Auto-Balancing Hose System and Method for Fluid Transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides an auto-balancing hose system and a method for fluid transfer between an onshore facility and a floating vessel. The system comprises a transfer pipeline extended from the onshore facility to a loading platform, a hose with a first end fluidly connected to the transfer pipeline and a second end fluidly connected with a ship manifold on the floating vessel, a hose saddle or rigid coupler that elevates the hose in the middle and divides the hose into a riser at the first end and a U-tube next to the second end, and a counterweight or a winch with a predetermined pulling force that is adapted to maintain a top tension to the riser. The hose is kept away from water and in tension, and adapted to accommodate vessel motions as well as relative displacements between the transfer pipeline and loading platform.

Claims

1. A loading system for transferring fluids between an onshore facility and a floating vessel, said floating vessel is docked with a vessel manifold near a loading platform, said loading system comprising: a) a transfer pipeline extended from said onshore facility to said loading platform, said transfer pipeline has an upward opening offshore; b) a hose with a first end and a second end, said first end is fluidly connected with said transfer pipeline at said upward opening, said second end is fluidly connected with said vessel manifold; c) a hose elevator, said hose elevator elevates said hose in the middle and divides said hose into a riser at said first end and a freely suspended U-tube next to said second end; d) a counterforce device, said counterforce device is adapted to maintain a top tension to said riser; wherein said hose is kept away from water and in tension, and said transfer pipeline is movable relative to said loading platform at said loading platform.

2. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose elevator consists of a hose saddle, a sheave and a rigid coupler, said hose saddle and sheave are supported on said loading platform, and said rigid coupler is lifted from above.

3. The loading system of claim 2, wherein said counterforce device is a counterweight, said counterweight comprises a hose segment of said U-tube that remains immediately under said hose saddle or sheave.

4. The loading system of claim 2, wherein said counterforce device is a motor-driven device that provides a predetermined pulling force.

5. The loading system of claim 2 further comprising another rigid coupler and a hose extension, said another rigid coupler is lifted from above and has two downward flanges for holding said second end and said hose extension up respectively.

6. The loading system of claim 1 further comprising a crane that delivers said second end to said vessel manifold.

7. The loading system of claim 6 further comprising a mobile hose saddle, said crane lifts said mobile hose saddle and said mobile hose saddle supports said hose near said second end.

8. The loading system of claim 1 further comprising a hang-off device, said hang-off device is adapted to hold up said second end above said loading platform during non-transfer periods.

9. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose further comprises a middle flange, and said counterforce device is tied to said middle flange.

10. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose is adapted to accommodate relative displacements between said transfer pipeline and loading platform, said relative displacements are caused by the end displacements of said transfer pipeline, the movements of said loading platform, or a mixture thereof.

11. The loading system of claim 1 further comprises an upward pipe branch with said upward opening, said upward pipe branch is fluidly connected to said transfer pipeline.

12. The loading system of claim 1 further comprises another hose saddle, said another hose saddle is located around an end of said hose.

13. The loading system of claim 1 further comprises an elbow and a swivel joint that are fluidly connected to said hose. opening beyond a side of said vessel.

14. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose is made of materials suitable for transferring cryogenic fluids.

15. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said hose is a hose-in-hose.

16. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said transfer pipeline is supported above water and has a free end that allows thermal expansion and contraction.

17. The loading system of claim 1, wherein said floating vessel is selected from the group consisting of a floating storage unit, a floating production unit, a barge and a ship.

