beyond a threshold angle about the umbilical is detected by a rotational sensor on the excavating apparatus.
Various implementations of the currently described subject matter can include one or more advantageous or beneficial features relative to currently available underwater excavation technologies. Excavation of material can be accomplished solely using hydraulic action generated by water currents generated by one or more main propellers. No cutting devices or other mechanical features that could prove hazardous to the integrity of the object being buried need be employed. The device can be maintained with regards to its orientation, position, depth, and direction of travel through a combination of support via an umbilical to a surface vessel and through the action of its main thruster device and plurality of positional thruster devices mounted outboard of the main thruster. Improved maneuverability and access to greater depths than currently available devices is also possible using the current subject matter. Whereas conventional excavating apparatus are limited to approximately 200 meters excavating apparatuses consistent with the current subject matter can be used at depths of up to 3000 meters and more.
The terms “upward” or “top” or “upper” and “downward” or “bottom” or “lower” as used in this disclosure are intended to refer to relative orientations and generally apply in an absolute directional sense when an apparatus or system, according to the various implementations of the current subject matter, is oriented so as to be actively operated. For example, a top or upper feature would be positioned relative to a bottom or lower feature such that when an apparatus or system is in operation, the top or upper feature is further from the surface being excavated. The terms “outboard” and “inboard” describe relative positioning of features on a device. Outboard refers to positioning of one feature farther from a core or center of a device relative to another, and inboard refers to positioning of one feature closer from a core or center of a device relative to another. In the case of a cylindrically shaped apparatus or device, an inboard feature is closer to a central axis or rotation than an outboard feature. In the case of a non-cylindrical device, an inboard feature could be closer to a central plane and/or a central point or axis relative to an outboard feature. The term “surface vessel” as used throughout this disclosure is intended to refer to any platform positioned above a body of water and can include a boat or ship, a barge, a permanently or temporarily fixed platform, or even a pier, bridge, or other over water structure.
The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Any examples provided are intended to be illustrative of possible features that could be included in an implementation of the inventive subject matter and should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the inventive subject matter. Other features and advantages of this subject matter will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings,
Prior underwater excavation systems and methods using water jetting or fluid flow to displace solid material underwater tend to be limited by difficulties in maneuvering—for example steering, positioning, orienting and achieving and maintaining a desired depth—of an excavation apparatus and in dealing with the substantial rotational torque produced by the propeller, turbine, or other rotating means for producing the water jet. Previous systems have addressed the torque issue by providing two impellers aligned in parallel with contrary rotating directions, by arranging pairs of motors that drive such propellers so that the motors are out of phase with each other, or by providing a pair of opposed or angled inlets via which water is drawn into an impeller chamber before being forced out via a single outlet.
The current subject matter provides methods, techniques, systems, apparatuses, articles of manufacture, and the like that can be used to perform underwater excavations controlled from a surface vessel.
An example of a system 200 according to the current subject matter is illustrated in
The control system, that can optionally be housed in the one or more transportable containers 232 on the surface vessel 212, can provide one or more of auto heading control, which can in some implementations have a static accuracy of ±1 degree or better; manual X, Y, and/or Z directional thrust control via a user interface device, such as for example one or more joysticks; control of an auto swing function (in the X-direction, for example lateral to the direction of travel of the surface vessel and/or the underwater excavation tool 210); and pre-thrust control in the X, Y, and/or Z directions. Auto heading control can be applied to adapt a maximum allowable spin angle of the tool about the main vertical axis. This maximum allowable spin angle can be based on the paid out length of the umbilical 214 connecting the underwater excavation tool 210 to the surface vessel 212, so that the umbilical 214 will not be twisted beyond the limits of its design parameters.
Hydraulic connections to the main hydraulic motors 250 from the main thruster hydraulic fluid pumps 252 can be via one or more, and in some implementations four spokes 268 in an internal tunnel of the main thruster body 220. The spokes 268 can also provide structural support and/or mechanical strength for the main thruster propeller 228 mounting. The feed and the return lines of the main hydraulic motors 250 can be combined in a manifold block. Piping running through the spokes 268 can optionally be fitted with a metric hexagon section for easy fitting. Some or all of the connections coming out of the spokes 268 can optionally have an “O”-ring sealing face and can use, for example, standard SAE split-flanges so that the position of the piping coming out of the spokes 268 is not critical when it comes to connecting the hoses/piping on the outside of the tool.
