FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to method of connecting pipelines or other large- diameter tubular members in offshore structure by securing adjacent flanges to each other. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, for connecting pipelines to each other or to pumping stations, the pipelines are provided with flanges at their ends. For example, the flanges are provided as a collar around the pipe end section. For interconnection, the flanges have through- going holes for bolts that pull the two adjacent flanges together when tightened.

For the event that the collars are not provided with holes for bolts, US2016/3771198 discloses an alternative connector including two groups of clamp seats positioned against the rear sides of both adjacent collars and which are then connected with bolts, in this way providing the bolt holes that are missing in the collars. Bolted clamping units on pipes are also disclosed in Korean patent KR101159146B1 and Korean patent application KR20100087978A. German patent application DE2435252A1 discloses a U-shaped pipe connector without bolts, which clamps two flanges of polymer fresh-air pipes together by its elastic force. A further alternative is disclosed in CH423209A, in which a pre-deformed polymer clamp is positioned over two adjacent flanges of water pipes and then heated, wherein the heating leads to release of pre-induced contraction forces.

An alternative connector for pipes with end flanges is disclosed in US 10584816 in which a plurality of clamping units are positioned along the collars about the pipe section and clamping angular segments of the adjacent collars together. The clamping units are tightened by a screw mechanism. In either case, the pipe connections comprises bolts which fulfil the initial purpose of tightening the flange connection but which in some cases suffer from a loss of tightness with time due to material creep in the bolts or in a tightening gasket between the flanges. Especially, for deep-sea pipelines, a renewed tightening of the bolts is very difficult, why it would be desirable if a different long-term pipe connection would be available for large-diameter pipe connections in offshore constructions.

DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an objective of the invention to provide an improvement in the art. In particular, it is an objective to provide an alternative connection for large-diameter tubular members in offshore structures, for example connections of pipes to pumps or to other pipes. This objective and further advantages are achieved with a method of connecting tubular members in offshore structure as described below and in the claims.

In short, the method comprises securing two adjacent pipe flanges by a plurality of clamp unit, where each clamp unit, in order to receive the adjacent flanges in its receptacle, is thermally expanded. Details are explained in the following. The invention is directed towards large-diameter tubular members, having a diameter of more than 1 m, typically larger than 2 m.

As mentioned in the introduction, pipes and other tubular members in offshore industry, typically are provided with a radially outward projecting flange at theirs ends for connecting the tubular members end-to-end after having been positioned with the flanges adjacent to each other.

For securing the adjacent flanges to each other, a plurality of clamp units are provided and positioned on various predetermined segments of the adjacent flanges. In typical designs of flanges on pipe sections, be it for pipes or for other components, such as pumps, such a flange comprises a collar around the cylindrical wall at the end of the pipe section. Each clamp unit has a base comprising a first portion from which opposite jaws extend to form a receptacle therebetween for receiving and containing one of the predetermined segments. For example, for the large diameter tubular members, the length of the jaws is in the range of 100-400 mm. Examples of widths W across the receptable between the jaws is in the range of 200-600 mm.

The term “predetermined segment” is used here for that part of the flange that is ac- commodated inside the receptacle. In some cases, the predetermined segment is approximately an entire angular segment of a collar of the flange. However, often, the predetermined segment is a portion of the total angular segment of the collar. This is especially so, if the flange, for example the collar, also comprise bolts extending through both flanges for additionally securing the adjacent flanges to each other. In the latter case, the clamps and bolts imply a double security.

A typical angular span of a clamp is less than 1/6 of the circumference of the flanges. In order to provide equal pressure, at least three clamp units are positioned on the flanges, preferably with equal angular distance about the tubular member. However, typically, more than three clamp units are provided, for example at least 6 or 8. Often, the number of clamps in combination span all the way around the circumference of the flange.

The receptacle has a width W between the opposite jaws. The clamp unit is designed, relatively to the thickness of the combination of the adjacent flanges, such that the width is too small for the receptacle to take up the predetermined segment of the adjacent flanges, when the first portion of the base is at ambient temperature. For actually receiving the predetermined segment of the adjacent flanges in the receptacle, the first portion of the base is heated so that, by thermal expansion of the first portion, the width W of the receptacle is increased.

