SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A FAULT STATE OF A FLOATING TUBE

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (2) for detecting a fault state of a floating tube (4), wherein the system (2) has a buoyant floating tube (4), a detection system (6), and an evaluation unit (8), wherein the detection system (6) is designed to detect the geometric arrangement of the floating tube (4) and/or to detect the floating state (10) of the floating tube (4) in order to generate a detection signal which represents the detected geometric arrangement of the floating tube (4) and/or the detected floating state (10) of the floating tube (4), wherein the detection system (6) and the evaluation unit (8) are coupled via a first signal connection (14) in order to transmit the detection signal from the detection system (6) to the evaluation unit (8). There are multiple possible fault states here which can be detected by the evaluation unit (8). These fault states include a crossed arrangement of tube portions (12) of the floating tube (4), tube portions (12) of the floating tube (4) which can be in a decoupled state from the rest of the floating tube (4), tube portions (12) of the floating tube (4) which are fully submerged in the water, and/or the detection of an at least partly coiled arrangement of the floating tube (4).

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A system for detecting a fault state of a floating tube, the system comprising: a buoyant floating tube; a detection system; an evaluation unit; the detection system is designed to detect a geometric arrangement of the floating tube and/or to detect a floating state of the floating tube; the detection system is configured to generate a detection signal, which represents the detected geometric arrangement of the floating tube and/or a detected floating state of the floating tube; the detection system and the evaluation unit are coupled via a first signal connection in order to transmit the detection signal from the detection system to the evaluation unit; and the evaluation unit is configured: a) on a basis of the geometric arrangement, to detect a first fault state of the floating tube if tube portions of the floating tube (4) are arranged crossing one another, and/or b) on the basis of the geometric arrangement, to detect a second fault state of the floating tube if a tube portion of the floating tube is arranged in a state decoupled from a rest of the floating tube; and/or c) on the basis of the floating state, to detect a third fault state of the floating tube if a tube portion of the floating tube is fully submerged in water, and/or d) on the basis of the geometric arrangement, to detect a fourth fault state of the floating tube if the floating tube is arranged at least partially in a coiled manner.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the floating tube (4) has a plurality of tube segments (16) that are coupled to one another in series one behind the other.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the detection system (6) is at least partially attached to the floating tube (4).

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the system (2) has a buoyant buoy (18), wherein a first end (28) of the floating tube (4) is connected to the buoy (18).

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the detection system (6) is at least partially attached to a buoy (18).

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the detection system (6) has a plurality of node units (20), wherein each node unit (20) is designed, by an associated radio unit, to establish a radio connection (22) to each of at least two of further radio units of the node unit (20) in question, so that a radio network (24), in particular a mesh radio network, is created, wherein the node units (20) are arranged in a manner distributed over the length of the floating tube (4) or are arranged in a manner distributed between the buoy (18) and a second end (30) of the floating tube (4).

20. The system of claim 14, wherein each node unit (20) is designed to determine a relative distance to each further node unit (20), connected via a radio connection (22), on the basis of the corresponding radio connection (22), wherein at least one of the node units (20) forms a main unit (26) which is designed to collect the relative distances, determined by the further node units (20), via the radio connections (22) and/or a radio network (24), and wherein the main unit (26) is designed to determine the geometric arrangement of the floating tube (4) on the basis of the collected relative distances.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein a main unit (26) is configured, on the basis of collected relative distances, to determine a length of the tube portions (12) of the floating tube (4) and/or the distances between the tube portions (12) of the floating tube (4), so that the geometric arrangement represents at least also the length of the tube portions (12) and/or the distances between the tube portions (12), and wherein the evaluation unit (8) is configured, on the basis of the length of the tube portions (12) and/or the distances between the tube portions (12), to detect a missing mechanical connection between two tube portions (12) arranged in series one behind the other.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein a main unit (26) or a main unit (26) formed by one of the node units (20) is configured to establish a direct or indirect radio connection (22) to each further node unit (20) via the radio network (24), wherein the main unit (26) is configured to identify each node unit (20) connected to the main unit (26) by the corresponding radio connection (22) as a floating node unit (20), wherein the main unit (26) is configured to identify each node unit (20) not connected to the main unit (26) by a radio connection (22) as a submerged node unit (20), and wherein the main unit (26) is configured to determine the floating state of the floating tube (4) on the basis of an identification of the floating node units (20) and/or the submerged node units (20) in such a way that the floating state for each tube portion (12) of the floating tube (4) indicates whether a particular tube portion (12) is either floating or submerged.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the detection system (6) is designed to transmit the detection signal to the evaluation unit (8) via the first signal connection (14).

