Toroidal fluid swivel for transfer of fluid across a rotary interface

Abstract

A swivel for transfer of fluid across a rotary interface around a swivel rotation axis between an incoming fluid line and an outgoing product piping includes a fixed annular element and a rotating annular element, each arranged around a common rotation axis and having a substantially equal diameter. One selected element from the fixed annular and rotating annular elements includes an annular disk provided with a toroidal cavity in a first of its circular end surfaces, and the other selected element is arranged with a flat circular end surface adjacent to and in close proximity above the first circular end surface to close the toroidal cavity and form a toroidal chamber with the annular disk. The rotary interface is perpendicular to the rotation axis, and is formed by the flat circular end surface of the other selected element and the adjacent first circular surface of the one selected element.

Claims

1. A swivel for transfer of pressure flows of oil and/or gas across a rotary interface formed around a swivel rotation axis between an incoming fluid line and an outgoing product piping, the swivel comprising: a fixed annular element; and a rotating annular element, each of the fixed annular element and the rotating annular element arranged around a common rotation axis, the fixed annular element comprising an annular disk provided with circular end surfaces and a toroidal cavity inside a first of said circular end surfaces, and the rotating annular element having a flat circular end surface that is adjacent to and located in proximity above said first circular end surface of said annular disk of the fixed annular element so as to close the toroidal cavity of the fixed annular element and thereby form a toroidal chamber within said annular disk, the rotary interface being formed by the flat circular end surface of the rotating annular element and the first circular surface of the fixed annular element located adjacent thereto, the rotary interface being perpendicular to the common rotation axis, wherein the fixed annular element comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, a first end of the inner wall connected to an inner portion of the fixed annular disk, and one end of the outer wall connected to an outer portion of the fixed annular disk, such that the fixed annular element forms a U-shape in cross-section, and the rotary interface between the rotating annular element and the fixed annular element being arranged in between the inner and outer walls of the fixed annular element, wherein the rotating annular element has at least one outlet aperture passing through outlet aperture configured to provide a fluid communication between the toroidal chamber and outgoing product piping, wherein the at least one outlet aperture extends perpendicularly from the flat circular end surface of the rotating annular element and parallel to the common rotation axis, and wherein in a top region of the toroidal cavity, crossbars are fixedly arranged in radial direction in the cavity between the inner wall and the outer wall.

2. The swivel according to claim 1, wherein the annular disk has at least one inlet aperture that couples the incoming fluid line to the toroidal cavity.

3. The swivel according to claim 2, wherein the at least one inlet aperture comprises a plurality of externally interconnected inlet apertures distributed over the circle of the toroidal cavity, and the at least one outlet aperture comprises a plurality of externally interconnected outlet apertures distributed over the circle of the toroidal chamber.

4. The swivel according to claim 1, further comprising: retaining elements that retain the rotating annular element between the inner and outer walls of the fixed annular element, the retaining elements being fixed to the inner and outer walls and configured to hold the rotating annular element in position over the toroidal cavity.

5. The swivel according to claim 1, wherein the swivel comprises sealing means adjacent to the edges of the toroidal cavity between the annular disk and the rotating annular element.

6. The swivel according to claim 1, wherein the crossbars are distributed about the toroidal cavity at a constant intermediate angle.

7. The swivel according to claim 1, wherein the toroidal cavity extends over 360 around the common rotation axis.

8. A vessel for offshore operations comprising a turret mooring system, wherein the turret mooring system is equipped with a swivel according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings in which illustrative embodiments thereof are shown. The drawings are intended exclusively for illustrative purposes and not as a restriction of the inventive concept. The scope of the invention is only limited by the definitions presented in the appended claims.