On the underside of an underwater excavation tool 210 as currently described, the water outlet port or jet 226 can be equipped with a nozzle, which converts the energy from the main thruster propeller 228 into a water column with the desired flow and speed. Different shapes of such nozzles can be used to adapt the system to specific soil or sea floor conditions. In some implementations, an underwater excavation tool 210 can be provided with two nozzles, one for low velocity (for example approximately 6 m s−1) and one for high velocity (for example approximately 10.5 m s−1). Attachment of the nozzle to the tool 210 can optionally be performed on deck of the surface vessel, using a bolted-on construction. The funnel design can be optimized for water flow through a funnel. To protect the main thruster propeller 228 from damage due to floating objects such as rope or plastics, an easily dismountable grid can be installed above the water inlet 224 to the main thruster body 220.
The main thruster propeller fluid pumps 252 can optionally have a maximum displacement of approximately 250 cm3 per revolution. Larger displacement is also possible. The positional thruster fluid pumps 256 can optionally have a displacement of approximately 100 cm3 per revolution. Auxiliary pumps 254 can optionally have displacements of approximately 10 cm3 per revolution units. All fluid pumps can in some implementations be similar to those available from Sauer-Danfoss (Ames, Iowa). The power pack electric motors can be equipped with water ingress detection sensors and one or more or optionally two temperature sensors such as the PT 100 available from Pico Technologies (St Neots, Cambridgeshire, England). Power cables between the motors and a power junction box 270 (see e.g.
The one or more positional thrusters 230 as shown in the partial perspective diagram of
Each of the electrical power packs within the electrical motor enclosures 242 can optionally drive three variable displacement fluid pumps as discussed above, one positional thruster fluid pump 256 for providing hydraulic power to a positioning thruster 230, and the two main thruster propeller fluid pumps 252 to provide hydraulic pressure to drive the main hydraulic motors 250 for the main thruster propeller 228. All these fluid pumps can be operated in a closed loop. A swash plate control pump 258 can control the flow of the fluids to the motor can be steered electronically and controlled from the control room on board the service vessel 212 Small auxiliary fluid pumps 254 fitted on, for example two out of four power packs can be constant displacement gear fluid pumps. Pressure compensation can be configured as follows. The main hydraulic system can optionally include one or more, and possibly four, hydraulic compensators 274 (optionally 15 L) with level measurement. The power pack electric motors can each be equipped with their own compensator 272 as described above (optionally 6 L) with level measurement. A valve/survey junction box 270 (described below) can be compensated with its own compensator (optionally 15 L) with level measurement. The umbilical and power junction box 280 (described below) can have its own compensator (optionally 6 L) with level measurement. The system can also be equipped with various filters. One filter can be installed in the leak/flushing oil line from the main thruster propeller 228 drive. This leak line can carry leak oil from the main hydraulic motors 250, but also the flush-oil for these motors. The same oil can be used to flush the main prop bearings. One filter can be provided in the combined thruster motor leak lines. All filters can be equipped with a clogged filter detection switch. Where practically possible, stainless steel piping can optionally be used for hydraulic connections. The remaining connections can be made using hoses, optionally with stainless steel fittings. All hydraulic connections can be made using BSP-P fittings. Hoses can be Parker HDPE coated high-pressure hoses. The fluid temperature of the system can in some implementations be assumed to be below the safe working temperature of the fluid. If higher oil temperatures are expected based on a specific design, an fluid/seawater cooler can also be implemented in the hydraulic system.
In some variations, an umbilical 214 with a length of approximately 1000 m can be used. Other umbilical lengths, such as for example 3000 m, can also be used. The length of the umbilical 214 generally determines the maximum depth at which an excavation tool can operate as well as the width of the horizontal footprint over which the underwater excavation tool 210 can be deployed from a surface vessel 212. The operational footprint of an underwater excavation tool can in some implementations be approximately 20% of the water depth. For large horizontal excursions, some reduction of power to the main thruster propeller 228 may be necessary.
