Submarine flexible pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851027-B2
Application number	US-201414903838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2014
Priority date	Jul 10, 2013
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

Submarine flexible pipe includes a metal flexible carcass, an inner polymeric liner arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the metal flexible carcass, a protective polymeric outer sheath and a mechanical armor structure arranged in a radially inner position with respect to the protective polymeric outer sheath, the mechanical armor structure being potentially exposed to water contact. The mechanical armor structure includes a pressure resistant armor and a tensile armor arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the inner polymeric liner. The mechanical armor structure includes a plurality of carbon steel elongated elements, each of the carbon steel elongated elements being coated by an aluminum cladding.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A submarine flexible pipe, comprising:
a metal flexible carcass;
an inner polymeric liner arranged in a radially outer position with respect to said metal flexible carcass;
a protective polymeric outer sheath; and
a mechanical armor structure arranged in a radially inner position with respect to said protective polymeric outer sheath, said mechanical armor structure being potentially exposed to water contact, said mechanical armor structure comprising a pressure resistant armor and a tensile armor arranged in a radially outer position with respect to said inner polymeric liner, wherein said mechanical armor structure comprises a plurality of carbon steel elongated elements, each of said carbon steel elongated elements being coated by an aluminum cladding exposed to a potential contact with water.

2. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanical armor structure comprises at least two overlapping tensile armor layers.

3. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 2 , wherein said carbon steel elongated elements of said at least two overlapping tensile armor layers are arranged according to long-pitch helical windings.

4. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 2 , wherein said at least two overlapping tensile armor layers have opposite winding directions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the submarine flexible pipe.

5. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 2 , comprising a first layer of plastic material interposed between said at least two overlapping tensile armor layers.

6. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 2 , comprising a second layer of plastic material interposed between a radially inner layer of said at least two overlapping tensile armor layers and said pressure resistant armor.

7. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said aluminum cladding has a thickness not less than about 250 μm.

8. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said aluminum cladding has a thickness of between about 250-900 μm.

9. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said aluminum cladding is applied by any of the following processes: immersion in melted aluminum, coating with aluminum thin foil, flame and/or plasma spraying, and aluminum extrusion.

10. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said aluminum cladding is applied by an extrusion process.

11. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said aluminum cladding comprises an aluminum alloy.

12. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said metal flexible carcass comprises a helical winding of a stainless steel interlocked elongated element.

13. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said inner polymeric liner comprises polyamide or polyvinylidene fluoride.

14. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure resistant armor comprises a helical winding of an interlocked carbon steel elongated element.

15. The submarine flexible pipe according to claim 1 , wherein said protective polymeric outer sheath comprises polyethylene or polyamide.

Assignees

• Prysmian Spa
• Prysmian Spa

Inventors

• Anelli Pietro
• Sica Rodolfo
• Perego Gabriele
• Ferreira Godinho Carlos Alberto

Classifications

• F16L11/083 Primary

  three or more layers · CPC title

• F16L11/08 Primary

  with reinforcements embedded in the wall (F16L11/11 takes precedence) · CPC title