(2) FIG. 1A shows a perspective drawing of a rotary interface of a swivel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 1B shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a rotary interface of a swivel;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the rotary interface of FIG. 1A in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a swivel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a swivel in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a swivel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIGS. 6A and 6B show a perspective view and a side view of a number of concentric swivels in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a swivel stack comprising swivels in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1A shows a perspective drawing of a rotary interface of a swivel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(11) On a FPSO vessel (not shown) a turret mooring system (not shown) is provided that can couple a mooring buoy that holds one or more riser lines from the well, to product piping ducts on the vessel.

(12) During operation the FPSO should be allowed to weathervane which can be achieved the turret mooring system allowing some rotation between the vessel and the buoy. Correspondingly, the swivel is adapted to provide rotation between the incoming fluid line and the product piping.

(13) The swivel 10 according to the invention comprises a rotary interface 20, 30 for transfer of fluid from the incoming fluid line to the outgoing product piping.

(14) The rotary interface comprises two annular elements: a fixed annular element 20 that in use is coupled to the turret mooring system and a rotating annular element 30 that is coupled to the outgoing product piping that is attached to the vessel.

(15) The two annular elements 20, 30 are arranged to have a common rotation axis R and to have a substantially same diameter.

(16) The fixed annular element 20 consist of an annular disk which a first circular end surface 22, in which a toroidal cavity 24 or groove is arranged.

(17) According to an embodiment, the toroidal cavity has been machined into the annular disk with inner and outer sidewalls of the cavity that is arranged to contain the high pressure fluid being perpendicular in respect of the direction of the rotation axis.

(18) The fixed annular element additionally comprises at least one inlet aperture 26 for coupling the incoming fluid line (indicated by arrow F) to the groove.

(19) The fixed annular element and the rotating annular element are held in frictional contact or close frictionless proximity by a bearing arrangement provided in each element so that one element can rotate freely in respect of the other element along the common rotation axis while axial displacement of one element in respect of the other element is restricted, or limited by the bearing arrangement. The toroidal chamber formed by the two elements contains at least one dynamic interface surface substantially perpendicular to the direction of the common rotation axis.

(20) In a preferred embodiment, the at least one inlet aperture 26 is extending through the thickness of the annular disk from a second circular end surface opposite to the first circular end surface 22, into the toroidal cavity 24.

(21) The rotating annular element 30 is arranged with a substantially flat circular end surface 32. The rotating annular element 30 is positioned with its flat circular end surface facing, and in close proximity to, the first circular end surface 22 of the fixed annular element, in such a manner that the opening surface of the toroidal cavity 24 is closed and a toroidal chamber is formed.

(22) The rotary interface 20, 30 is thus defined between the first circular end surface 22 of the annular disk 20 and the facing flat circular end surface 32 of the rotating annular element and extends perpendicular to the common rotation axis R.

(23) The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the toroidal cavity may alternatively be formed in the rotating annular element, while the fixed annular disk is provided with the facing flat circular surface for closing the toroidal cavity and forming the toroidal chamber between the fixed annular and the rotating annular elements.

(24) The rotating annular element 30 additionally comprises at least one outlet aperture 34 for providing a connection from an inlet portion (not shown) at the flat circular surface 32 to an outlet portion coupled to the outgoing product piping (indicated by arrow P).

(25) In an embodiment, the at least one outlet aperture 34 is extending through the thickness of the annulus of the rotating annular element 30 from the flat circular end surface opposite to an opposing circular end surface 36.

(26) In an alternative embodiment, the outlet portion of the at least one outlet aperture 34 is located at the outer circumference of the rotating annular element as will be explained below in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

(27) In case, a high pressure fluid is introduced from the incoming fluid line F, the toroidal chamber will be pressurized, which has the effect that a force is exerted on the rotary interface parallel to the rotation axis.

(28) Of course, the high pressure may also induce some deformation in the plane of rotation but the skilled in the art will appreciate that such effect is highly reduced by the antagonist planar forces being exerted on the same part and greatly cancelling each other effects. Furthermore, those effects can be kept to the minimum by reducing the toroidal cavity section, while optimizing it's shape and wall thickness to avoid excessive stress and stress concentration.