For an underwater weight of an underwater excavation tool 210 of about 15.5 tons, an umbilical 214 can in some implementations have the following features and functions: twelve power conductors with 16 mm2 current flow cross sectional area that are electrically isolated for 4.5 kV input voltage, two power conductors with 2.5 mm2 current flow cross sectional area that are electrically isolated for 1 kV input voltage, three signal conductors with 0.5 mm2 current flow cross sectional area that are electrically isolated for 240 V input voltage, six multi-mode fibers with 50/125 μm diameter, six single-mode fibers with 9/125 μm diameter, and an outer steel armor layer. The safe working load (SWL) can be defined as the maximum momentary load at any one time, resulting from the combination of the underwater excavation tool 210 underwater weight, umbilical 214 underwater weight, drag and accelerations, and can be approximately 330 kN for the aforementioned 17.5 ton (175 kN) device. In general, the system can be engineered to support a SWL on the umbilical of at least 1.25 times the maximum expected weight of the underwater excavation tool 210 and fully played out umbilical 214. The bending diameter of the umbilical 214 can in some implementations be 1.5 meter or more. The umbilical can be connected to the underwater excavation tool 210 using a strain relief junction 236 that can also be the lifting point for the underwater excavation tool 210 out of the water. From the strain relief junction 236, the electrical and electronics links 282 within the umbilical 214 can continue as shown in
Electrical power for operating an underwater excavation tool 210 can optionally be provided via a transformer system that can convert power from the surface vessel 212 to the necessary voltages for running the on-tool power packs. In one example, the transformer system can be housed in a commercially available 20-foot container 232 that can be equipped with a door, an escape hatch, lighting, air-conditioning, standstill heating, and other convenience, safety, and or ergonomic features. Inside the power container can be housed one or more main transformers that convert the ship's power supply into the HV supply that is provided to the on-tool power packs 240 via the umbilical 214. Each of the transformers can also optionally include a switchgear cabinet (section) with starter relays and protection circuits. In general, the power supply container can be operated as an unmanned area with access necessary only for maintenance, inspection, or repair.
The container 232 housing the transformer system can include a fence or other safety barrier that separates a personnel-accessible inspection area from the HV transformers area. The fence or some hatch or access panel to the transformer section can be interlocked to shut down power for safe access. The switchgear cabinet inside the power container can also house the following equipment: starters and protection circuits for the winch hydraulic power pack, starters and protection circuits for the LARS hydraulic power pack, starters and protection circuits for the winch chiller unit, UPS for the control system, and starters for air-conditioning, heating and lighting for both the transformer container and the control system container.
As discussed above, in some implementations the main thruster propeller 228 can be powered by electrical motors in power packs 240 with two main propeller pumps 252 directly connected to one side and located on the exterior of the main thruster body 220 of the underwater excavation tool 210 and the positional thrusters 230 can be powered by the same electrical motors with positional thruster pumps 254 directly connected to one side and located on the exterior of the main thruster body 220 of the underwater excavation tool 210. An underwater excavation tool 210 can in some implementations be equipped with four identical power packs
The underwater excavation tool 210 can optionally include one or more types of survey equipment, including but not limited to multibeam sonar units; obstacle avoidance sonar units; black and white cameras, optionally with integrated pan & tilt unit. In one implementation, two multibeam sonar units, two obstacle avoidance sonar units, and four black and white cameras can be included. A survey junction box and/or electronics pod (E-pod) 290 that is optionally made of stainless steel can be attached to the exterior of the main thruster body 220 to house hydraulic valves of the tool and also to act as a junction box for survey equipment included with the underwater excavation tool 210. In some examples, the survey junction box and/or e-pod 290 can have approximate dimensions of approximately 1000×500×150 mm. A transparent cover can be included to allow visual inspection of the contents of the box, which can optionally include terminal strips for survey equipment with individual fuses and led indicators, main thruster propeller pump swash plate angle proportional control valves, positional thruster pump swash plate angle proportional control valves (which can be bidirectional), spare positions for additional valves, a water ingress sensor, and the like. The survey junction box and/or e-pod 290 can have hydraulic and electric connections on the sides for ready connections to other devices on the underwater excavation tool 210. Connections to survey equipment from the survey junction box and/or e-pod 290 can optionally be made using multi-pole metal shell connectors such as the 10-pole connector available from Subconn in Florida USA and Denmark Europe.
