Advancements in subsea riser analysis using quasi-rotations and the Newton–Raphson method

Beam structures undergoing finite deflections and rotations in space have extensive application in the subsea industry particularly for the analysis of holistic systems with larger numbers of mooring and riser components. In using the finite element analysis approach, there is an increasing requirement for large element sizes which preserve accuracy with regard to the coupling of axial, bending and torsion response.The authors outline a method for improving the current state of practice for the analysis of riser systems. The approach draws on the convected coordinates method, Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, the principle of virtual work and the finite element method. Two quasi-rotation measures are developed including a quasi-material rotation definition for rotational deformation relative to the convected axis of a beam and a quasi-space rotation definition to deal with the path dependent nature of rotations in three dimensions.The novel aspect of this work is to relate the rate of change of the quasi-material rotation vector along the beam axis to a linear transformation of the beam axis rate-of-rotation vector through utilising the convected coordinates axes system. In this way, incremental values of quasi-material rotation are directly linked to incremental values of nodal quasi-space rotation and a global Newton–Raphson solution technique for interconnecting beam elements is straightforward to assemble.Furthermore, this leads to accurate definitions of coupled axial, bending and torque response for beams with significant deflection. The approach has particular advantages in the analysis of subsea riser sections. Also, the accuracy of the solution is preserved for a fewer number of elements compared to alternative solutions for computationally sensitive load cases with highly non-linear loading regimes.     

STUDY ON THE OVERALL PRESSURE BALANCE OF A DOWNFLOW CIRCULATING FLUIDIZED BED SYSTEM

A pressure balance model for a circulating fluidized bed unit that incorporates a downer has been proposed. The model predictions were validated with the experimental data obtained from a special cold-model circulating fluidized bed. Comparison of the operation stability between a CFB downer and a CFB riser has been carried out. Only one critical gas velocity exists in the CFB-riser for a given riser solids flux, while there can be many critical gas velocities for the operation of a CFB downer. Therefore, it is possible to achieve high solids concentration in a CFB downer if appropriate operating conditions are used.     

Drag amplification of long flexible riser models undergoing multi-mode VIV in uniform currents

Measurement data of long flexible riser models are used to study the drag amplification due to multi-mode vortex induced vibration (VIV). The riser model was towed in a towing tank, and vibration along its length was measured indirectly at a set of discrete points using accelerometers, along with the total drag and lift forces on the model. These data were used to fit expressions for the drag amplification taking into account the spatial variation of the vibration amplitude along the riser length. The results were compared with the existing empirical expression used in the VIV analysis tool SHEAR7 as well as other test data. It was found that the expression in SHEAR7 agrees well with the test data. However, for larger vibration amplitudes, it appears to under-predict the drag amplification.     

Decay and nonexistence of global solutions of a quasilinear riser equation

We study qualitative properties of a quasilinear wave equation of fourth order that models the mechanical vibrations of a marine riser. Our analysis characterizes global and nonglobal solutions with respect to the norm of some Hilbert space, if energy is strictly less than the potential well depth. We employ invariant sets to show our results. In particular, we show that globality implies exponential decay to zero, and nonglobality is due to blow up. Both results are shown with respect to the norm of the solution in the Hilbert space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

隔水管弯曲对钻柱振动影响的计算与分析

海洋油气资源钻探中隔水管的弯曲对钻柱振动以及钻进特性有特别的影响。为得到隔水管弯曲对钻柱振动的影响规律,对南海已钻深水井使用非线性有限元软件建立全井钻井数值计算模型,研究获得了不同垂深时隔水管弯曲对钻柱振动特性的影响规律。研究表明:隔水管弯曲会加剧钻柱的振动,钻柱振动加剧会导致钻井能耗上升、钻头切削能力下降并且会加快钻柱疲劳;当隔水管的弯曲达到某临界值,钻柱与隔水管间的接触力会陡增;井口的钩载越大,隔水管弯曲带来的井口钩载波动量越大;井越深,隔水管弯曲对全井钻柱最大弯矩和钻头切削能力的影响越小。     