(29) Each swivel annular body can be made of a single annulus or at least two annular segments interconnected at their respective ends to forming thus a single whole body circumference. According to an embodiment, within the swivel the fixed annular disk and/or the rotating annular disk comprises a plurality of annular segments, the annular segments being interconnected at their ends to form the circular shape of the annular disk. It is noted that the circumferential continuity of the toroidal cavity is interrupted at the mating extremity of each annular segment which eliminates the hydrostatic separation force normally exerted on the whole toroidal cavity surface, leaving only the hydrostatic separation force corresponding to the swivel extrusion gap surface exposed to the fluid pressure, which in comparison is negligible.

(30) The person skilled in the art will appreciate that at least one of the fixed and rotating annular elements can be embodied by a massive cylindrical part. For example, a swivel stack according to the invention may comprise one massive cylindrical inner part or inner core with multiple fluid lines (channels) combined with two or more outer (annular) parts.

(31) In the above embodiments, the toroidal cavity is embodied as a circular and continuous channel in between the fixed annular element and the rotating annular element. According to an embodiment, the toroidal cavity is segmented as a series of cavity segments embodied as an homogeneous array of arc-shaped cavity segments, wherein each cavity segment is provided with an inlet aperture. On the rotating annular element a corresponding number of outlet apertures is provided that are distributed in accordance with the layout of the array. The cavity segments are designed in a manner that whatever the angular orientation between the rotating and the fixed annular element an overlapping passage is present between at least one of the inlet aperture(s) and at least one of the outlet aperture(s).

(32) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the rotary interface 20, 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(33) In FIG. 2 the rotary interface is shown with inlet aperture 26 and outlet aperture 32 in alignment.

(34) According to the shown embodiment, the annular disk part of the fixed annular element 20 is arranged with side walls 27, 28. An inner wall 27 is arranged at the inner circumference of the annular disk, an outer wall 28 is arranged at outer circumference of annular disk 20. Both inner and outer walls extend in the axial direction parallel to the rotation axis 29, towards the rotating annular element 30. In this manner, the fixed annular element has a U-shape. The rotating annular element is positioned in between the inner and outer walls, with the rotary interface located at the floor inbetween the inner and outer walls.

(35) On the distal ends of the walls 27, 28 away from the rotary interface, the swivel is provided with retaining rings 40 for holding the rotating annular element 30 positioned above and in close proximity to the first circular end surface of the annular disk 20. The retaining rings 40 are attached to the inner and outer walls 27, 28 by bolts (not shown here).

(36) The rotary interface between the annular disk and the rotating annular element is further provided with seals 42 to prevent leakage of high pressure fluid from the toroidal chamber 24 along the rotary interface. Various seal type can be used as will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, for example Zero gap sealing, face sealing, or membrane sealing.

(37) The seals can be located at various positions between the surface of the annular disk 20 and the facing surface of rotating annular element 30 or between the rotating annular element 30 and the inner and/or outer walls 27, 28 or between the retaining ring(s) 40 and the surface of the rotating annular element that faces away from the rotary interface.

(38) Moreover, the rotary interface is further provided with bearings that can also be positioned at various positions between the surface of the annular disk 20 and the facing surface of rotating annular element 30 or between the rotating annular element 30 and the inner and/or outer walls 27, 28 or between the retaining ring(s) 40 and the surface of the rotating annular element that faces away from the rotary interface. The bearings may comprise friction bearings and/or hydrostatic bearings, or other bearing types.

(39) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a swivel 15 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(40) The swivel comprises a fixed annular element 50 and a rotating annular element 60.

(41) The fixed annular element 50 in this embodiment comprises a base annular disk 51, an inner wall 52 at the inner circumference of the base annular disk, and a second annular disk 53. The base annular disk 51 has a first circular end surface 22 perpendicular to the rotation axis R and is provided with a toroidal cavity 24 in the first circular end surface 22. At the inner circumference of the base annular disk, the inner wall 52 is provided that extends along the direction of the rotation axis and forms a cylindrical wall. The second annular disk 53 is arranged parallel to the base annular disk 51 and is connected to the cylindrical inner wall in a manner that a C-shaped toroid is formed with an opening at the outer circumference.