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the first signal connection (14) is a wireless radio connection (14).

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the evaluation unit (8) is arranged at a distance from the floating tube (4) and/or the detection system (6).

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the evaluation unit (8) is stationary.

Description

[0031] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention can be gleaned from the following description of the exemplary embodiments and the figures. Here, all of the features described and/or illustrated in the figures form the subject matter of the invention individually and in any desired combination, even independently of the composition thereof in the individual claims, or the back-references therein. In the figures, furthermore identical reference symbols are used for identical or similar objects.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an advantageous embodiment of the system.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a further advantageous embodiment of the system, wherein the associated floating tube is in a first fault state.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the system from FIG. 1, wherein the associated floating tube is in a second fault state.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the system from FIG. 1, wherein the floating tube is in a third fault state.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a further advantageous embodiment of the system.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a further advantageous embodiment of the system 2 from FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an advantageous embodiment of the system 2. The system 2 allows a detection of a fault state of a floating tube 4. The system 2 has the buoyant floating tube 4, a detection system 6 and an evaluation unit 8. The detection system 6 is preferably of a multi-part design. The detection system 6 can be formed, for example, by a plurality of node units 20. One of the node units 20 can form a main unit 26, or the main unit 26 can comprise at least the corresponding node unit 20. The main unit 26 is likewise part of the detection system 6. The parts of the detection system 6 are arranged in a distributed manner. It can additionally be provided for the system 2 that the system 2 has a buoyant buoy 18. The main unit 26 can be associated with the buoy 18 or can be attached to the buoy 18. A first end 28 of the floating tube 4 is attached to the buoy 18. The floating tube 4 extends from the first end 28 to a second end 30. The floating tube 4 can be of a multi-part design. For example, the floating tube 4 can be formed by a plurality of tube segments 16 that are coupled to one another in series one behind the other. The adjacent the arranged tube segments 16 can be releasably attached to one another in such a way that the entire floating tube 4 forms a continuous flow channel. Each of the tube segments 16 is buoyant. Therefore, the entire floating tube 4 is also buoyant. The buoy 18 is likewise buoyant. The floating tube 4 and the buoy 18 can be constructed and/or designed for example in such a way that in each case approximately 20 to 35% of the associated body is arranged above a water line 32. The waterline 32 is indicated in FIG. 1 by a dashed line. The flotation depth 10 is likewise illustrated in FIG. 1. In the variant of the system 2 shown in FIG. 1, the parts of the detection system 6 are arranged in a manner distributed between the buoy 18 and the second end 30 of the floating tube 4. The main unit 26 of the detection system 6 is attached to the buoy 18. The further node units 20 of the detection system 6 are attached to the tube segments 16 of the floating tube 4. For example, it can preferably be provided that a node unit 20 is attached to and/or arranged on each of the tube segments 16. Each of the node units 20 and the main unit 26 can establish a radio connection 22 to the other node units 20 and/or the main unit 26. A radio network 24 can be formed as a result. By means of the radio network 24, the distance between the node units 20 or the distance between the main unit 26 and each of the node units 20 can be determined. This can be determined by the propagation time of the corresponding radio connection 22. It is therefore possible to determine the geometric form of the floating tube 4 relative to the buoy 18 by way of triangulation. The main unit 26 of the detection system 6 can be designed to detect the propagation times of the radio connections 22 and to determine the geometric form of the floating tube 4 relative to the buoy 18. The geometric form of the floating tube 4 relative to the buoy 18 can represent the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4. The detection system 6 is therefore designed to detect the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4.