The ends of the survey junction box and/or E-pod 290 can be sealed, for example with stainless steel flanges and covers in stainless steel 431. In some implementations, the survey junction box and/or E-pod 290 cover can be provided with hoist-eyes and guide pins for easy handling and positioning despite their weight. The survey junction box and/or E-pod 290 can optionally house one or more of a gyro compass (for example the Octans available from Jxsea, Marly-le-Roi, France); a multiplexer with capabilities for video cameras, control and survey equipment; power supplies for one or more controls; power supplies for survey equipment; dimmers for lamps, a water ingress sensor, and a controller or processor. The survey junction box and/or E-pod 290 can also have conduits for one or more of a penetrator for power supplies and valve controls to a survey junction and valve box (described in greater detail below), a penetrator for data to the survey junction and valve box, lamps, power connector cable(s) from the umbilical junction box, fiber penetrator(s) from the umbilical junction box, cables to differential pressure sensors, cable to pressure sensor pod, compensator level signals, a tachometer for the main thruster. propeller RPM, power pack temperature and water ingress measurements, fluid temperature measurements (i.e. fluid to main motors, fluid to thruster motors, filter clogged signals, sensor(s) to detect leak/flush fluid return from the main thruster propeller drive, sensor(s) to detect leak/flush fluid return from the combined thruster drive leak/flush lines, connection to the backup fluxgate compass, and a vacuum plug.
An atmospheric, stainless steel pressure sensor pod can optionally be installed on the underwater excavation tool 210 to house pressure sensors that monitor one or more of the following: positional thrusters input and output pressure, main thruster input and output pressure, auxiliary hydraulics system pressure, and ambient water pressure. Differential pressure sensors can also be installed to allow monitoring of the main thruster propeller performance. These differential pressure sensors can measure differential pressure between the main thruster propeller inlet 224 and ambient water pressure and differential pressure between the main thruster propeller outlet 226 and ambient water pressure. The differential pressure sensors can be mounted in housings separate from the pressure sensor pod.
An underwater excavation tool 210 can optionally be constructed so that it can be transported in units that fit inside a transportable container, such as for example a standard 20 foot container footprint. The main thruster body 220, including power packs 240, main thruster propeller 228 and other equipment, can be transported as one unit in such a container. The positional thrusters 230 and additional parts can be transported in a second container. In some variations, one or more of the underwater excavation tool 210 components might not fit inside a 20 foot container. As an alternative, one or more open top frames can be used for transport.
A control system and/or power system for the underwater excavation tool 210 can be provided in one or more containers 232 in which the excavation tool is transported to a work site or to an embarkation point for a waterborne transport vessel. In some variations, the control system can include a screen or other display device featuring a user graphical user interface as well as one or more user input devices such as for example a joystick, a roller ball, or the like. On-screen graphical user interface controls of various systems on the underwater excavation tool that a user can manipulate via an input device such as a mouse, a trackpad, a keyboard, and/or one or more action buttons or control can also be included. Among other functions, the control system can apply the underwater excavation tool's positional thrusters 230 (in some examples there are four as noted above) to automatically compensate for torque generated by the main thruster propeller 228 and thereby maintain a stable orientation without physical contact of the tool with a solid surface. Such compensation can in some examples be based on one or more of an auto heading control based on gyro compass, feed forward based on pressure difference across hydraulic motors, and feed forward based on operator adjustment of main thruster propeller power.
Although the control system can generally keep the tool at the prescribed heading, the main thruster power can in some situations be sufficient to spin the tool around multiple turns, thereby potentially damaging its own umbilical 214. To mitigate this potential hazard, one or more of the following measures can be implemented. The twist angle of the umbilical 214 can be automatically limited based on a gyrocompass installed on the tool. In this manner, the operator can be prevented from over-rotating the underwater excavation tool 210 when performing a heading adjustment. Automatic shutdown of the main thruster propeller 228 can be programmed to occur in the event that the auto heading controller cannot maintain the desired heading (error>5 degrees,). A redundant fluxgate compass can also or alternatively be installed to shut the system down in case the gyro compass fails (difference between gyro and fluxgate more than 30 degrees).
