JPH0367917B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a seawater intake device for taking deep water, etc., which is eutrophic, clean, and has a low water temperature, and in particular, it is easy to install and remove underwater. This relates to a seawater intake device.

[Conventional technology]

Deep water that exists in the deep layers of the ocean is characterized by being rich in organic nutrients, being clean, and having a low water temperature (for example, about 2 degrees Celsius in the case of the Sea of Japan at a depth of 300 meters). For this reason, applications that take advantage of these characteristics are increasing in various fields such as fisheries, power generation, and industry. Further, such deep water exists offshore at a relatively long distance from the coast and at a certain depth or more.

Conventionally, as a water intake device for taking in deep water as described above, the one shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-50632 and the like is known.

This type of water intake device has a long water intake duct vertically installed on the seabed or lake bottom that protrudes above the water surface from the bottom. A plurality of water intake ports that can be opened and closed are provided in multiple stages, and by pumping up water from the upper layer of the water intake duct, water at an appropriate temperature at an appropriate depth is taken from the water intake ports that open and close.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional deep water intake device as described above, the water intake duct that constitutes it does not have a self-floating function, so for example, if the water intake duct is located on the seabed at a depth of 100 m or more, a water intake duct of a corresponding length is installed on the seabed at a depth of 100 m or more. In the case of installing a large scale construction machine, a large construction machine such as a large floating crane is required, which poses a problem in that the installation work becomes complicated and the installation cost increases.

Furthermore, since the conventional water intake device described above has a tower structure and is a fixed type, the foundation for installing the water intake duct on the seabed must be solid in order to have a structure that can withstand stress from tidal currents and ocean currents. In addition, a support mechanism such as a wire rope is required, which makes the structure large-scale and increases costs, and it is almost impossible to remove or move the water intake device once it has been installed.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it not only simplifies installation in the sea, but also enables removal and movement, and is also economical with low installation costs and water intake costs. The purpose is to provide seawater intake equipment.

[Means for solving problems]

A seawater intake device according to the present invention includes a plurality of pipes having a desired diameter and a desired length that communicate with each other, a flexible joint that connects the pipes in a line and in a bendable manner to form a pipeline, and each of the above-mentioned pipes. It consists of a floating body that is installed on the pipe body and that adjusts the weight of the pipe in water so that it can sink and float on its own, and a pipe anchor that is installed at one end of the pipeline that has the water intake.

[Action of the invention]

In the present invention, the water intake pipeline connects a plurality of pipe bodies that communicate with each other so as to be bendable by a universal joint, and each pipe body is provided with a floating body that can adjust the underwater weight to zero, plus or minus. Therefore, assembly and towing to the desired sea area,
Installation becomes easier, and the floating body allows the pipeline to sink into the sea and rise to the sea surface under its own power.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram when the seawater intake device according to the present invention is applied to an offshore fishery aquaculture plant;
Figure 2 shows details of the water intake mechanism.

In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a pipeline for taking in deep water, and has a desired length (for example, 20 mm).
m) and a desired diameter (for example, 700 mm), the pipes 2a to 2n are closed at both ends, and each of these pipes 2a to 2n is connected in a straight line and bendably by a universal joint 3, and each pipe 2a
The flexible pipes 4 connect the bent joints 2n to 2n, thereby allowing the pipes to communicate with each other. In addition, each of the above pipes 2a
~2n is equipped with a plurality of floating bodies 5 for sinking itself into the sea and raising it to the sea surface.

One end (pipe 2a side) of the water intake pipeline 1 thus constructed is connected via a universal joint 7 to an offshore floating structure 6 such as a purge or ship equipped with a seawater treatment system for deep water, etc., and the other end (Pipe 2n
A pipe anchor 9 that can be filled with seawater and air is connected to the side) via a universal joint 8, and a water intake port 10 is also provided.

The pipe anchor 9 is used to prevent the water intake pipeline 1 from being washed away by the effects of wind, waves, currents, etc. The pipe anchor 9 is designed to prevent the water intake pipeline 1 from being washed away by the effects of wind, waves, currents, etc. Needle-like or claw-like anti-slip spikes (not shown) are placed on the ground surface.
is formed. In addition, such pipe anchor 9
The pipeline 1 including the above is also used for mooring an offshore floating structure 6.

In order to sink and self-float the pipeline 1, the floating bodies 5 and pipe anchors 9 installed on the respective pipes 2a, 2b, ... 2n are equipped with high-pressure air compressors (not shown) installed on the floating structure 6. ) for supplying high pressure air from
are connected via electromagnetic switching valves 13 and 9a (see FIG. 3), and these electromagnetic switching valves 13 and 9a
A signal cable 14 for providing the switching control signal is connected to. Above solenoid switching valve 1
3 and 9a control the supply of high-pressure air to each floating structure 5, the introduction of seawater, and the discharge of seawater by injection of high-pressure air, and corresponding control command signals are installed on the offshore floating structure 6. These signals are applied from a control panel (not shown) through a signal cable 14, and these controls can be performed separately for each floating body 5.