(42) The rotating annular element 60 is arranged in the C-shaped opening between the base annular disk 51. and the second annular disk 53. The lower circular surface facing the first circular end surface of the first annular disk forms a rotary interface and closes the toroidal cavity so as to form a toroidal chamber.

(43) The rotary interface next to the edges of the toroidal chamber 24 is provided with seal arrangements 54, 55.

(44) Bearing arrangements are provided at least between the surface of the rotating annular element and the facing surface of the inner wall (vertical bearing 66), and between surface of the rotating annular element and the facing inner surface of the second annular disk 53 (horizontal bearing 67).

(45) In particular, when high pressure fluid in the toroidal chamber is present, the rotary interface is subjected to torque along the axial direction. In that case in particular the horizontal bearing 67 needs to provide sufficient wear resistance to facing surfaces of the second annular disk and the rotating annular element as the contacting area of these surfaces is above the toroidal chamber 24. In FIG. 4 an alternative embodiment will be described.

(46) In FIG. 3 an inlet aperture 26 and an outlet aperture 62, 64 are shown in alignment below and above the toroidal chamber 24.

(47) The inlet aperture 26 extends through the thickness of the base annular disk 50 and is coupled with the incoming fluid line F.

(48) The outlet aperture due to the arrangement of the rotating annular element 60 in the C-shaped toroid 51, 52, 53 has a right angled shape comprising an inlet portion 62 that is open towards the toroidal chamber and an outlet portion 64 that is perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and directed radially outward for coupling to the outgoing product piping P. The inlet portion and outlet portion of the outlet aperture could be formed by two intersecting drill holes.

(49) In this embodiment, the outer circumferential portion of the rotating annular element 60 is provided with profiled end portions 60A, 60B that cooperate with profiled end portions 50A, 50B of the base and second annular disks.

(50) Such profiles advantageously enhance the mechanical stability. It is noticed that the skilled in the art will appreciate that various shapes of the end profiles 60A, 60B; 50A, 50B are conceivable.

(51) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a swivel 16 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. The embodied swivel 16 is substantially identical to the swivel 15 described above with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 4 entities with the same reference number as shown in the preceding FIG. 3 refer to similar or same entities and will not be discussed here.

(52) In the swivel 16 of this embodiment, a horizontal hydrostatic bearing 65 is provided at the horizontal portion of the rotary interface between the second annular disk 53 of the fixed annular element and the upper surface of the rotating annular element 60. In addition a borehole 63 is provided that extends from the outlet aperture 62, 64 to the surface of the rotating annular element at the location of the horizontal hydrostatic bearing 65. By providing high pressure fluid to the hydrostatic bearing during use of the swivel 16, a same pressure will be present at the rotary interface between the second annular disk 53 of the fixed annular element and the upper surface of the rotating annular element 60 as will be present at the side of the toroidal chamber. In this manner a counter force is present that at least reduces or minimizes the torque on the swivel 16. As a result, wear on the rotary interface will be significantly reduced.

(53) According to an embodiment, adjacent to the horizontal hydrostatic bearing 65 seal arrangements 56, 57 are provided to avoid leakage from the hydrostatic bearing 65.

(54) FIG. 5 shows a perspective partially cut-away view of a swivel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(55) The swivel 17 of this embodiment, is similar to the embodiments 15, 16 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The swivel comprises a C-shaped toroid 51, 52, 53 which is arranged as fixed annular element 50 that can be coupled to the incoming fluid line and a rotating annular element 60 that is positioned within the C-shaped toroid and can be coupled to the outgoing product piping. In between the C-shaped toroid 50 and the rotating annular element 60 the toroidal chamber 24 and the rotary interface are present that allow transfer of high pressure fluid over the rotary interface.

