In one embodiment, pipe connection joints are constructed using two materials, a flexible material and a rigid material, which are fixedly attached to form a pipe connection joint that provides a few degrees of flex in order to allow for mis-alignment of pipe ends and to reduce stress at the joint. The flexible pipe connection joints are made in a variety of nominal angles, configurations, and sizes and each of the individual pipe connection joints can be flexed in any direction a few degrees from the nominal angle.

In one embodiment, pipe connection joints are constructed using two materials, a flexible material and a rigid material, which are fixedly attached to form a pipe connection joint that provides a few degrees of flex in order to allow for mis-alignment of pipe ends and to reduce stress at the joint. The flexible pipe connection joints are made in a variety of nominal angles, configurations, and sizes and each of the individual pipe connection joints can be flexed in any direction a few degrees from the nominal angle.

An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.

An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.

An expansion pipe joint that absorbs displacement occurring at a connection portion between an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe includes an outer tube having a downstream end coupled to the downstream pipe, an inner tube that is inserted into the outer tube and has an upstream end coupled to the upstream pipe, and a closing member having elasticity that is provided between an upstream end of the outer tube and the upstream end of the inner tube so as to close a gap between them. Then, a difference between a position in an axial direction of the upstream end of the outer tube and a position in the axial direction of the upstream end of the inner tube is within a predetermined range so that a bus line of the closing member is inclined from the axial direction.

An articulating arrangement for a pipe includes a narrow section having a diameter D.sub.1 smaller than a diameter D.sub.2; a plurality of slits arranged on the narrow section in a spaced apart manner along a central axis of the pipe, each of the plurality of slits including two or more slit sections separated by two or more bridge sections. The plurality of slits includes a set of first slits and a set of second slits angularly arranged, with respect to the set of first slits, along the central axis. The set of first slits is arranged on a first half of the narrow section and the set of second slits is arranged on a second half of the narrow section. A cover member is arranged on the narrow section to seal the plurality of slits. The cover member diametrically aligns with the diameter D.sub.2.

A decompression heat-insulating pipe structure that can exhibit the desired heat-insulating performance and is easy to assemble. In the structure, a space between ends of inner and outer tubes is decompressed. The outer tube includes a first flange, which extends radially inward from an axially one end thereof, and a second flange, which extends radially outward from the axially other end thereof. The inner tube includes a third flange, which extends radially inward from an axially one end thereof and is opposed to the first flange at an axially inward position of the first flange, and a fourth flange, which extends radially outward from the axially other end thereof and being opposed to the second flange at an axially outward position of the second flange. First and second elastic seal members are disposed between the first and third flanges and between the second and fourth flanges, respectively.

A decompression heat-insulating pipe structure that can exhibit the desired heat-insulating performance and is easy to assemble. In the structure, a space between ends of inner and outer tubes is decompressed. The outer tube includes a first flange, which extends radially inward from an axially one end thereof, and a second flange, which extends radially outward from the axially other end thereof. The inner tube includes a third flange, which extends radially inward from an axially one end thereof and is opposed to the first flange at an axially inward position of the first flange, and a fourth flange, which extends radially outward from the axially other end thereof and being opposed to the second flange at an axially outward position of the second flange. First and second elastic seal members are disposed between the first and third flanges and between the second and fourth flanges, respectively.

A tube seal includes a cylindrical tube and an elastomeric seal body molded to the cylindrical tube. The elastomeric seal body includes a pair of seal lip regions extending from opposite ends of the rigid cylindrical tube and inserted into a respective bore of a pair of opposing members for providing a sealing relationship there between. The seal lip regions each include, in an unassembled condition, an axially extending seal lip and a radially outwardly extending seal lip connected to the ends of the rigid cylindrical tube by an elastomeric hinge region.

A tube seal includes a cylindrical tube and an elastomeric seal body molded to the cylindrical tube. The elastomeric seal body includes a pair of seal lip regions extending from opposite ends of the rigid cylindrical tube and inserted into a respective bore of a pair of opposing members for providing a sealing relationship there between. The seal lip regions each include, in an unassembled condition, an axially extending seal lip and a radially outwardly extending seal lip connected to the ends of the rigid cylindrical tube by an elastomeric hinge region.