# US 11,909,185 B2 · Installing a cable into a duct

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- Number: US 11,909,185 B2
- Document ID: US11909185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/976,961
- Filed: 2019-04-03
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-03
- Assignees: Plumettaz Holding S.A.
- Applicants: Plumettaz Holding S.A.
- Inventors: Willem Griffioen; Alexandre Uhl; Christophe Gutberlet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909185B2

## CPC

- H02G 1/086: {using fluid as pulling means, e.g. liquid, pressurised gas or suction means}
- F16L 55/40: of the body
- H02G 1/10: in or under water
- F16L 2101/50: Pulling cables or the like
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Method for installing a cable into a duct, comprising the steps of: determining a maximum pressure, setting a leaking mode of a leaking plug to start at a leaking pressure drop equal to or lower than the maximum pressure, attaching the leaking plug to a foremost end of the cable, introducing the foremost end of the cable into the duct, supplying a pressurized liquid into the duct: at a supply port, and at a supply pressure, so that the cable is pulled by the leaking plug, before the foremost end has reached the second extremity, exceeding the leaking pressure drop at a location close to the leaking plug.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for installing a cable into a duct having two extremities, the method comprising the steps of:
determining a maximum pressure (pmax) based on a bursting or a service pressure of the duct, taking in account an installation temperature and/or an installation time,
setting a leaking mode of a leaking plug to start at a leaking pressure drop (Δpleak) across the leaking plug determined to be equal to or lower than the maximum pressure (pmax),
attaching the leaking plug to a foremost end of the cable,
introducing the foremost end of the cable into the duct at a first extremity of the two extremities,
supplying a pressurized liquid into the duct:
at a supply port arranged between the foremost end equipped with the leaking plug and the first extremity, and
at a supply pressure (psup) equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure,
so that the cable is pulled by the leaking plug,
before the foremost end has reached a second extremity of the two extremities, exceeding the leaking pressure drop (Δpleak) at a location close to the leaking plug, leading the leaking mode to start.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the duct presents a trajectory with non constant altitude, the method comprising a step, before the foremost end has reached the second extremity, of adjusting the supply pressure (psup), so that all along the part of the duct comprised between the first extremity and the foremost end of the cable and filled with liquid, the pressure of the liquid is lower than the maximum pressure (pmax).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the supply pressure is adjusted, so that at any point along the part of the duct comprised between the first extremity and the foremost end of the cable and filled with liquid:
for points at higher altitude than the first extremity, the supply pressure (psup) subtracted with a pressure loss caused by liquid viscosity to reach said considered point, is greater than a hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid density and a difference of altitude between the altitude of said considered point and the first extremity, and/or
for points at lower altitude than the first extremity, the supply pressure (psup) subtracted with a pressure loss caused by liquid viscosity to reach said considered point, added to the hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid density and a difference of altitude between the altitude of said considered point and the first extremity is larger than zero and lower than the maximum pressure (pmax).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
if the second extremity positioned at a higher altitude than the first extremity, the supply pressure (psup) is adjusted so that the supply pressure (psup), subtracted with a pressure loss caused by liquid viscosity over all the duct's length and subtracted with the leaking pressure drop (Δpleak), equal to a hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid density and a difference of altitude between the altitude of said second extremity and the first extremity, or
if the second extremity positioned at a lower altitude than the first extremity, the supply pressure (psup) is adjusted so that the supply pressure (psup), subtracted with a pressure loss caused by liquid viscosity over all the duct's length and subtracted with the leaking pressure drop (Δpleak), and added to a hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid density and a difference of altitude between the altitude of said second extremity and the first extremity is equal to 0.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of supplying the pressurized liquid at a flow exceeding a leaking flow of the leaking plug, when the leaking mode has started.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein, before the leaking mode has started, the pressurized liquid is supplied at a flow Φv as defined in formula:
1
4
⁢
π
⁡
(
D
d
2
-
D
c
2
)
·
v
cable
≤
Φ
V
≤
1.2
4
⁢
π
⁡
(
D
d
2
-
D
c
2
)
·
v
cable
where:
Φv is the supplied flow of pressurized liquid (m3/s),
Dc is the external diameter of the cable (m),
Dd is the internal diameter of the duct (m),
Vcable is the speed of the cable into the duct (m/s).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the two extremities are located at different altitudes, and
the foremost end of the cable is introduced at the first extremity of the duct, which is the extremity located at the highest altitude.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the leaking pressure drop (Δpleak) is adjusted during the installation, and wherein:
the leaking pressure drop (Δpleak) is increased before or gradually increased during the travelling of the leaking plug through an uphill portion of the duct, or
the leaking pressure drop (Δpleak) is reduced before or gradually reduced during the travelling of the leaking plug through a downhill portion of the duct.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the initial steps of:
measuring or determining an internal diameter of the duct, an external diameter of the cable, and a slope of the duct between its extremities,
setting a leaking surface of the leaking plug to be equal to or greater than a surface of a circular hole having a diameter Dhole:
D
hole
≥
1.8
⁢
D
hydro
5
⁢
/
⁢
7
⁢
ρ
w
9
⁢
/
⁢
14
μ
w
1
⁢
/
⁢
7
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
p
leak
1
⁢
/
⁢
2
⁡
[
g
⁢
⁢
sin
⁡
(
α
)
]
4
⁢
/
⁢
7
⁢
(
D
d
2
-
D
c
2
)
,
With:
D
hydro
=
2
1
+
D
d
-
D
c
D
d
+
D
c
⁢
(
D
d
-
D
c
)
where:
Dc is the external diameter of the cable (m),
Dd is the internal diameter of the duct (m),
Δpleak is the leaking pressure drop (Pa) across the leaking plug,
ρw is the density of the pressurized liquid (kg/m3),
α is the average angle of the duct with the horizontal,
g is the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2),
μw is the dynamic viscosity of the pressurized liquid (Pas).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the duct has an almost horizontal trajectory, and wherein the method comprises the initial steps of:
measuring or determining an internal diameter of the duct, an external diameter of the cable,
setting a leaking surface of the leaking plug to be equal to or greater than a surface of a circular hole having a diameter Dhole:
D
hole
≥
1.8
⁢
D
hydro
5
⁢
/
⁢
7
⁢
ρ
w
9
⁢
/
⁢
14
μ
w
1
⁢
/
⁢
7
⁢
Δ
⁢
⁢
p
leak
1
⁢
/
⁢
2
⁢
(
D
d
2
-
D
c
2
)
With:
D
hydro
=
2
1
+
D
d
-
D
c
D
d
+
D
c
⁢
(
D
d
-
D
c
)
where:
Dc is the external diameter of the cable (m),
Dd is the internal diameter of the duct (m),
Δpleak is the leaking pressure drop (Pa) across the leaking plug,
ρw is the density of the pressurized liquid (kg/m3),
μw is the dynamic viscosity of the pressurized liquid (Pas).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow of the pressurized liquid supplied into the duct is:
set at a first flow value Φv1 before the leaking mode has started,
set at a second flow Φv2 after the leaking mode has started,
wherein ΦNv2≥5Φv1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising a step of changing a pump used to supply the pressurized liquid before the leaking mode starts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising:
a step of measuring a pressure at a location close to the leaking plug during installation,
a step of correcting the supply pressure (psup) according to the measured pressure at a location close to the leaking plug.