For example, a heater is provided between the jaws and directing heat towards the first portion of the base, for example by attaching electrical heating members to the first portion of the base or by directing a gas flame towards it. After heating, the heater is removed prior to the clamp being positioned on the flanges. In principle, however, it is also possible to integrate a heater in the base, for example electrical heating probes that heat specific parts of the base when electrical current is applied. Once the width of the receptacle is increased, the clamp unit is positioned on the adjacent flanges with the predetermined segment of the adjacent flanges inside the receptacle. After the positioning, the temperature of the first portion is reduced again to ambient temperature, which leads to thermal contraction of the first portion with a result of decreasing the width W between the jaws so that the adjacent flanges are pressed together by the jaws due to the contraction.

For example, the width between jaws may be increased evenly by the heating. This can be achieved by heating not only the first portion of the base but heating the entire base in order to provide an even expansion of the base.

However, a useful alternative has been found in uneven increase of the width between the jaws. In this case, the base is heated uneven so that more thermal expansion is achieved on the first portion than a second portion of the base, where the two portions are mechanically connected to each other. In concrete embodiments, the second por- tion is remote from the jaws and facing away from the flanges when the clamp unit is mounted on the flanges.

For example, the first portion and the second portion of the base are portions of a metal block, optionally steel or cast iron. For example, the two portions are integral parts of a metal block, where the metal block has been provided as a single piece of metal of which the two portions are respective, opposite portions of the piece.

Alternatively, an insulating space is provided between the first and the second portion of the base for preventing or delaying transfer of thermal energy from the first to the second portion during the heating. Optionally, the first and second portion are two metal blocks that are mechanically connected at their ends. In other embodiments, the metal block has a box-profile with a void extending through the middle of the block. In order to reach the second portion, heat from the first portion has to be conducted around the void. Such an arrangement delays the thermal conduction from the first to the second portion.

By causing more thermal expansion of the first portion than the second portion, due to heating of the first portion but not the second portion, the first portion expands more that the second portion, which causes an uneven expansion of the base. As the first portion is close to the jaws and the second portion distal to the jaws, this uneven expansion, correspondingly, changes the angle between the jaws with a larger increase of width of the receptacle at an edge of the receptacle, distal to the first portion, than close to the first portion. For positioning the clamp, this is useful in that the advancing of the clamp onto the flanges is facilitated, once the edges of the adjacent flanges are received in the gap between the jaws at the edge of the receptacle.

For example, if the predetermined segment of the adjacent flanges has a largest thick- ness Tmax , and the width of the receptacle is increased by the heating to at least Tmax for fitting the clamp unit over the predetermined segment.

This is a necessity for proper fitting of the predetermined segment into the receptacle if the jaws have parallel inner sides towards the receptacle with a width Wo and the flanges parallel rear sides with a thickness To. In this case, the predetermined segment has a constant thickness To > Wo , which requires thermal expansion for increasing the width of the receptacle to larger than the thickness To.

Increasing the width of the receptacle by the heating to at least Tmax is also a necessary when the predetermined segment of the adjacent flanges has an increasing thickness in a radial direction, for example a linearly increasing thickness, making the segment thickest where the jaws start receiving the predetermined segment.

For example, the profile of the predetermined segment has a thickness that increases from a smallest to a largest thickness Tmax over a distance D in an outward radial direction. The receptacle is then provided with a corresponding internal profile with increasing, for example linearly increasing, width W to a maximum width Wmax = Tmax towards the base over a corresponding distance D’. The angle between the jaws is then increased by the uneven thermal expansion of the base, causing a larger increase of width of the receptacle at the edge than close to the first portion, for passing the edge of the receptacle over the segment at the position of the largest thickness Tmax.

In contrast to the above example, increasing the width of the receptacle by the heating to at least Tmax over the entire receptacle it is not always a necessary condition, which will become apparent from the discussion below.

In some embodiments, at least one of the jaws has a convex curved surface on a side towards the receptacle. Optionally, the convex curved surface is provided in the radial direction so that the width as a function of polar angle along the receptacle is constant but curved in radial direction. Alternatively, the curved surface is provided as a convex curved projection that extends from the jaw into the receptacle. Several of such projections can be provided on the inner side of at least one of the two jaws. If such projections are provided on both jaws, the positions of the projections need not be face-to-face but can be distributed differently on one jaw than the on the other.

