Vortex induced vibration suppression device and method
OwnerWeldon Taquinoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vortex induced vibration suppressor and method is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body that is a flexible member of a polymeric (e.g., polyurethane) construction. A plurality of helical vanes on the body extend longitudinally along and helically about the body. Each vane has one or more openings extending transversely there through. A longitudinal slot enables the body to be spread apart for placing the body upon a riser, pipe or pipeline. Tensile members that encircle the body and pass through the vane openings enable the body to be secured to the pipe, pipeline or riser.
Claims25
A vortex induced vibration suppression apparatus comprising;
- a) an elongated one piece body of flexible polymeric material, the body having a wall surrounding a continuous, open ended bore;
- b) a plurality of helical vanes on the body wall and extending along the length thereof;
- c) a longitudinally extending slot that enables the body wall to be pulled apart at first and second longitudinally extending edges;
- d) a pipe section that carries the body, the pipe section occupying the bore;
- e) a plurality of transverse openings in the vanes that are positioned at circumferentially spaced positions of the wall;
- and
- f) a tensionable strap that can be removably applied to the body for holding the body to the pipe section, wherein the strap follows an annular path that extends through a single opening of each of the vanes.
A vortex induced vibration suppression apparatus comprising:
- a) an elongated body of flexible polymeric material, the body having a wall surrounding a continuous, open ended bore;
- b) a plurality of helical vanes on the body extending along the length thereof;
- c) a longitudinal slot that extends through the wall, enabling the body to be separated at two provided wall edges to afford access to the bore;
- d) a plurality of openings through the vanes, said openings being spaced apart longitudinally on each vane and generally aligned transversely in multiples, each of said multiples on a different vane;
- and
- c) straps that extend through the openings and hold the body wall edges together on a pipe section.
A method of installing a pipeline having a vortex induced suppression devices thereon, comprising the steps of:
- a) mounting one or more polymeric vortex induced vibration suppression devices on the pipeline, each device including a generally cylindrically shaped wall with helical vanes thereon surrounding a continuous, open ended bore and a wall slot enabling the wall to be opened to afford access to the bore so that the device can be mounted on the pipeline via the slot;
- b) making up the pipeline on a pipeline lay barge having a stinger;
- c) wherein before step “b” each suppression device is attached to the pipeline with straps that each completely encircle the suppression device and that each extend through openings in the vanes;
- d) lowering the riser and its vortex induced vibration suppression devices to the seabed by passing the riser and vortex induced vibration suppression devices over a stinger part of the barge.
A method of placing a pipeline section in an offshore marine environment, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a pipe laying barge that enables several pipe joints to be connected together end to end to form a pipeline, the pipe laying barge having a stinger that supports the pipe when the pipeline assumes a curved shape as it is lowered from the barge toward the seabed;
- b) welding several joints of pipe together on the barge;
- c) lowering the pipeline section from the barge to the seabed, wherein the stinger supports the pipeline section as it leaves the barge to enter the water;
- d) placing one or more polymeric vortex induced vibration suppression devices on the pipeline section before it is lowered to the seabed from the barge, each suppression device having a wall that has a longitudinal slot wall edge at the slot, multiple helical vanes, and multiple openings through the vanes at spaced apart locations;
- e) securing the suppression devices to the pipeline using tensile fasteners that encircle the suppression device and pass through multiple of the openings;
- and
- f) wherein in step “d” the vortex induced vibration suppression device passes over the stinger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.