The underwater excavation system 200 as shown in
As noted, in normal in-water operation, the underwater excavation tool 210 can be suspended on its umbilical 214, which is routed via a sheave at the end of the LARS boom. This sheave can be capable of pivoting in order to accommodate surface vessel 212 motions as well as the maximum thruster-induced excursion of the tool (in one example up to 20 degrees). If the LARS cannot accommodate the combined departure angle of the umbilical 214 resulting from thruster-induced sideways excursions in combination with drag and vessel motions, an alarm can be provided to help prevent mal-operations.
In one example, the LARS can be designed for the combined load of the underwater weight of the “dead” (i.e. main and positional thrusters off) underwater excavation tool 210 (estimated 17.5 tons), underwater weight of the umbilical 214 (max 1000 m at 7 kg/m), maximum 5 tons sideways force from the positional thrusters 230, sideways load due to local water current acting on underwater excavation tool 210 and umbilical 214, and heave motions that result in drag and acceleration forces on the underwater excavation tool 210 and the umbilical 214. A load cell in the end-sheave can provide an indication of the actual load on the LARS.
The underwater excavation tool 210 umbilical winch 234 can be constructed in steel or some comparable material with adequate strength and can optionally include a grooved drum with a capacity of 1000 m of 50 mm steel armored umbilical 214. The umbilical 214 can optionally be stored in three layers on a drum with diameter 1800 mm and width 2750 mm. The winch 234 can be used on board of a surface vessel 212 for deployment of a underwater excavation tool 210. The storage drum can be hydraulically driven and equipped with a hydraulically driven spooling device. The winch 234 can be installed on a frame with a 20-foot container footprint together with a dedicated 250 kW hydraulic power pack in some implementations. Nominal speed of the winch 234 can optionally be 60 m/min at a force of 175 kN or 30 m/min at 250 kN. Because the underwater excavation tool 210 may be fitted with optional extras, the winch can be rated for hoisting an additional weight beyond the typical out of water weight of the underwater excavation tool 210, in one example for a maximum 25 ton at the top layer.
The grooved drum can be constructed in steel. For heat transfer, instead of using lebus shells, the drum itself can be grooved. The drum can be hydraulically driven, in some implementations with a hydraulically operated fail-safe band brake. An extra motor-brake is optional. The storage drum can also be equipped with a multi turn encoder measuring drum revolutions, to be used for calculating paid out length. A hydraulically driven spooling device can also be fitted. Spooling can performed done via a traveling sheave that is fitted above the drum. The winch frame can also be constructed in steel. It can have a 20 foot container footprint and adequate sea-fastening provisions with sacrificial welding plates bolted onto the frame. A hydraulic power pack can be fitted on the winch frame. It can be a self contained unit suitable for continuous operation. Cooling should be designed for operation with seawater of 32 degrees Celsius. The winch 234 power supply can optionally be 440 V, 60 Hz, connected via a deck cable in a terminal box on the winch frame. The starter can be external to the winch 234. The winch 234 can be equipped with a local control station, mounted on the winch 234, which apart from a slowing control of the winch 234 can also be equipped with a full diagnostics screen. In addition to the local station a remote control station can be provided and located in the control container 232. The interface between the remote control station and the winch control system can be based on a modbus or similar protocol. The winch 234 can optionally be fitted with a Focal slip ring unit, one stainless steel rotary junction box and one stainless steel static junction boxes. The winch 234 can also be equipped with water-cooling on the inside of the drum. The cooling system will be based on a chiller unit that is installed on the winch base-frame. From the chiller a closed loop circuit can circulate cooling liquid through the drum via a rotary joint. The chiller itself can transfer heat to seawater. The chiller can be powered from the power container 232. For cooling capacity calculations it can in one example be assumed that the dissipation in the umbilical will not exceed 40 kW. Power supply can in some examples be 440 V, 60 Hz, connected via a deck cable in a terminal box on the winch frame. The starter can be external to the winch.
The subject matter described herein may be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. In particular, various aspects or features of the subject matter described herein may be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof These various implementations may include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and may be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor.
The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.