Such curved surface, for example projections, can be used for providing additional elastic pressure force on the flanges. For this purpose, the width of the receptacle is increased sufficiently by the thermal expansion to receive only a part of the predeter- mined segment between the jaws but not increased sufficiently for the predetermined segment to also pass an extreme position of the convex curved surface towards a predetermined final location of the predetermined segment inside the receptacle. For the predetermined segment to pass the extreme position, the clamp unit is advanced with an increased advance force which is overcoming an elastic force of the material of the jaws and, typically to a minor extend, the base. With this additional force, the jaws are pressed sufficiently away from each in order for the predetermined segment to pass the extreme position. Once, the predetermined segment has reached its predetermined position inside the receptacle, the elastic force of the jaws at the extreme position in increased by the thermal contraction when reducing the temperature of the first por- tion to ambient temperature. For example, the extreme position may be defining a minimum width Wmin of the receptacle.

The force necessary to overcome the obstacle caused by the curved surface, for example projection, depends on the material of the jaws, the distance by which the jaws have to be pressed apart for giving way to the predetermined segment of the adjacent flanges, as well as the position of the obstacle because an obstacle near the edge of the receptacle is easier pressed out of the way than close to the base. It also depends on how the curved surface is formed. For example, if the curve has a small, possibly con- stant, inclination towards the edge of the receptacle, the flanges start pressing the jaws away from each other from an early stage of the insertion and over a relatively long distance, which makes the pressing-apart of the jaws possible with relatively low additional advance force. For example, the extreme position of the curved surface may require an additional 1 mm of the jaws being pressed apart for the segment to pass the obstacle, and if the small inclination of the curve toward the edge is over 200 mm, the flanges would have to be pressed as little as 1/200 = 5 micrometre apart for each millimetre of advance, which minimizes the necessary force to press the jaws apart. Typically, the width by which the jaws have to be pressed additionally apart by the increased advance force is in the range of 0.5-3 mm, in order for the predetermined segment to pass the extreme position freely into the receptacle.

After having positioned the predetermined segment inside the receptacle at the prede- termine position, and when the base has been cooled down again, the curved surface puts additional concentrated elastic force onto the flanges, with a higher force the closer the extreme position of the convex curved surface is to the base relatively to the edge of the receptacle. Even if the material of the clamp and the material of the flanges, or a possible gasket between the flanges, is subject to long-term creep of the mate- rial, the curve, for example in the form of projections, maintain elastic pressure on the flanges.

Optionally, the flanges are provided with a plurality of bolt holes about the tubular member and tightened bolts extent through the holes as an additional measure for securing the flanges to each other. In this case, it is useful if the jaws of each clamp unit extends on the flange segment to locations in between the bolts for optimizing the pressure area, however, leaving areas free around the bolts for tightening the bolts.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where

FIG. 1 A) illustrates two pipe sections with collars, B) the pipe section end-to-end, C) placement of a clamping units on an angular segment on the collars, D) two clamping units on the collars, E) eight camping units on the collars;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a clamp unit;

FIG. 3 A) illustrates a cross sectional view of a clamp unit and adjacent flanges, B) inclined jaws due to uneven thermal expansion of the base, C) final location of the adjacent flanges in the receptacle;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of principles and possible dimensions;

FIG. 6 A) illustrates a cross section of a clamp unit with a curved surface, and B) with a curved surface blocking for access of the flanges despite thermal ex pansion of the base;

FIG. 7 illustrates curved surfaces as local projections;

FIG. 8 illustrates various shapes of adjacent flanges;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION / PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1A shows two tubular structures 1, each of which has a flange 2 at an end 3 of a cylindrical pipe section 4, 4’. For example, one pipe section 4 is an end section of an offshore pipe, and the other pipe section 4’ is part of a pump that is to be connected to such offshore pipe.

The flange 2 comprises a collar 5 around the pipe section 4 and fastened to an outer surface 6 of the pipe section 4, 4’, which is a typical construction. However, the flange 2 could also be fastened to the end 3 of the pipe section 4 in longitudinal extension of the pipe section 4, instead of around the end 3 of the pipe section 4.