[0039] In addition, it can be provided that the main unit 26 of the detection system 6 has stored the number of further node units 20 and corresponding identification data for the various node units 20. The main unit 26 can therefore detect, by the radio connections 22 and/or by the radio network 24, whether a direct or indirect radio connection 22 can be established to each of the further node units 20. If it is not possible to establish a direct or indirect radio connection 22 to one of the further node units 20 from the main unit 26, the main unit 26 can thus be configured to determine the relevant node unit 20 as a submerged node unit 20. This is because it has been found in practice that the radio connection 22 is interrupted as soon as the associated node unit 20 is fully submerged in water. If this is the case, it can additionally be assumed that the tube segment 16 on/to which the particular node unit 20 is attached and/or arranged is likewise fully submerged in water. The main unit 26 can therefore detect, via the radio connections 22 or the radio network 24, which of the tube segments 16 is submerged and which of the tube segments 16 is floating. A floating state of the floating tube 4 may indicate which of the tube segments 16 of the floating tube 4 are floating and/or which tube segments 16 of the floating tube 4 are fully submerged. Since the particular floating state of each of the tube segments 16 can be detected by the main unit 26, the main unit 26 is likewise designed to detect the floating state of the floating tube 4. This is because this floating state on the one hand can represent the floating state of the entire floating tube 4 or can represent the floating state for each of the tube segments 16 of the floating tube 4.

[0040] The main unit 26 and each of the node units 20 are preferably formed as an electric unit. They therefore require electrical energy for operation. Each of the node units 20 and the main unit 26 can have an associated battery in each case in order to ensure electrical energy for operation of the particular node unit 20 or the main unit 26. Alternatively or additionally, each of the node units 20 and/or the main unit 26 can have further energy sources. For example, each of the node units 20 and/or the main unit 26 can have a solar cell, which is designed to generate electrical energy from light, in particular sunlight. At least some of the electrical energy that is required to operate the particular node unit 20 of the main unit 26 can therefore likewise be provided by means of the solar cell.

[0041] The detection system 6 is configured, for this purpose, to generate a detection signal, which represents the detected geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 and/or the detected floating state of the floating tube 4. For example, the main unit 26 can be configured to generate the detection signal. This is because the main unit 26 is preferably also designed to detect the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 and/or the floating state of the floating tube 4. In addition, the detection system 6 is designed to transmit the detection signal to the evaluation unit 8. The detection system 6 and the evaluation unit 8 can be designed to establish a first signal connection 14 between the detection system 6 and the evaluation unit 8. This first signal connection is established in practice. The detection system 6 and the evaluation unit 8 can additionally be designed to transmit the detection signal from the detection system 6 to the evaluation unit 8 via the first signal connection 14. The main unit 26 of the detection system 6 can have, for this purpose, a communication unit 34 for example, which is designed to transmit the detection signal via the first signal connection 14. The first signal connection 14 can be in the form of a radio connection.

[0042] It has proven to be advantageous if the evaluation unit 8 is physically separate and removed from the detection system 6 and/or the floating tube 4. The evaluation unit 8 can be arranged for example in stationary fashion on land. The floating tube 4 can be floating in the water of the sea. The detection system 6 can be arranged in a distributed manner on the floating tube 4 or distributed between the buoy 18 and the floating tube 4. The detection signal can be transmitted from the detection system 6 to the evaluation unit 8 via the first signal connection 14. The first signal connection 14 is used for this purpose. The evaluation unit 8 can be equipped with a sufficiently high processor power to allow the detection of at least one of the possible fault states of the floating tube 4. The electrical power supply of the processing unit is unproblematic in this case. The electrical power supply of the detection system 6 can be provided via batteries and/or via solar cells. The floating tube 4 and the detection system 6 can therefore be used particularly easily without having to be connected to a fixed electrical power supply. The evaluation unit 8 can additionally be coupled to further units, which are suitable and/or designed to initiate further measures. In addition, possible fault states of a floating tube 4 detected by the evaluation unit 8 can be forwarded to a monitoring system, which is designed to display the corresponding faults. The monitoring system can be part of the system 2.

