FLOATING UNDERWATER PIPELINES - "PROCESS OF TYN"

Abstract

An underwater floating pipeline with the ability to self-maintain desired depth beneath the water giving the ability to connect distant locations. The sections maintain and alter buoyancy for repair and maintenance. Multi chambered pipes allow different rates of flow. Automatic snap-shut doors protect against leaks and loss of pressure. Warning systems alert those in proximity to the pipeline. Freight may use the tunnels to avoid adverse surface weather and high shipping cost and fuel and labour savings.

Claims

1. An underwater floating pipeline/wireline/cable-line (FUP) system connected to shore/destination at either end and free floating in-between, ie without either tethers attached to the seabed/floor or being suspended from floats, the system comprising made up from a number of connected individual submarines that 1) have self motive ability that can steer through the water to connect up during building stage of FUP; 2) have an effect on buoyancy during operation; and 3) have automatic snap shut style of spill/loss protection for pipes such that if a leak or loss of pressure occurs the system will automatically close the snap shut doors situated over length of pipeline.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a multi chambered cross-section pipe to allow the use of parts of or the whole pipeline in desired format, a pipe that can, due to the multi chambers design, allow different substances or rates of flow to be transited at the same time, one pipe with many channels to allow precise control of product transit and speed with which the pipe can be brought in to operation; a multi chambered pipeline with separate chambers for separate flows and enhanced control with a system of variable dividers that can be shifted within the pipeline to allow for alteration of flow rate; internal pipeline balloon to restrict space within the pipe to allow faster/controlled use of pipeline.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic snap shut style of spill/loss protection for pipes, If a leak or loss of pressure occurs the system will automatically close snap shut doors built (or retrofitted) down length of pipeline, be they above or below the water; the doors would be able to be used in standard operation, emergency, and during installation, while also having the ability to automatically shut off inflow to pipe to prevent damage.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pipe safety system that is able to read threats from the surroundings and allow the pipeline to take action to protect itself, with or without human intervention; with remote replacement/repair of pipeline sections if damaged; warning systems to alert those nearby as to the proximity to the pipeline; interface to connect standard types of sub-sea pipelines to the variable height floating or semi-floating pipeline styles; coming in various designs, but with a purpose of allowing a static pipeline connection to FUPs of variable height; an apparatus and control system built within the pipelines itself to create a system for buoyancy that is able to allow a floating or semi floating state of a pipeline, with ability to remain either at fixed height or ability to alter height/depth/angle; apparatus to give pipeline ability to add on separate pipes, wires or cables to allow greater product flow whilst using existing infrastructure.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an ability to power underwater pipelines along route via Eco Pump or Inline Compressor Power Input Points (EPICPIP) to aide flows, the flow of products could be made more economic over long distances via direct power inputs (where possible, but not exclusively, green energy such as offshore wind turbines or locally produced hydrogen used) along the run of pipelines, Eco Pump or Inline Compressor Power Input Points on conventional sub water pipelines.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an active inbuilt rupture repair system along the length of the pipeline where when a leak is detected a bandage is extended across damage and then enacted (via water pressure, chemical or mechanical means) to effectively bandage the section; a bandage imbued with substance(s) that interact with seawater to harden bandage over damaged section; a system of plates or ribs, that wait in boxes, that can be extended over a rupture and then tightened to stop leakage; it is also very much envisioned as a sea-based oil/gas rig safety system-whereby these bandages/bags/plates are installed/retro-fitted on pipelines underwater (even vertical ones) so in event of spill/damage/rupture these can be extended across the section in question; with tight fitting variety or a looser fabric type to simply not allow loss of product into surroundings with sub systems for the recapture of lost product.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for the return piping system to allow the continued use of NatGas in heating whereby all emissions are trapped and accepted back into a system and delivered back to a system of sequestration or reprocessing, oxygen, NOx or oxidizing agents, and Carbon Dioxide or emission(s) into a single pipes or single two direction multi chambered pipe fuel, oxidizer and exhaust pipes with Oxyfuel and NOxyfuel; Oxyfuel and NOxyfuel home heating system(s) and associated input/output pipelines; including a home exhaust heat transfer system to cool exhaust for use/transit, with ability to accept other sources of emissions, and retention of maximum heat.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured for the transport of goods via dedicated underwater pipes that use hydrodynamic shaped (including for energy production, based on that shaping) including FUP, conventional or a combination of, under vacuum, reduced air resistance or not; wing and ailerons look and eye shape and sculpted non-round shapes.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising access doors along length via a pipe moon pool with intermediate pump out system for use with or without the snap shut safety doors along pipeline, including its buoyant ballast bags and motorized movement ability with a sent up or dropped down connector to allow the pipeline and system to interact with surface or sub surface vessels with ability to transfer goods, liquids and gases; maintenance ROVs to travel within or outside underwater pipeline systems for repair etc; human/animal transit within the curtilage of the FUP self buoyant and adjustable height pipeline system.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising Buoy Power systems with tethered base or subsurface anchor buoy/submarine buoys for the generation of pumping power to be connected to or products delivered through above or below water pipes, working in connected groups or working alone but with interaction with system, either FUP or conventional, whereby energy is derived from both the rise and fall, either in concert (up and down actions) or in isolation (up or down actions), of wave action and that energy is transferred, as either electric and hydraulic or direct hydraulic energy or mechanical energy or stored (pressured/pressurized gas eg) or dedicated to the cracking of hydrogen from water-into the pipeline or supply/support vessel, directly or stored for conveyance, for the economic transit of goods/gases/liquids and energy harvesting and delivery; also with dual ability to desalinate water onboard for use within the water cracking process and/or creation of potable or fresh water and buoys with ability to change colour and shape for need.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising land based delivery pipelines and Utility Boxes for the shipment of goods via drone within pipeline/Utility Box or with the use of magnetic transit, or similar motive means, transit boxes within pipe or box(es), multi utility route boxes/pipelines where all/most utilities are run through combined easy access Utility Boxes whereby access, maintenance and upgrading is streamlined and digging up reduced; transport of liquid or gaseous or solid goods within a land based pipeline or Utility Box system, either integrated to an underwater pipe system or not.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising Eco Instrument Delivery and Energy Recovery (E.I.D.E.R.) and associated input/output pipelines, including a water (salt and potable or fresh), hydrogen and oxygen transfer system to and from renewable energy power systems including but not limited to solar panels, wind turbines, Buoy Power etc for energy conservation, also with ability to collect and transfer excess heat from within system to a place of need; while also giving the dual ability to desalinate water for use within water cracking and/or potable/fresh water; in addition the ability to conserve energy via transferring excess or unused energy directly by pressurizing air/gas for transfer within pipes or via support/supply vessels.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a spill bund pipeline whereby a secondary pipeline is built around the first so in the event of rupture the substance is still within the pipe system, in the case of land based systems a full spill bund or a half bund design, 31 or half pipe/under-bunder, that provides a catchment system, with the ability to have a secondary aim of water collection/transport or secondary product transit.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising ocean/water based floating or fixed sewerage treatment plants, or Gas Bags, using pipelines to deliver sewerage/effluent to offshore locations and returning the produce of those plants once treated (methane, fertilizer, ammonia etc) to use on/in water or for use on land.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising underwater pipelines for the capture of fresh water from rivers, estuaries etc before the water enters the sea (salt water) and transport of said fresh water product via pipes to areas of need; offshore floating/submerged farms supplied with water from WA,TER or FUP water pipelines and sea-farming and wildlife enhancement systems connected to or by underwater pipelines framework

