EP0009986A1 - Structure de support destinée à être utilisée dans l'eau - Google Patents

Structure de support destinée à être utilisée dans l'eau Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0009986A1
EP0009986A1 EP79302130A EP79302130A EP0009986A1 EP 0009986 A1 EP0009986 A1 EP 0009986A1 EP 79302130 A EP79302130 A EP 79302130A EP 79302130 A EP79302130 A EP 79302130A EP 0009986 A1 EP0009986 A1 EP 0009986A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
matrix
support structure
ice
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP79302130A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Graeme Eadie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0009986A1 publication Critical patent/EP0009986A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C1/00—Dry-docking of vessels or flying-boats
    • B63C1/02—Floating docks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B35/4413—Floating drilling platforms, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C7/00—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects
    • B63C7/14—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects using freezing for closing holes or for strengthening the vessel or the like
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B1/00—Equipment or apparatus for, or methods of, general hydraulic engineering, e.g. protection of constructions against ice-strains
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2211/00—Applications
    • B63B2211/06—Operation in ice-infested waters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
    • B63B2231/76—Ice

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a support structure for use in liquid and in particular to a support structure formed essentially by freezing the liquid.
  • the invention relates to a structure for use in water to provide for example, an off-shore drilling platform, temporary bridge structure, floating work platform or recreation platform.
  • the structure may be a floating structure which is partly or fully submerged or may be adapted to bear on the floor of the sea, river, lake or the like in a partly or fully submerged condition.
  • the structure may also be used to repair fractures or holes occurring in vessels or containers in liquid by freezing the liquid in the vicinity of the hole. For example, a hole in the hull of a ship or in a dam may be repaired using a structure according to the invention.
  • the invention also provides a method of constructing a support structure of the aforementioned kind.
  • the invention provides a support structure for use in liquid comprising a pipe arrangement adapted for location in said liquid, means for circulating coolant or refrigerant through said pipe arrangement causing said liquid to freeze in the vicinity of said pipe arrangement to form and maintain a frozen liquid support structure substantially in the form of a solid block around said pipe arrangement.
  • the invention provides a method of constructing a support structure in liquid, characterized in that said method includes the steps of forming an arrangement of pipes into a matrix, and passing coolant or refrigerant through said pipes to cause said liquid to freeze in the vicinity of said matrix so as to form and maintain a frozen liquid support structure substantially in the form of a.solid block around said pipe arrangement.
  • a support structure according to the invention is constructed by firstly forming a pipe system in the form of a grid or matrix 10 as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the grid or matrix 10 of Fig. 1 is a two dimensional planar grid and has an inlet pipe 11 and an outlet pipe 12 for supplying refrigerant to the grid by means (not shown).
  • the grid 10 may be formed in modules which are joined together on site enabling the grid to be readily constructed. Alter- - natively the grid 10 may be formed on-shore and towed to the particular site although this alternative is not preferred particularly when a large structure is to be formed.
  • the modules which go together to form the grid may be joined by screw joints which are simpler, easier and cheaper than welding although welding may be used. Any small initial leaks of refrigerant through the joints will be sealed when ice builds up around the pipes as will become apparent hereinbelow.
  • the grid is not necessarily square or rectangular but may be curved or otherwise shaped according to the particular application.
  • the grid 10 may be towed by ship or transported by ship to the site and joined together in the water. It is necessary to attach some means of flotation to the pipes during the initial joining operation and until an ice formation occurs in order to prevent the grid from sinking.
  • the grid may be allowed to sink partly or fully to the bottom in order that the ice may be formed at a cooler temperature away from solar heat and prevailing winds which tend to melt the ice. As the ice is formed the structure will tend to float towards the surface and such flotation may be controlled by suitable weighing to the structure, or by adjusting the degree of refrigerant.
  • the inlet pipe 11 and the outlet pipe 12 are suitably connected to a ship or barge which has suitable apparatus for pumping the refrigerant through the pipe grid.
  • Various refrigerants may be used and it is presently envisaged that liquid nitrogen would be a most suitable refrigerant for the purposes of this invention.
  • the pipes may be made of metal or a suitable plastics material and the spacing between the pipework forming the grid 10 will _ depend on the diameter of the pipe, the material from which it is formed and various other factors including the temperature of the water in which the structure is to be formed. For most applications the spacing must be such that an ice formation may be formed around the grid'10 in a solid block, but this may not always be the case as the formation need not be continuous between adjacent pipes in some applications.
  • Fig. 2 shows a support structure 13 of ice formed around the grid 10 of Fig. 1.
  • the structure 13 provides a working platform which may be used for any number of different purposes such as, for example, mining of underwater petroleum, mineral or sea life resources or a temporary bridge structure.
  • Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention where the grid structure 10 is a three dimensional grid structure.
  • the grid structure 10 instead of being a planar grid structure which is arranged parallel to the surface of the water the grid extends downwardly to produce a more substantial block of ice.
  • the principle of operation is the same as with the grid of Fig. 1 in that refrigerant is pumped in an inlet pipe lla and is conducted through all the pipes of the grid to the outlet pipe 12a.
  • the support structure formed according to the embodiment of Fig.3 is far more massive than the structure of the previousembodi- ment and thus is far more stable in the water. Whilst generally the structure would be a floating structure it is conceivable that in some instances the structure could be arranged on the bed or floor of the river, lake or the like wherein the structure is formed.
  • Fig. 4 shows a sectional sideview of the pipe grid according to the structure of Fig. 3. It will be noted that the pipes may be bound together by suitable tape, wire or other binding material 14 at the points of intersection of the pipe grid. Other means such as welding or screwing could be used.
  • Fig. 5 shows a modification of the support structure -of Fig. 3 wherein a hole is provided completely through the ice structure from top to bottom in order to enable drill rods and the like to be extended through the structure for drilling into the floor of the ocean or other exapanse of water wherein the structure is situated.
  • the hole 15 may be cut through the ice after formation of the structure or may be defined in the pipe array in a manner _ whereby the hole is formed during the initial freezing process.
  • the structure of Fig. 5 provides a - number of cavities 16 in the underside of the ice block and the cavities may be used for a number of purposes. As with the hole 15 the cavities may be formed by suitably shaping the pipe array to cause the cavities to form during the initial ice forming process.
  • the cavities may be formed to have a thermal insulation layer 17 in cases where fluid having a temperature greater than the temperature of the ice is to be stored.
  • a vent pipe 18 with valve extends from the top surface of the structure into each cavity 16 for the purpose of providing access to the cavity from above.