(56) In this embodiment, between the second annular disk 53 and the upper surface 601 of the rotating annular element 60, a bearing arrangement 70, 71 (shown here as multiple layers) is provided. The bearing arrangement is a thrust bearing type and comprises either roller bearings or friction bearings.

(57) At the rotary interface adjacent to the toroidal chamber 24, on each edge of the toroidal chamber an plurality of face seals 72 is arranged. Further, at the vertical interface between the C-shaped toroid 50 and the rotating annular element 60 a vertical bearing is arranged.

(58) FIGS. 6A and 6B show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view respectively of a number of concentric swivels in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(59) As the diameter of the swivel according to the invention has no significant effect on the vertical stresses on the swivel, the diameter can be chosen arbitrarily to any practical size without the need for excessive reinforcements for larger diameters. This allows to design an arrangement 100 of a series of concentric swivels 10 at substantially a same operational level L. Advantageously, this type of swivel arrangement 100 is more compact than a swivel stack arrangement of prior art swivels, saving space and weight in a turret mooring system.

(60) The swivel arrangement according to the invention can create savings at least of the following order, pending on flow manifolding parameters, which are the smaller pipes size, which affects their required quantity and subsequently affects the swivel toroidal cavity and therefore its overall size.

(61) FIG. 7 shows a schematic side view of a swivel stack comprising swivels in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

(62) According to an embodiment, a plurality of swivels 10;16 can be stacked in a relatively optimized manner. A number of swivels can be arranged concentrically in the horizontal direction X. This horizontal arrangement can be combined with a vertical stacking (Y) of swivels or multiple concentrically arranged swivels.

(63) Swivels according to an embodiment of the invention are arranged at different operational levels LL above each other and also in concentric arrangement. Due to reduced requirements of enforcements and space, the weight and size of the swivel stack is relatively low and the swivel stack can be designed to be compact.

(64) Stacking according to this method, results in a reduction of the overall swivel stack size, weight and cost where the fixed flow line entering the stack is divided into multiple smaller pipes connected to multiple smaller swivel inlets. Multiple swivel outlets connected to smaller pipes are then interconnected to at least one rotating flow line recreating thus the equivalent flow as the fixed flow line entering the stack.

(65) Furthermore, a swivel stack 200 comprising one or more swivels as described above can be used in a swivel stack throughput repair or upgrade method where at least one new swivel in accordance with the invention is assembled concentrically around an existing (not necessarily prior art) swivel stack and connected via flow lines to the fixed and rotating stream lines of the FPSO, insuring thus the flow continuity.

(66) In addition, a swivel according to any embodiment, can be equipped with a manifold header on either the fixed annular element or the rotating annular element in order to reduce the number of inlet or outlet pipes connected to the swivel. The respective header thus provides multiple paths either entering or departing the toroidal cavity.

(67) In an embodiment, a swivel stack made with one or more swivels according to the invention has a header system for the incoming fluid flow which divides the incoming flow line in multiple smaller flow lines before entry of the swivel and has another header system that concentrates outgoing multiple flow lines into at least one larger outgoing flow line downstream of the swivel stack.

(68) In relation to the swivel stack arrangements shown here, a swivel according to an embodiment of the invention may comprise a single input to an inner annular element and multiple outputs on the outer annular element of the rotary interface.

(69) Furthermore, the swivel according to the invention may be designed to have the incoming fluid line pass through the center of the rotary interface, and connect with the swivel on the inner element of the swivel while the outgoing product piping exits through the outer periphery of the swivel. The incoming fluid line then substantially coincides with the rotation axis of the swivel.

(70) Alternatively, the situation may be reversed in that the incoming fluid line(s) connect to the outer element of the swivel, and the outgoing product piping connects with the inner swivel element and passes through the center of the rotary interface. In that case, the outgoing product piping substantially coincides with the rotation axis of the swivel.

(71) The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.