The collar 5 has a front side 5 A and a rear side 5B, which are parallel, although this is not necessary, as will be explained below with examples. In the shown embodiments, the collar 5 has a circular outline, which is a typical case but not necessary for the in vention. FIG. IB illustrates the situation where the two pipe section 4, 4’ have been positioned end-to-end with the two flanges 2 adjacent to each other, and the collars 5 facing each other. In the shown sketch, for simplicity, the two collars 5 are abutting each other, although this is not always the case, as there may be positioned a gasket in between the flanges 2. A clamp unit 7 has a base 8 and two jaws 9 extending from one side of the base 8 for providing a receptacle 10 in between the jaws 9.

A segment 11 of the adjacent flanges 2 is taken up in the receptacle 10 by moving the clamp unit 7 over the collars 5, which is illustrated by arrows 12 in FIG. 1C.

In the illustrated situation, the receptacle 10 is taking up a complete angular segment of the adjacent collars 5. However, the segment 11 that is taken up in the receptacle 10 need not be a complete angular segment of the collars 5 but could also be a portion of the adjacent flanges 2 less than the entire angular segment of the collars 5.

FIG. ID illustrates a situation where two clamp units 7 have been placed side-by-side on the collars 5. By continuing positioning the clamp units 7 side by side about the collar 5, the entire collars 5 can be taken up by the multiple receptacles 10, which is illustrated in FIG. IE.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a clamp unit 7. The clamp unit 7 has a base 8 and two jaws 9 extending from a first portion 8 A of the base 8 for providing a receptacle 10 in between the jaws 9. The distance between the jaws 9 defines a width W of the receptacle 10. In the shown embodiment, the jaws 9 have parallel sides 9A towards the receptacle 10 so that the width W across the receptacle 10 is constant and the width We at the outer edge 14 of the receptacle 10 is the same as at any position be tween the jaws 9. However, as will be explained by examples below, this constant width W need not be the case, as also the rear sides 5B of the collars 5 need not be parallel.

For a varying width W, the width is a function of the position in the receptacle. For example, W is expressed as a function depending on polar coordinates, W=funct (r,0), a radial coordinate r and a angular coordinate 0, the reference for the coordinates be- ing taken from the central longitudinal axis 15 of the pipe section 4, see FIG. 1C for the central axis and the coordinates. In this case, the width W is measured in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis 15. However, other expressions for W are possible than this example.

In FIG. 3A, a cross section of the two adjacent collars 5 is show together with a portion of the two pipe section 4, 4’. The front sides 5 A of the two collars 5 are exemplified with a step 17 for precise fitting and for avoiding mutual sliding of the collars 5 when a clamp unit 7 is positioned onto the collars 5.

In order for the clamp unit 7 to actually clamp the two flanges 2 towards each other by the collars 5 and keep them in place, the jaws 9 of the clamp unit 7 need to exert pressure on the flanges 2. The collars 5 of the adjacent flanges 2 have a thickness T, when measured between the parallel outer sides 5B of the collars of the flanges 2, which is slightly larger than the width W of the receptacle 10 of the clamp unit 7. In order to make the width W fit the thickness T, the base 8 is heated by a heat source 16 so that it undergoes thermal expansion. For example, the base 8 is heated from ambient temperatures of 15°C to more than 150°C, for example in the range of 150°C to 300°C, for increasing the width W in the range of 0.5-3 mm at the edge of the receptacle.

A typical expansion coefficient for metal, such as steel, is in the order of 10 ⁵ per degree kelvin. For W=400 mm and a heating by 250 kelvin from 15°C to 265°C results in an expansion of the first portion of 10 ⁵ x 250 x 400 = 1 mm. For precisely made jaws and collars, this can be sufficient for fitting the clamp 7 over the collars 5.