  • the cavities 16 may be used as a temporary or permanent storage facility.
  • the cavities may be filled with air or pressurized gas or liquid through the vent pipes 18 causrngthe level of the structure to be raised by increasing its buoyancy.
  • the block may be formed with one or more internal chambers with suitable access channels by forming the pipe array into the desired shape.
  • Such chambers and access channels (passages) may be used for accommodation and movement of personnel or for storage of equipment, for example.
  • the support structure of the present invention has many advantages over conventional off-shore platforms or support structures. For example, construction is carried out at the site of interest using the readily available natural environment (water) which is frozen to provide the structure. Furthermore, because the structure has its bulk below water level it is mpre massive than webbed metal structures which are more prone to damage by wave forces. As a result the ice platiorrn is easier to stabilize in position.
  • the floating structure is relatively free from seismic disturbances compared with known structures. The presence of the ice platform in a warmer atmosphere and surrounding water means that a large temperature differential exists between the ice platform and its surrounding environment.
  • OTEC ocean thermal energy conversion units
  • the ice structure may be arranged to float on or at the surface of the water or may be suspended at an intermediate depth in the water or may be attached to the bottom surface beneath the water.
  • a submerged structure could sink to a required depth by adjusting the refrigeration system to vary the thickness of ice build-up, that is, vary the degree of flotation of the structure.
  • the cavities 16 provide another excellent means for buoyancy control, for instance, using gas vented from the refrigeration system.
  • the portability of the structure provides an escape advantage in an emergency such as blowout in an oil or gas well, and facilitates structural removal operations when mining ceases.
  • the structure may be used as an emergency rescue craft for surface use or for the raising of sunken craft.
  • the structure may be formed around a vertical planar grid to form a dam or the like.
  • the .platform may be adapted to provide a fishing craft, mooring buoys and many other useful structures.
  • the support structure according to the invention may be used to repair fractures or holes occurring in the hulls of ships or in dams or the like merely by arranging the pipe arrangement in the vicinity of the damaged area and circulating the coolant therethrough until a frozen structure is formed to block the hole or cover the fracture. Whilst the invention has been primarily described in relation to freezing of water it is readily conceivable that it could be utilized in other liquids.
  • the refrigerated support structure provides for solid material to be formed in intimate contact with the outside surface of the pipe arrangement, thus providing a barrier against access of oxygen or other corrosive elements, that is, the build-up of frozen liquid acts as a corrosion-resistant barrier layer.
  • a sheet of impermeable material such as a plastic sheet material or a semi-permeable fabric such as a cloth may be wrapped around the matrix.
  • the material acts as a containment material to maintain, in the vicinity of the pipes the liquid that is to be frozen and also reduces the thermal losses of the structure once it is frozen.
  • a material such as sail cloth would be suitable and would facilitate handling in conditions of strong wind.
  • the pipe system may comprise a planar top grid or matrix as shown in Fig. 1 and downwardly depending sides in the form of planar matrices which may extend vertically or be inclined inwardly or outwardly.
  • the central portion of the block is hollow and does not have pipes therein.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
EP79302130A 1978-10-06 1979-10-05 Structure de support destinée à être utilisée dans l'eau Withdrawn EP0009986A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU627178 1978-10-06
AU6271/78 1978-10-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0009986A1 true EP0009986A1 (fr) 1980-04-16