The above-mentioned seawater treatment system for deep water, etc. is a system that mixes deep water rich in organic components taken through a pipeline 1 with surface water and sprays the mixture onto the sea surface.
The water sampling pump 16 is driven by a water sampling pump 16, and a water sampling pump 17 for sucking surface water of the sea is connected to the suction side of the water sampling pump 16. A plurality of water intake ports 18, 18, . . . for surface water intake are provided with separate flow control valves 19, 1.
9,... Further, a deep water sampling pipe 2 is provided on the suction side of the water sampling pump 16.
0 is connected to this deep water sampling pipe 20,
One end of the pair of coupling hoses 21, 21 is connected via flow control valves 22, 22, and the other end of the coupling hoses 21, 21 is connected to a water sampling port 23 connected to the pipe 2a of the pipeline 1. , 23, and further connected to the water sampling pump 1
A plurality of water spray nozzles 26, 26, . . . are connected to the water pipe 24 connected to the discharge side of the water pipe 6 through separate block valves 25, 25, . Reference numeral 27 denotes a priming pump driven by a motor 28, the suction side of which is connected to the surface water intake 30 via a block valve 29, and the discharge side of the priming pump 27 connected via a block valve 31 and priming piping 32. The above deep water sampling pipe 20
It is connected to the.

Note that 33 is a mooring buoy for mooring the offshore floating structure 6.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, a case will be described in which the water intake pipeline 1 is installed in a desired sea area.

Pipe 2n connected with pipe anchor 9 assembled in a factory and other pipes 2a, 2b,...
is lowered onto the sea surface using a truck crane, etc. from a factory quay, etc. At this time, even if each of the pipes 2a to 2n is filled with seawater, the entire pipeline 1 floats on the sea surface because air is sealed in the floating body 5.

Next, each pipe 2a floating on the sea surface near the quay
2n are successively connected by the universal joint 3, each bending connection part is connected by the flexible pipe 4, and then the high pressure air supply hose 12 to each floating body 5 is connected.
connection and signal cable 1 to each electromagnetic switching valve 13
Make the connection in step 4.

After that, the assembled water intake pipeline 1 and offshore floating structure 6 are towed to the sea area of use, and the floating structure 6 is towed separately from this and connected to the mooring buoy 33 installed in the sea area of use, Connect the pipe 2a of the water intake pipeline 1 to the mooring buoy 33,
In addition, the water intake ports 23, 23 provided on the side of the pipe 2a are connected to the coupling hoses 21, 21, and the high pressure air supply hose 12 and signal cable 14 are further connected to the air compressor and the control panel. Then, other pipes 2b except for the pipe 2a on the sea surface side
By sending a signal to the electromagnetic switching valve 13 of each floating body 5 ~2n through the signal cable 14, the electromagnetic switching valve 13 is opened, and the inside of each floating body 5 is opened to the seawater. As a result, seawater flows into the floating body 5 and the internal air is discharged, and by adjusting the amount of seawater filled in the floating body 5, the underwater weight of the pipeline 1 as a whole becomes zero. After that, the pipe anchor 9 is towed to the target position.

Next, open the electromagnetic switching valve 9a of the pipe anchor 9 to further inject seawater, and at the same time, a little later, further seawater is injected into the pipe 2n directly connected to the pipe anchor 9 and the floating body 5 of the pipe connected thereto. do. By doing this, the underwater weight of the pipe anchor 9 side of the pipeline 1 is made positive, and the pipe anchor 9 side is caused to sink to the seabed 11. When the pipe anchor 9 reaches the seabed 11, the weight of the pipe anchor 9 and the weight of the pipe 2n and several pipes connected to it are
to securely fix the pipe anchor 9 to the seabed 11. At this time, the air inside the floating body 5 is adjusted so that the weight in the water other than the pipe 2n on the seabed side and several pipes connected thereto becomes zero or negative. This adjustment is made by controlling the electromagnetic switching valve 13 through the signal cable 14. As a result, a buoyant force is generated at the sea-side end of the pipeline 1, so that the suspension load of the pipeline 1 is not applied to the floating structure 6 and the mooring buoy 33.

Next, we will discuss the seawater intake operation.

In this case, first, block valves 29, 31
open, drive the priming pump 27 to suck up surface seawater from the water intake port 30, and connect the priming pipe 32, deep water sampling pipe 20, and coupling hoses 21, 2.
1. A check valve 34 is provided at the water intake ports 23, 23 and at the upper part of the pipe 2a in the pipeline 1 (on the side connected to the floating structure 6 in the pipe 2a, as shown in FIG. 3. portion above the valve 34) and surface water sampling pipe 17
The piping, etc. up to the suction port of the water sampling pump 16, including the water sampling pump 16, is filled with seawater. After that, surface water flow control valve 1
9, 19, . . . and the block valves 25, 25, . is sprayed onto the sea surface from each nozzle 26, 26.

Next, when the deep water flow rate control valves 22, 22 are opened,
Deep seawater from the ocean floor flows from water intake 10 to pipeline 1
water from pipeline 1 to water sampling port 2.
3, 23, the water is sucked into the water sampling pump 16 through the coupling hoses 21, 21 and the water sampling pipe 20, mixed with surface water, and sprayed onto the sea surface from the nozzles 26, 26.