基于模糊PID的海洋立管疲劳试验装置控制系统设计

海洋立管作为海洋油气开发的关键设备,在运行期间面临疲劳失效的风险,需要对立管进行疲劳试验。针对海洋立管共振弯曲疲劳试验法,提出基于 S7-300 PLC实现海洋立管共振弯曲疲劳试验装置控制系统的设计思想。采用黄金分割法,寻找确定试件共振频率点;同时,为保障系统能够在该共振频率点稳定运行,采用S7-300 PLC作为核心控制器,结合参数自调节模糊PID控制算法,设计完成疲劳试验装置中转速模糊PID控制器,实现对系统转速的精确控制,使得海洋立管疲劳试验装置控制系统在具有PLC控制灵活、可靠性高等特点的同时,大大提高了其自动化程度。     

气液混输悬链线立管系统两相流特性实验

严重段塞流是海洋工程气液混输管线--立管系统中常见的一种特殊有害流动现象, 采用水平--下倾--悬链线立管气液混输组合管道系统, 通过系列实验在悬链线立管中获得了严重段塞流、间歇流和震荡流等流型, 阐述了这些流动现象的形成机理, 提出了能够产生严重段塞流的判定准则. 结果表明, 悬链线立管严重段塞流具有明显周期性, 在一个周期内的流动特征可分为液塞形成、液体出流、液气喷发及液体回流等4个阶段, 进而给出了各阶段中相关流动参数的变化规律. 在实验中同时还对悬链线与垂直立管中严重段塞流形成机理进行了比较分析, 发现两者在液塞形成阶段有显著差别. 其中, 在悬链线立管中液塞形成之前首先需要经历一个气液混合液塞形成过程, 而垂直立管则没有这个过程.      

深水环境下隔水管的横向自由振动分析

隔水管是海洋钻井工程中的必要设备。在深水环境下,隔水管的疲劳失效问题普遍存在,隔水管的强烈振动是导致其失效的主要原因之一。本文采用微元法,得到了隔水管在各种载荷作用下的横向振动规律及其横向振动的固有频率的分布规律,进一步分析了各种因素对隔水管横向振动固有频率的影响。结果表明:隔水管的长度增加时,固有频率减小;随着顶部张力比的增加,隔水管的横向振动的固有频率也增加;随着壁厚的增加,隔水管横向振动的固有频率逐渐降低;而随着钻井液密度的增加,隔水管横向振动的固有频率增加;海水的存在使隔水管的横向振动固有频率降低。该研究有利于避免隔水管在使用过程中出现强烈的共振现象,为减小隔水管的失效提供了理论依据。     

Natural frequencies and mode shapes of statically deformed inclined risers

We investigate numerically the linear vibrations of inclined risers using the Galerkin approach. The riser is modeled as an Euler–Bernoulli beam accounting for the nonlinear mid-plane stretching and self-weight. After solving for the initial deflection of the riser due to self-weight, we use a Galerkin expansion employing 15 axially loaded beam mode shapes to solve the eigenvalue problem of the riser around the static equilibrium configuration. This yields the riser natural frequencies and corresponding exact mode shapes for various values of inclination angles and tension. The obtained results are validated against a boundary-layer analytical solution and are found to be in good agreement. This constitutes a basis to study the nonlinear forced vibrations of inclined risers.     

海洋柔性结构涡激振动的流固耦合机理和响应

对近几十年来国内外在涡激振动的基础研究包括机理认识和动响应分析等方面的进展进行了论述,尤其针对海洋油气平台中的立管、隔水管等细长柔性结构的涡激振动.描述了涡激振动这种典型的非线性流固耦合现象所具有的特征,包括自激、自限制、展向相关、尾迹水动力与结构动力的流固耦合等及其主要影响参数.介绍了目前常用的结构响应预测方法和相关实验.通过讨论当前理论研究和实际工程中的热点问题,诸如多模态宽带振动、浮体运动与水下立管的耦合、响应抑制措施、双向振动、高雷诺数下的大尺度物理实验等,对今后该领域的研究方向进行了力所能及的展望.