Family

ID=3696806

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP79302130A Withdrawn EP0009986A1 (fr) 1978-10-06 1979-10-05 Structure de support destinée à être utilisée dans l'eau

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0009986A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS5576790A (fr)
AU (1) AU5143779A (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997025483A1 (fr) * 1996-01-10 1997-07-17 Padraig Mcalister Corps composites de glace
WO2001096668A1 (fr) * 2000-06-16 2001-12-20 Padraig Mc Alister Corps composites en glace et procede de construction correspondant
WO2002016700A1 (fr) * 2000-08-25 2002-02-28 Anthony Cuthbert Procede et appareil de construction de parois structurales subaquatiques
WO2009015668A1 (fr) * 2007-08-01 2009-02-05 Rashed Mohamed Moner Abdel El- Système rashed de solution d'urgence alternative pour des barrages en rivière
WO2010008300A1 (fr) * 2008-07-14 2010-01-21 Polkonsult As Procédé et système de protection contre l'abrasion d'une structure dans un environnement marin
BE1026763B1 (fr) * 2019-05-31 2020-06-04 Valembois Joelle Prévention de propagation de pétrole

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1495310A (en) * 1920-12-18 1924-05-27 Stromborg Oscar Temporary structure and method of forming same
DE403157C (de) * 1924-03-30 1924-09-27 W Kiwull Dipl Ing Verfahren zum Gefrieren von Fluessigkeitsteilen innerhalb einer Fluessigkeit zum Zwecke des Hebens von Gegenstaenden oder aehnlichen Zwecken
US1544650A (en) * 1925-03-14 1925-07-07 Kiwull Woldemar Means and method for raising sunken ships and other bodies
US1848581A (en) * 1932-03-08 Johann-gsosg stein
FR930366A (fr) * 1946-07-09 1948-01-23 Procédé de construction par congélation
DE954048C (de) * 1953-12-24 1956-12-13 Helmut Krause Verfahren zum Herstellen von vereisten Baukoerpern
DE1144201B (de) * 1961-02-27 1963-02-21 Dr Wolfgang A Eggert Verfahren zum Herstellen einer tragfaehigen Eisdecke zum UEbersetzen von Menschen und Fahrzeugen ueber ein Gewaesser
US3750412A (en) * 1970-10-19 1973-08-07 Mobil Oil Corp Method of forming and maintaining offshore ice structures
DE2603470A1 (de) * 1976-01-30 1977-08-04 Werner Ing Grad Grobe Mobile kuenstliche vereisung gegen damm-, wehr- und deichbrueche
DE2640078A1 (de) * 1976-09-06 1978-03-16 Norbert Bork Verfahren zur nutzbarmachung von eisbergen als foerderinseln, bohrinseln, senkkaesten, lager, zur exploration usw., mittels eines speziellen werkschiffes

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1848581A (en) * 1932-03-08 Johann-gsosg stein
US1495310A (en) * 1920-12-18 1924-05-27 Stromborg Oscar Temporary structure and method of forming same
DE403157C (de) * 1924-03-30 1924-09-27 W Kiwull Dipl Ing Verfahren zum Gefrieren von Fluessigkeitsteilen innerhalb einer Fluessigkeit zum Zwecke des Hebens von Gegenstaenden oder aehnlichen Zwecken
US1544650A (en) * 1925-03-14 1925-07-07 Kiwull Woldemar Means and method for raising sunken ships and other bodies
FR930366A (fr) * 1946-07-09 1948-01-23 Procédé de construction par congélation
DE954048C (de) * 1953-12-24 1956-12-13 Helmut Krause Verfahren zum Herstellen von vereisten Baukoerpern
DE1144201B (de) * 1961-02-27 1963-02-21 Dr Wolfgang A Eggert Verfahren zum Herstellen einer tragfaehigen Eisdecke zum UEbersetzen von Menschen und Fahrzeugen ueber ein Gewaesser
US3750412A (en) * 1970-10-19 1973-08-07 Mobil Oil Corp Method of forming and maintaining offshore ice structures
DE2603470A1 (de) * 1976-01-30 1977-08-04 Werner Ing Grad Grobe Mobile kuenstliche vereisung gegen damm-, wehr- und deichbrueche
DE2640078A1 (de) * 1976-09-06 1978-03-16 Norbert Bork Verfahren zur nutzbarmachung von eisbergen als foerderinseln, bohrinseln, senkkaesten, lager, zur exploration usw., mittels eines speziellen werkschiffes

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997025483A1 (fr) * 1996-01-10 1997-07-17 Padraig Mcalister Corps composites de glace
US6099208A (en) * 1996-01-10 2000-08-08 Mcalister; Padraig Ice composite bodies
WO2001096668A1 (fr) * 2000-06-16 2001-12-20 Padraig Mc Alister Corps composites en glace et procede de construction correspondant
US6712558B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2004-03-30 Mcalister Padraig Ice composite body and process for the construction thereof
WO2002016700A1 (fr) * 2000-08-25 2002-02-28 Anthony Cuthbert Procede et appareil de construction de parois structurales subaquatiques
WO2009015668A1 (fr) * 2007-08-01 2009-02-05 Rashed Mohamed Moner Abdel El- Système rashed de solution d'urgence alternative pour des barrages en rivière
WO2010008300A1 (fr) * 2008-07-14 2010-01-21 Polkonsult As Procédé et système de protection contre l'abrasion d'une structure dans un environnement marin
BE1026763B1 (fr) * 2019-05-31 2020-06-04 Valembois Joelle Prévention de propagation de pétrole

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5143779A (en) 1980-04-17
JPS5576790A (en) 1980-06-10

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