At this time, while paying attention to the indicated values of the deep water flow meter 35 and the surface water flow meter 36 so that the water sampling pump 16 does not become overloaded, adjust the deep water flow rate control valve 22 and the surface water flow rate control valve 19, Supply seawater at the desired mixing ratio.

By mixing a large amount of low-temperature deep water with surface water, the temperature of the sprayed seawater becomes the same as that of surface water, making it suitable for fish farming, etc., and deep water rich in organic components is sprayed. By doing this, you can farm fish or attract fish.

Further, the pipeline 1 with the pipe anchor 9 fixed to the seabed 11 functions as an anchor line for a mooring buoy 33 that moores the offshore floating structure 6. By making the underwater weight of the intermediate pipe and the upper pipe of the pipeline 1 zero or negative, no load is applied to the upper end of the pipeline 1, so the mooring buoy 33 can be made smaller and the offshore floating structure 6 Depending on the type of mooring buoy 33, it is possible to omit the mooring buoy 33.

Next, the removal or transfer of the water intake pipeline 1 will be described.

In this case, first, by supplying a signal to the electromagnetic switching valve 13 of the uppermost pipe 2a through the signal cable 14, the high-pressure air supply hose 12 and the floating body 5 of the pipe 2a are communicated with each other, and the inside of the floating body 5 is connected to seawater. By opening the air compressor and sending high-pressure air into the floating body 5 through the hose 12, the seawater inside the floating body 5 is pushed out of the floating body 5. Once the seawater has been discharged, the electromagnetic switching valve 13 is closed to shut off the high pressure air supply hose 12 and the outside.

Hereafter, high pressure air is supplied to pipes 2b to 2n in the same manner.
The floating structure 6 is fed into the floating structure 5 and the pipe anchor 9 in order to discharge the seawater inside, and the pipes 2a closest to the floating structure 6 are sequentially fed to the pipe 2a to give buoyancy to float above the sea surface. After the entire pipeline 1 floats above the sea surface, the coupling hoses 21, 21
and the water intake port 23 of the pipeline 1, and furthermore, the connection between the pipeline 1 and the floating structure 6 is released, and the high-pressure air supply hose 12 and the signal cable 14 are also separated from the floating structure 6. Thereafter, the pipeline 1 and the floating structure 6, which have been separated from each other, are towed to a predetermined location by a tugboat. This makes it possible to remove the water intake pipeline 1 or move it to another sea area.

When the floating structure 6 is to be evacuated in an emergency due to the occurrence of a typhoon, etc., the coupling hose 21 of the pipeline 1, the high pressure air supply hose 12, and the signal cable 14 installed as shown in FIG. Then, the connection between the pipeline 1 and the floating structure 6 by the universal joint 7 is separated. Then, the floating structure 6 is towed and evacuated to a safe place. At this time, the pipeline 1 is left as it is in the installation sea area, but the pipeline 1 is connected to the floating body 5.
As a result, like the mooring buoy 33, the mooring buoy is held in the sea in a state where the buoyancy balance is maintained.

Furthermore, in this case, even if force due to wind, waves, or tidal currents acts on the pipeline 1, the pipeline 1 has a structure in which multiple pipes are connected in a bendable manner with flexible joints, so it adapts to the tidal currents, etc. and will not be damaged or washed away.

In the above embodiment, the seawater intake device according to the present invention is applied to an offshore fishing plant, but it is not limited to this, but can be applied to power generation, industrial plants, recovery of underwater precious metal components such as uranium, etc. Of course, it can also be applied.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of pipe bodies that communicate with each other are bendably connected by a universal joint, and each pipe body has an underwater weight that can be adjusted to zero, plus or minus, and sinks into the pipe body. It is equipped with a floating body that provides a self-floating function, and the entire structure is in the form of a pipeline with connected pipe anchors, so the pipeline itself as a seawater intake device can be used as an anchor line for seawater utilization equipment floating on the sea. can function as
There is no need to provide a separate mooring anchor line to the seawater utilization equipment, and there is no need to provide a special mooring line to the seawater intake device itself, as in the past.
Installation in a desired sea area becomes easy, removal and movement are also possible, and installation costs and water intake costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of applying the seawater intake device according to the present invention to a fishery aquaculture plant, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing details of the seawater intake device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is also an enlarged view of the main part. 1... Water intake pipeline, 2a-2n... Pipe, 3, 7, 8... Universal joint, 4... Flexible pipe, 5... Floating body, 6... Floating structure, 9
... Pipe anchor, 10 ... Water intake, 12 ... High pressure air supply hose, 13 ... Solenoid switching valve, 14 ...
...signal cable.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A plurality of pipes of a desired diameter and desired length that communicate with each other, a flexible joint that connects these pipes in a line and in a bendable manner to form a water intake pipeline, and a flexible joint that is provided on each of the above pipes and that A seawater intake device comprising: a floating body that adjusts its underwater weight to enable it to sink and float by itself; and a pipe anchor provided at one end of the water intake pipeline having a water intake port.