18. A method for transferring fluids between a transfer pipeline and a floating vessel, said transfer pipeline has an upward opening offshore, said floating vessel is docked with a vessel manifold near a loading platform, said method uses a hose with a first end fluidly connected to said transfer pipeline at said upward opening and a second end fluidly connected to said vessel manifold, said method comprising: a) elevating said hose in the middle and dividing said hose into a riser at said first end and a U-tube next to said second end; b) maintaining a top tension to said riser; wherein said hose is kept away from water and in tension, and said transfer pipeline is movable relative to said loading platform at said loading platform.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said top tension is maintained by a motor-driven device with a predetermined pulling force.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said top tension is maintained by a counterweight through force redirection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The loading system, method and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a first embodiment of the system with a sea-going vessel at a loading terminal;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a detailed view along 2-2 line of FIG. 1 with a hose being elevated by a hose saddle;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a hose in a storage position with a riser being tensioned by a U-tube;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a riser with top tension from a counterweight;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a variation of FIG. 2 with an ERC being contributed to tension in a riser;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a variation to FIG. 3 in which a hose is elevated with a rigid coupler and a mobile end is lifted with a crane;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a second embodiment of this system for fluid transfer between an onshore pipeline and a stationary vessel;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a changed position of FIG. 7 in which the hose reaches its maximum height.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] FIG. 1 is an overview of a first embodiment of the present invention at a loading terminal. A vessel 17 is docked near a loading platform 14. A trestle 12 extends from a coastal area 11 (i.e., onshore area near the sea) to the loading platform 14, and supports a transfer pipeline 15 above the sea level 19 with a seabed 18 below. The transfer pipeline 15 is fluidly connected to an onshore facility (not shown). This onshore facility can be a storage tank, a temporary/mobile container, a fluid production plant (e.g., liquefied natural gas, chemical, biofuel, etc.), a pipeline network or a fluid consumer (e.g., a factory, a power plant, etc.). A hose saddle 13 is supported on the loading platform 14 and the transfer pipeline 15 ends below the hose saddle 13 with a free end 16. The transfer pipeline 15 is supported on low friction pads such as Teflon or on pipe rollers (not shown). This allows the pipeline to expand or contract axially at the free end 16. It also allows the loading platform to move away from the transfer pipeline, for example when a mudslide occurs. Alternatively, the vessel 17 is docked at an unloading (i.e., receiving) terminal or a bunkering station. Alternatively, a vessel 17 is a sea-going ship. Alternatively, a vessel 17 is a barge.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the details along the 2-2 line in FIG. 1. At the free end 16, there is an upward pipe branch 21. This upward pipe branch can have an angle varying from 10 degree to 90 degree up from the horizon with a preferably angle from 60 degree to 90 degree. The first end of a hose 22 is fluidly connected to the upward pipe branch 21 and the second end 26 is fluidly connected to a vessel manifold 24 at a manifold platform 25 of the vessel 17 through a manifold extension 23. The hose saddle 13 (i.e., a hose elevator) elevates the hose 22 above the free end 16 with a majority of hose freely suspended in a U-tube between the hose saddle and the vessel manifold 24. A cantilever beam 27 is anchored at the base of hose saddle 13. A pulley 28, a rope 29 and a winch 30 are used to tie the second end 26 of the hose 22 to the cantilever beam 27 loosely.

[0032] The hose saddle 13 is preferably to have a low-friction surface to reduce wearing to the hose surface. One way to achieve low friction is to have a group of roller bars or rollers arranged at a semi-circular shape. Alternatively, low friction-coefficient materials can be used at the surface. These materials include metal with a smooth surface (such as stainless steel), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethyle, such as Teflon), etc. Alternatively, a sheave (i.e., another hose elevator) can be used instead of the hose saddle with low rolling friction. Each of these arrangements allows the hose to move along the convex contact surface freely.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a storage position of the hose from FIG. 2. Once fluid transfer is over, disconnect the second end 26 of the hose from manifold extension 23. Turn the winch 30 and drag the second end 26 to the pulley 28 for storage. The second end 26 rests at this hang-off device during idle periods (at an elevation comparable to the hose saddle 13). It is preferred that a remotely controlled motor (not show) is attached to the winch. Around the free end 16, a branch valve 31 is located at the upward pipe branch. The hose saddle 13 elevates the hose in the middle and divides the hose into three segments: a riser 33 between a first end 32 and the hose saddle 13, a hose-in-contact segment 34 on the hose saddle and a U-tube 35 freely hung between the hose saddle and the second end 26. As a ship manifold is typically elevated higher than the transfer pipeline, the second end 26 is higher than the first end 32 during the fluid transfer and kept higher during non-transfer periods.

[0034] In order for the riser 33 to remain in tension, it is required that the lowest point of the U-tube 35 be lower than the first end 32. In another word, the hose segment remained immediately below the hose saddle (i.e., extended from the hose saddle to the lowest point of the U-tube) over-weights the riser 33. When a crane is used to lift the second end 26 of the hose, care must be taken to keep the lowest point of the hose lower than the first end 32 in order to keep the entire hose in tension. A fender 36 is for protecting a vessel and keeping a distance between the loading platform 14 and a vessel.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows another mechanism to keep the riser 33 in tension. A middle flange 41 is located at the top of riser 33. A counterweight 42 is hung below the hose saddle 13 with two cables 43 tied at the low end. The cables 43 pass through a top surface area of the hose saddle (e.g., some rollers) with the top end tied to the middle flange 41(preferably 180 degree apart). In another word, the gravity force of the counterweight 42 is redirected to the top tension and applied on the middle flange 41 of the riser 33. It is preferred that the gravity force of the counterweight 42 is more than the gravity force of the riser 33. The counterweight 42 can be a block made of dense material such as concrete and metal, or a container that holds dense materials. Alternatively, the top tension is from a pulling cable controlled by a winch.

[0036] In this figure, the hose saddle 13 (redirecting hose up to 180 degree) is supported by a single column 46. It is preferred that the hose saddle 13 is rotatable along the single column 46 when the vessel drifts forward or backward under water currents/waves. A half saddle 44 (redirecting hose up to 90 degree) is located at the edge of manifold platform 25 and supports the U-tube 35 near the second end. This half saddle 44 is preferably to have a smooth surface and guides at the both sides to prevent the hose from falling off. There is a breakaway coupler 45 at the second end of the hose. There is also a quick connecting/disconnecting coupler 47 for quick connection with the vessel manifold. In order to keep the hose from falling off the hose saddle 13, two semi-guides 48 are preferably to have a height at twice the hose size. A control valve 49 is located on the transfer pipeline near the free end 16. When a pipe-in-pipe configuration is used for the transfer pipeline, the inner pipe has a short exposed section that ties-in to this control valve 49. Alternatively, a half saddle 44 is located near the first end and adjusts hose direction there when needed.

[0037] As shown in both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the freely hanging U-tube is the source of flexibility that allows the hose to accommodate ship motions as well as relative displacements between the transfer pipeline and loading platform. The relative displacements include translational and rotational movements in any direction. The more hose length in the U-tube, the more distance the first end and second end can travel. For example, when the free end 16 displaces away from the vessel due to thermal contraction or the platform moves toward the vessel, the U-tube 35 will feed some hose segment into the riser 33 automatically. When the loading platform tilts towards the vessel, the hose-in-contact segment 34 will slide over the hose saddle 13 automatically. Alternatively, when the hose saddle is elevated up or down (e.g., using a leveling pin), the riser adjusts its length accordingly and automatically. When the vessel moves, the U-tube 35 will deform and allow the second end of the hose to follow. Despite the movements, the hose remains in tension at all times.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a variation to FIG. 2 with additional riser tension from a flow control device. A winch 51 is attached to the cantilever beam 27 and a rope 52 loosely ties the second end of the hose to the winch 51. At a manifold platform 25, a temporary support 57 supports a manifold extension 55. There is a manifold valve 54 near the presentation flange. An end valve 53 at the second end of the hose and a manifold valve 54 can be used to test the connection as well as for purging purpose. An emergency release coupler (ERC) 56 is hung below the hose saddle 13. The weight of ERC 56 increases tension in the riser 33 through the hose-in-contact segment 34. At a loading platform 14 offshore, a transfer pipeline 15 is supported on a trestle 12 with pipe saddles 58. An upward pipe branch 21 is fluidly connected to the transfer pipeline 15 at one end and has an upward flange 59 with an upward opening facing the hose saddle at the other end. The riser 33 is tied-in to the upward opening at the first end of the hose with a preferred flange connection. In this case, the upward pipe branch has an elbow that makes direction transition from a horizontal orientation to an upward opening. At a lower upward angle (e.g., 45 degree or less), the riser 33 deflects from an orientation in alignment with the upward opening to a vertical orientation near the hose saddle by its flexible nature. Alternatively, the transfer pipeline is oriented to have an upward opening at the free end and the riser 33 is directly tied-in to the transfer pipeline at the upward opening. Alternatively, the cantilever beam 27 is the boom of a crane.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a variation to FIG. 3 with a hose in a storage position. A crane 61 lifts a mobile saddle 63 with a vertical bar 62. The crane is supported on a loading platform 14 and can rotate at its base. It is preferred that both the mobile saddle 63 and the vertical bar 62 are rotatable for max flexibility. The hose is supported on the mobile saddle 63 near the second end. At the second end of the hose, there are an elbow 64, a rigid spool 66 and a dry connector 65. When a ship is docked, the crane 61 delivers the second end toward the vessel manifold, and the dry connector 65 can be dragged towards the manifold for connection. Optionally, two cables can be used to lift an end valve 53 and end fittings with a balancing weight (not shown, similar to the mechanism of counterweight 42 and cable 43 in FIG. 4) or with a remotely controlling winch (not shown, similar to a winch 51 in FIG. 5). This balancing weight or winch allows the dry connector to move along with a vessel manifold easily.

[0040] Alternatively, the mobile saddle 63 is the top portion of a sheave. Alternatively, the elbow 64 is oriented perpendicular to the hose-hanging plane, and has a swivel joint (not shown). When not in use, the dry connector 65 is facing downward and the rigid spool 66 is in a vertical orientation. After connecting with a ship manifold, the swivel joint allows the rigid spool 66 to adjust its orientation automatically during ship motions.

[0041] At the loading platform 14, an upward pipe branch 21 is fluidly connected to a transfer pipeline 15 and has an upward flange tied-in to the riser 33. A pulley 28 is anchored to a supporting frame 67 above a riser 33. A cable 43 passes through the pulley 28 and ties a counterweight 42 (i.e., a counterforce device) to a rigid coupler 68 (180 degree bend, i.e., n-shaped coupler). The rigid coupler 68 (i.e., a third hose elevator) has two downward flanges that hold the riser 33 and U-tube 35 up in the middle respectively. The counterweight 42 is adapted to keep the riser 33 in tension. Alternatively, another rigid coupler can be used to replace a mobile saddle 63 with two downward flanges holding the second end of the hose and a hose extension, respectively. Alternatively, a winch (i.e., another counterforce device) can be used to lift the rigid coupler 67 with a cable 43 from above. The winch can be designed to provide a certain holding power (i.e., a predetermined pulling force). When the tension in the cable is exceeding the holding power, more cable is pulled out. When the tension in the cable is low, more cable is wound up around the winch.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of this system. A floating storage vessel 71 is docked near a loading platform 14. A transfer pipeline 15 is elevated above the sea level 19, and preferably inclined with a high end at a costal area 11 (refer to FIG. 1) and a low end at the loading platform 14. For cryogenic fluids or hot fluids, an insulation layer along with an external water barrier layer is required for the transfer pipeline 15. Alternatively, a transfer line can use a pipe-in-pipe configuration with insulation in the annulus.

[0043] Similarly, a hose 75 has a first end fluidly connected to the transfer pipeline 15 and a second end fluidly connected to a vessel manifold 24. Around a manifold platform 25, a manifold extension 72 extends from the vessel manifold 24, passes through a vertical support 73 and ends with a downward flange 74. The hose 75 is fluidly connected with the downward flange 74 at the second end. Alternatively, the second end of the hose 75 is directly connected to the vessel manifold 24 with the assistance of a half saddle on the manifold platform 25 (as shown in FIG. 4).

[0044] This hose configuration shown in FIG. 7 has a riser at the first end and a U-tube at the second end separated by a hose saddle. It is extreme flexible and its flexibility comes from the hose length stored in the U-tube. Take the heave motion of the vessel 71 as an example, a minimum elevation of the second end of the hose can be determined when the bottom of the U-tube touches the sea level. On the other hand, the maximum elevation of the second end can be determined when the U-tube becomes a J-tube as shown in FIG. 8. The maximum and minimum elevations form the envelope for the heave motion of the vessel 71. This hose configuration can achieve a large heave motion and reach a vessel manifold at up to three times the height of the hose saddle. It reduces the cost for building a tall supporting structure that is often needed in other systems as mentioned in the prior art.

[0045] Similarly, a counterweight 82 is attached to a middle flange 81 with two cables 83 and hung below the hose saddle 13. The counterweight 82 is made of a flexible tube filled with sand or other granular materials. The counterweight 82 helps reduce the height of the hose saddle and/or the length of the hose. In order for the second end of the hose 75 to reach the maximum elevation shown in FIG. 8, the counterweight 82 needs to be heavier than the hose segment extended from the first end to the middle flange 81. This hose configuration in FIG. 8 can also be used for draining liquids out of the hose when needed.

[0046] Alternatively, a vessel 71 is a production vessel. Alternatively, the hose 75 is a hose-in-hose with an inner hose and outer hose. The middle flange 81 is on the outer hose while the inner hose is continuous (not shown). With suitable materials, the hose 75 is adapted to transferring cryogenic fluids or hot fluids.

[0047] The method for establishing an auto-balancing hose loading system between a transfer pipeline supported above water and a floating vessel with a vessel manifold essentially include two steps: 1) elevating a hose in the middle and dividing the hose into a riser at a first end and a U-tube at a second end. With the first end fluidly connected to the transfer pipeline and the second end fluidly connected to a vessel manifold, the entire hose is kept above water. The U-tube is freely suspended and provides flexibility for both hose ends to move; 2) maintaining a top tension to the riser with a counterweight or a winch with a predetermined pulling force. As a result, the riser is movable relative to the loading platform and the hose is adapted to balance its positions automatically when subjected to ship motions, pipe end displacements and/or platform movements.