[0043] By way of the transmission of the first detection signal via the first signal connection 14 from the detection system 6 to the evaluation unit 8, the corresponding information about the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 and/or the floating state of the floating tube 4 is provided to the evaluation unit 8. The detection system 6 can be designed and/or configured to detect the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 and/or the floating state of the floating tube 4 periodically and/or at predetermined times. A new detection signal can be generated by the detection system 6 with each detection of the geometric arrangement and/or the floating state. The detection system 6 can be configured correspondingly for this purpose. In addition, the detection system 6 is in this case preferably designed in such a way that each newly generated detection signal is transmitted via the first signal connection 14 from the detection system 6 to the evaluation unit 8. Due to the choice of the time intervals between the detection times of the geometric arrangement or of the floating state, a continuous, quasi-continuous or periodic detection of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 can be achieved. The same is true for the transmission of information by means of the detection signal via the first signal connection 14. The corresponding information about the geometric arrangement and/or the floating state of the floating tube 4 can thus be made available to the evaluation unit 8 continuously, quasi-continuously or periodically. With each update of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 and/or of the floating state of the floating tube 4, the evaluation unit 8 can perform a new check of this information for a possible fault state of the floating tube 4. The evaluation unit 8 is preferably configured accordingly for this purpose.

[0044] The evaluation unit 8 is preferably configured, on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4, to detect a first fault state of the floating tube 4 if tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 are arranged crossing one another. On the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4, the evaluation unit 8 can be configured to detect tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 that are arranged crossing one another.

[0045] A further, advantageous embodiment of the system 2 with a floating tube 4, a detection system 6 and an evaluation unit 8 is shown in FIG. 2. The system 2 additionally has a buoy 18. The system 2 corresponds at least substantially to the system 2 explained with reference to FIG. 1, wherein, however, the system 2 shown in FIG. 2 has a greater number of tube segments 16, which are coupled to one another in series one behind the other. Due to the length of the resultant floating tube 4, it may be that the second end 30 of the floating tube 4 is raised above a tube portion 12 between the two ends 28, 30 of the floating tube 4. This can occur with a very strong swell of the water of the sea. In the geometric form of the floating tube 4 as shown in a schematic plan view in FIG. 2, a tube segment 16 lies on another tube segment 16. In this case, each of the two mentioned tube segments 16 can form a tube portion 12 of the floating tube 4 and are arranged crossing one another. However, it is also possible that a coupling region between two tube segments 16 is arranged above a further tube segment 16. In this case, the tube portion that is arranged on the other tube segments 16 can form a corresponding tube portion 12 of the floating tube 4. A crossing arrangement of tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 is not limited to a right-angled arrangement of the two tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4. Rather, it may also be that the two tube portions 12 are arranged at another, arbitrary angle, in particular a flat angle or an acute angle, relative to one another. Crossing tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 thus occur, for example, when the floating tube 4 is arranged geometrically in the manner of a loop. Due to the tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 that cross one another, high mechanical stresses may occur, in particular at the stated tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4. Using this floating tube 4 to conduct a fluid through the floating tube 4 should therefore be avoided. On the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 detected by the detection system 6 and on the basis of the transmission of this geometric arrangement by means of the detection signal via the first signal connection 14 to the evaluation unit 8, the evaluation unit 8 can detect a first fault state of the floating tube 4 if the geometric arrangement represents at least two tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 that are arranged crossing one another. The evaluation unit 8 can be configured to identify crossing tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 on the basis of the geometric arrangement and by means of pattern recognition, which can be carried out by the evaluation unit 8. Other configurations of the evaluation unit 8 are likewise possible. For example, the evaluation unit 8 can be trained, for example by means of an artificial neural network, to detect crossing tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4 on the basis of the geometric arrangement.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a further advantageous embodiment of the system 2 in a schematic side view The system 2 corresponds substantially to the system 2 explained in conjunction with FIG. 1. Reference will therefore be made analogously to the corresponding explanations.

[0047] The evaluation unit 8 of the system 2 is preferably designed to detect a second fault state of the floating tube 4 on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 if a tube portion 12 of the floating tube 4 is arranged in a state decoupled from the rest of the floating tube 4.

[0048] It is evident from the comparison of FIGS. 1 and 3 that the tube segments 16 arranged at the second end 30 of the floating tube 4 form a tube portion 12 which is separate from the rest of the tube portions 12 of the floating tube 4. The separated tube portion 12 has a distance D1 from the rest of the floating tube 4, in particular from the tube segments 16 which forms the last tube segments 16 starting from the first end 28 of the floating tube 4. FIG. 3 additionally shows an advantageous embodiment of the detection system 6. Here, precisely one node unit 20 is associated with each tube segment 16. The main unit 26 can establish a radio connection 22 to each of the note units 20. For better understanding, these radio connections 22 are not illustrated in FIG. 3. However, it can be determined on the basis of the radio connections 22 that the node unit 20 of one of the tube segments 16 of the decoupled tube portion is at a distance D2 from the node unit 20 of the last tube segment 16 of the rest of the tube segments 16 of the floating tube 4, wherein this distance D2 is greater than would be necessary for a fixed connection between the tube segments 16 in order to ensure an uninterrupted fluid channel through the tube segments 16. In other words, based on the detected relative distances on the basis of the radio connections 22 it can be detected that the node units 20 of the last tube segment 16 of the rest of the tube segments 16 and the node unit 20 of the first tube segment 16 of the decoupled tube portion 12 have a distance D1 from one another that is greater than a maximally permissible distance that insurers a fixed connection between these two tube segments 16 to establish a fluid connection. The evaluation unit 8 can thus detect, on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4, whether at least one tube portion 12 has a distance D1 from the rest of the floating tube 4 that is greater than a predetermined permissible distance. On this basis, the evaluation unit 8 is therefore also configured to detect a second fault state of the floating tube 4 on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4 if the tube portion 12 of the floating tube 4 is arranged in a state decoupled from the rest of the floating tube 4. A decoupled portion 12 of the floating tube 4 not only prevents a reliable fluid connection for conveying fluid through the floating tube 4, but the decoupled tube portion 12 may also pose a risk for other vehicles travelling on the water of the sea. The detection of the second fault state is therefore particularly important in order to ensure safe operation of the system 2.

[0049] An advantageous embodiment of the system 2 is shown in FIG. 4 and corresponds at least substantially to the system 2 explained in conjunction with FIG. 1. Reference is therefore made analogously to the corresponding explanations, preferred features and/or technical effects.

[0050] In the system shown in FIG. 4, however, the last two tube segments 16, which are arranged at the second end 30 of the floating tube 4, are fully below the water line 32. These two tube segments 16 are therefore fully submerged in the water of the sea. In FIG. 4, the radio connections 22 are illustrated by dashed lines and are constructed in particular by each of the node units 20 to the main unit 26. However, this is not the case for the two node units 20 that are attached to the tube segments 16 submerged in the water. On account of these missing radio connections 22 to the submerged node units 20, the main unit 26 can detect that the last two tube segments 16 at the second end 30 of the floating tube 4 are fully submerged in the water. Since radio connections 22 exist to the rest of the node units 20 of the tube segments 16 not submerged, the main unit 26 can detect which of the tube segments 16 are submerged, specifically the tube segments 16 of the correspondingly submerged tube portion 12. In addition, the main unit 26 can detect that the rest of the tube segments 12 are floating. On the basis of this information, the main unit 26 and therefore also the detection system 6 can detect a tube state of the floating tube 4. This tube state, in the case shown in FIG. 4, represents the tube segments 16 of the submerged floating portion 12 as submerged and the rest of the tube segments 16 as floating. The floating state of the floating tube is preferably represented by the detection signal that is transmitted by means of the first signal connection 14 to the evaluation unit 8 from the detection system 6 or the associated main unit 26 with the likewise preferred communication unit 34. The evaluation unit 8 can therefore be provided with the information regarding the floating state of the floating tube 4. Similarly to the periodic detection of the geometric arrangement, the detection system 6 can also be designed for periodic detection of the floating state of the floating tube 4. A corresponding detection signal can be generated by the detection system 6 with each detection of the floating state and transmitted to the evaluation unit 8. In practice, however, it may be that a tube segment 16 is submerged under water temporarily, although it is not damaged. The detection system 6 can therefore be designed such that a tube portion 12 is only detected as submerged if the radio connection 22 to the associated first node unit is interrupted for at least a predetermined period of time. This period of time is preferably selected and/or predetermined such that an incorrect detection of the floating state of the floating tube 4 is at least substantially eradicated. In other words, a particularly low error rate of the detection of the floating state of the floating tube 4 can be achieved by the aforementioned measure.

[0051] If a tube portion 12 is fully submerged in the water of the sea, the floating tube 4 can no longer be used to convey a fluid, in particular crude oil. This is because such a conveying operation might cause a further sinking of further tube segments 16 if one tube portion 12 of the floating tube 4 is already fully submerged in the water. This, however, must be avoided. The evaluation unit 8 is therefore also configured, on the basis of the floating state of the floating tube 4, to detect a third fault state of the floating tube 4 if at least one portion 12 of the floating tube 4 is fully submerged in the water. If a corresponding fault state has been identified by the evaluation unit 8, this information can be further transmitted from the evaluation unit 8, in particular to the monitoring system. In particular, the third fault state can be displayed on a display of the monitoring system and/or other measures can be taken on the basis of the detection of the third fault state.

[0052] A further advantageous embodiment of the system 2 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 5. The system 2 corresponds substantially to the system 2 explained in conjunction with FIG. 1. However, the floating tube 4 shown in figure has a great number of tube segments 16 which are coupled to one another in series one behind the other in order to form a floating tube from a first end 28 of the floating tube 4 uninterruptedly to a second end 30 of the floating tube 4. For the rest, reference is made at least in an analogous fashion to the advantageous explanations, preferred features, effects and/or advantages such as have been explained in conjunction with the system 2 from FIG. 1.

[0053] Due to the large number of tube segments 16 of the floating tube 4 shown by way of example in FIG. 5, it is possible that the second end 30 moves in a clockwise direction around the buoy 18 with the current of the sea. The floating tube 4 thus coils around the buoy 18. In addition, a plurality of tube segments 16 can thus be arranged laterally to one another. At their end faces, the tube segments 16 are connected to one another in such a way that an uninterrupted and fluid-tight fluid channel is formed by the floating tube 4. If, however, the floating tube 4 assumes the coiled form shown by way of example in FIG. 5, the connections at the end faces of the tube segments 16 may thus be placed under high mechanical stress. The mechanical stress may be all the greater, the more tightly the floating tube 4 is coiled around the buoy 18. A coiling of the floating tube 4 should therefore be avoided in principle. In particular, a coiling of the floating tube 4 around the buoy 18 should be avoided.

[0054] As has already been explained in conjunction with the system 2 from FIG. 1, radio connections 22 can be established between the node units 20 and in particular from the main unit 26 to each of the node units 20. For better understanding, the radio connections 22 have not been illustrated in FIG. 5. Based on the radio connection is 22 and/or based on the network 24 created by the radio connection is 22, the relative distances between the node units 20 and/or a relative distance between each of the node units 20 and the main unit 26 can be determined. The detection system 6 can be designed correspondingly for this purpose. The detection system 6 can detect the geometric form of the floating tube 4 on the basis of the relative distances. This can represent, for example, the wound form of the floating tube 4. The geometric arrangement, which in particular is represented by the geometric form of the floating tube 4, can therefore be used to determine a possible fault state, specifically the fourth fault state, if the geometric form represents a winding of the floating tube 4, such that the floating tube 4 is arranged in an at least partially coiled manner. The evaluation unit 8 is therefore configured, on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4, also to detect a fourth fault state if the floating tube 4 is arranged in an at least partially coiled and/or wound manner. The evaluation unit 8 can also be configured to detect a coiled and/or wound portion of the floating tube 4. This coiled and/or wound arrangement can be represented by and/or derived from the geometric arrangement. The fourth fault state can therefore be determined on the basis of the geometric arrangement by the configuration of the evaluation unit 8. The evaluation unit 8, for this purpose, can have stored a corresponding pattern recognition and/or can be designed in such a way that a pattern recognition can be carried out on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the floating tube 4, wherein is designed by means of the pattern recognition to detect a coiled and/or wound portion of the floating tube 4. Therefore, if a coiled and/or wound portion of the floating tube 4 has been detected by means of the pattern recognition, the evaluation unit will thus detect the fourth fault state.