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising underwater or at sea container storage whereby containers are fed into a structure and stored dry in SaW Tubes using water or sea based locations rather than pressuring land based container storage, with both temporary and permanent types; and including the autonomous or automatic container movement and crane system and control system; magnetic container levitation conveyance and transportation within the CSaW system, and transporting to it, or on land or ship/train/truck.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1) Shows the F.U.P. system1in centre with attendant floating systems and delivery tubes. External buoyancy assist system and pipes with chambers3. There are also examples of screw propeller and/or jet propulsion movement actuators2. Human, animal and goods pipe 26. Goods only pipes6. Cable, wire and pipes using the FUP buoyancy/framework4. Sea farming, storage and environmental systems attached to system; Buoy Power system integration 5. Multi chamber pipe1 and 9.

[0022] FIG. 2) Side view of goods delivery pipe6. Including both drones and magnetically moved delivery methods7.

[0023] FIG. 3) Section of pipe/Utility box with several channels or chambers to allow goods to flow at different rates and in different directions of desired7.

[0024] FIG. 4) A cross section of the Utility Box showing examples of magnetic moved delivery boxes and drone in tube delivery7. There are also separate sections for the running of piping, wiring or cables8.

[0025] FIG. 5) Cross section of pipe format Utility Box with pipes, wires and cables8in addition to the goods delivery7.

[0026] FIG. 6) Shows the three pipe formats for the delivery of water from river to need location. The full FUP format to the top1; the middle shows FUP with interface to conventional pipe10; the bottom showing conventional underwater pipe11with river capture function.

[0027] FIG. 7) Shows the Gas Bag system with the various piping methods to and from the bags12and the FUP1, FUP with interface to conventional pipe10and conventional/underwater piping all the way11. The bags are shown in three locations of floating, underwater and on water's base. Any of the pipe formats can attach (dotted lines) to any of the bags locations for desired outcome.

[0028] FIG. 8) Shows functions surrounding FUP's operation. Vessel contact and interaction pipes/cables/wires13. ROV and pipe moon pool14. EPICPIP15 and 16and pumping stations and buoyancy control systems and ballast system and spill bandage16.

[0029] FIG. 9) Shows the existing pipeline format17. Land pipeline and half bunding18. Underwater or land pipe with full bunding19.

[0030] FIG. 10) Show a heating devise20working off NatGas product line21with separate pipe bringing in oxidizer22and taking away the cooled exhaust23. Other exhausts could be attached and piped into same system. Exhaust with heat capture and exhaust trap24.

[0031] FIG. 11) Shows the FUP with example snap shut location at end of section25. There is also a ballast pump and ballast chambers16.

[0032] FIG. 12) Shows FUP in cross section, with single chambered pipe1with ballast chambers16.

[0033] FIG. 13) Shows the CSaW system with containers27stored and in transit to the water based storage system. Traveling along pipes1, or dropped in from the top, the containers are then held in the storage area/Saw Tube28.

[0034] FIG. 14) Images relating to the interface between the FUP and conventional pipes. A Shell design29to reel out and in. Stacked gliding organ tubes30. Concertina style for movement31. Static pipe with movable side pipe(s)32.

[0035] It will be apparent and clear to those skilled in the art(s) that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and indeed the invention may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth.