Accurate tension measurement in offshore system
A
Vishay Nobel product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Aug 15, 2000
Norson Engineering has used Nobel Systems shear beam loadcells for its pipelay ramp system, installed on the MSV Fennica for DSND Offshore.
Norson Engineering of Glasgow has integrated refinements for tension measurement and pitch compensation into its pipelay ramp system, installed on the MSV Fennica for DSND Offshore.
The company is using the Nobel Systems' approach to capitalise on the unique properties of the Nobel shear beam loadcells both to sense the load and to compensate for motion-induced errors.
The pipelay ramp systems includes a triple-tracked 120 tonne tensioner, mounted on Nobel KISD-6 1MN double shear beam loadcells at the four corners of the machine's frame.
These load cells measure the tension of the pipe being laid by measuring the horizontal reaction force between the tension and the deck of the ship.
A pitch compensator module (PCM), produces a "similar sense" output when subject to the same ship's motion variations as the sensors under the tensioner itself.
The PCM's output is compared with the scaled tension signal and "compensated tension" is derived.
Because of the PCM's attitude sensitivity, the effect of the tensioner ramp's operating angle is also compensated.
The Norson pipelay system has a 30-metre ramp, which can elevate to 90 degrees and can traverse three metres, obviating a spooling system on the pipe storage reel.
Special attention was paid to a lightweight ramp construction to provide the lowest possible centre of gravity and to utilise existing A-frame foundations aboard the MSV.
With its integrated tension measurement system, and other innovative safety features, the Norson ramp pipelay system is capable of high-speed pipelaying of flexible pipe up to 16-inches diameter and rigid pipe up to 12-inches diameter to water depths of up to 2,000 metres.
Norson approached Nobel Systems because of its expertise in force measurement on a wide range of cable and pipeline tensioning machines, commonly known as linear engines.
These traction-wheeled or tracked machines impart draw-off or hold-back forces to submarine cables and pipelines as they are laid from a specialist vessel or "ship of opportunity".
The employment of the latter has resolved machines of almost containerised design in the smaller capacities.
If the spread is required to operate in both 'J'-lay (vertical tension axis), as well as traditional 'S'-lay(horizontal tension axis) for large diameter pipe in deep water, then the pipe-handling machines are arranged on an inclinable ramp structure carrying deadweights of over 100 tonnes.
These variable lay-angle systems, complete with lock-off clamps, abandonment and recovery sheaves, straighteners, and working platforms, can be transhipped for differing contracts.
The large bending and buckling stresses that can be generated in these laying operations, plus the forces imparted by the vessel's motion, must be compensated for.
As the pipeline is laid to the seabed, too high a tension, or hold-back, could overstress the pipe and too low a tension could allow a sag-bend in the pipe's catenary, resulting in buckling.
To install a satisfactory tension measurement system for these criteria, the positive tie-down, in all planes, of the tensioner itself must be considered.
Most load-measurement transducers, or loadcells, require a free end loading face if they are required to sense in a compression mode, or independent support of the reacting machine, if tension cells are employed.
The prime principle on which the Nobel Shearforce KIS and KOSD series loadcells functions means that all forces, except those defined by their mounting orientation, are ignored when related to the machine's deadweight and cross-axis forces.
The cylindrical pin format allows simple attachment of the machine to its deckframe via padeyes and self-aligning bushes.
Similar loadcells of up to 200 tonne range are used to mount and monitor the tensioner's associated pipe lock-off clamp, and A/R sheaves, if specified.
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