[0055] The evaluation unit 8 can be configured to detect each of the previously explained four fault states of the floating tube 4. However, it is also possible that the evaluation unit 8 is designed to detect one of the fault states, specifically one of the first, second, third and/or fourth fault state. For example, the evaluation unit 8 can be designed to detect the first and third fault state. Another combination is likewise possible.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a further advantageous embodiment of the system 2. This is a plan view of the system 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The floating tube 4 is referred to in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 as a first floating tube 36. The first floating tube 36 therefore extends from a first end 28a to a second end 30a. The first floating tube 36 has a plurality of tube segments 16, which are coupled to one another in series one behind the other in order to form a continuous, fluid-tight fluid channel from the first end 28a to the second end 30. The first end 28a of the first floating tube 36 is coupled to the buoy 18. In addition, the system 2 has a further, specifically a second floating tube 38. The second floating tube 38 can be formed similarly to the first floating tube 36. The second floating tube 38 has a plurality of tube segments 16, which are coupled to one another in series one behind the other in order to form an uninterrupted, fluid-tight fluid channel from the first end 28b of the second floating tube 38 to a second end 30b of the second floating tube 38. The node units of the first floating tube 36 are denoted by reference sign 20a. The node units of the second floating tube are denoted by the reference sign 20b.

[0057] The explanations for the detection system 6 and for the evaluation unit 8 in relation to the floating tube 4 can therefore preferably be understood such that the explanations, preferred features, effects and/or advantages relate to at least one floating tube 4. For example, the detection system 6 can be designed to detect a geometric arrangement of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular the two floating tubes 36, 38. Alternatively or additionally, the detection system 6 can be designed to detect a floating state of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular of the first and second floating tube 36, 38. In addition, the detection system can be configured to generate a detection signal that represents the geometric arrangement of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular of the two floating tubes 36, 38, and/or the detected floating state of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular of the two floating tubes 36, 38. In addition, the evaluation unit 8 can be configured, on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular of the two floating tubes 36, 38, to detect a first fault state of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular of the two floating tubes 36, 38, if tube portions 12 of the at least one floating tube 4, in particular one tube portion 12 of each of the floating tubes 36, 38, are arranged in a manner crossing one another. For example, the evaluation unit 8 can be configured, on the basis of the geometric arrangement of the first and second floating tube 36, 38, to detect a first fault state of the two floating tubes 36, 38 if a tube portion 12 of the first floating tube 36 is arranged crossing a further tube portion 12 of the second floating tube 38. Apart from the fact that the two tube portions 12 are now formed by the first and second floating tube 36, 38, the detection additionally corresponds substantially to the embodiment explained by way of example in conjunction with FIG. 2. For the embodiment of the system 2 from FIG. 2, reference is therefore made similarly to the corresponding, advantageous explanations, preferred features, effects and/or advantages as have been explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0058] In addition, it will be mentioned that having does not exclude any other elements or steps and one or a does not exclude a multiplicity. In addition, it will be mentioned that features which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference symbols in the claims should not be considered to be limiting.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0059] 2 System [0060] 4 Floating tube [0061] 6 Detection system [0062] 8 Evaluation unit [0063] 10 Flotation depth [0064] 12 Tube portion [0065] 14 Signal connection [0066] 16 Tube segment [0067] 18 Buoy [0068] 20 Node unit [0069] 20a Node unit of the first floating tube [0070] 20b Node unit of the second floating tube [0071] 22 Radio connection [0072] 24 Radio network [0073] 26 Main unit [0074] 28 First end (of floating tube) [0075] 28a First end of first floating tube [0076] 28b First end of second floating tube [0077] 30 Second end (of floating tube) [0078] 30a Second end of first floating tube [0079] 30b Second end of second floating tube [0080] 32 Water line [0081] 34 Communication unit