However, an improved method has been found as illustrated in FIG. 3B. In this case, the heating of the base 8 is made such that the base 8 is heated unevenly. The heat is provided to a first portion 8A of the base 8, while the second portion 8B will not be heated or only be heated delayed by thermal conduction from the first portion 8A to the second portion 8B. Due to the higher temperature in the first portion 8 A as compared to the second portion, the base 8 will expand unevenly with the largest expansion in the first portion 8A. As a consequence, the jaws 9 are pressed away from each other without maintaining a parallel orientation of the jaws 9. Instead, the jaws 9 get angled with an angle that is defined by the expansion of the first portion 8A relatively to the non-expanded second portion 8B. The angled expansion can be better understood with reference to FIG. 4 in combination with FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the base contains a void 18 in between the first portion 8 A and the second portion 8B of the base 8. The void 18 acts as a partial insulation between the fist portion 8A and the second portion 8B, delaying the thermal energy transfer from the first portion 8 A to the second portion 8B. If the first portion expands in the order of 1 mm, and assuming a distance D of 200 mm between the first portion 8 A and the second portion 8B and a length L of the jaws of 400 mm, as illustrated in FIG. 5, it is readily recognized by the simple sketch of FIG. 5 that the gap increases by 4 times the expansion of the first portion. Although, the expansion of 1 mm of the first portion and the dimensions in FIG. 5 are not to scale and neither pre- cise but only rough examples for illustration, it gives an impression of the sizes in typical offshore pipe connections as well as the dimensions of the possible expansions of the width of the receptacle.

The increase of the width W _e at the outer edge of the receptacle by several mm facili- tates the positioning of the clamp unit 7 over the flanges 2, and also assures that not only is the entire predetermined segment of the flange 2 taken up in the receptacle 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, but the flanges 2 are also pressed together by the jaws 9, once the temperature of the first portion 8A returns to ambient temperature, and the base 8 undergoes thermal contraction back to its original state. To the extent as the thickness T of the collars 5 allow the jaws 9 to contract again, a resulting elastic force from the base 8 on the jaws 9 remains, which presses the flanges 2 together.

In order to increase the elastic force of the clamp unit 7 on the collars 5 of the flanges 2, the embodiments as sketched in FIG. 6A and 6B have been found useful. In this case, the inner side 9A of one of the jaws 9 or of both jaws 9 is provide with a curved surface 20.

The curved surface 20 is optionally provided as a surface profile in the radial direction on the inner side 9A of the entire corresponding jaw 9. Alternatively, not the entire inner side 9 A of the entire corresponding jaw 9 is curved, but the curved surface 20 is provided as a projection on the inner surface 9A of the jaw 9. As a further alternative several of such projections 20 are provided on the inner surface 9 A of the jaw, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

The curved surface 20 in FIG. 6 A is projecting a distance towards and into the receptacle which is less than the increase in width of the receptacle 10 due to the heating and thermal expansion. Thus, despite the curved surface 20, the clamp unit 7 can be positioned over the adjacent flanges 2 in an easy-sliding motion. However, once the basis 8 contracts, the curved surface 20, for example in the form of multiple projections, will result in additional elastic force on the flanges 2 so that also long term creep of the material will not lead to an untight connection.

In order to enhance the elastic force from the clamp unit, the curved surface may ex- tend into the receptacle 10 a distance more than the width increase by the thermal expansion of the first portion 8A. In this case, which is illustrated in FIG. 6B, the flanges do not get spaced far enough for the adjacent flanges 2 to be taken up freely into the receptacle 10. In this case, the clamp unit 7 is moved over the flanges until the curved surface 20’ prevents further advancing of the clamp unit 7 over the flanges 2. In order to advance the clamp unit 7 further, increased advance force is used to press an extreme position 26 of the curved surface 20’ pass the location where further advancement is blocked. This advancement can be achieved due to the elastic material of the base 8 and/or the jaws 9, which both typically are made of metal. In this embodiment, the relatively large projection 20’ adds to the subsequent elastic force that presses the flanges 2 together.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the largest reduction in width of the receptacle 10 due to the curved surface 20’ with the extreme position 26 is closer to the base 8 that to the edge of the receptacle 10, which is advantageous in that the resulting pressure on the flang- es by the jaws is highest near the base.

FIG. 7 illustrates a possible pattern of projections of the two types 20 or 20’. The position and size of the projections as well as type of projections is only used here as an illustrative example and can be provided in different dimensions and configurations. FIG. 8 illustrates different examples of combinations of flanges 2 and jaws 9. In FIG. 8A, the adjacent flanges 2 extend in parallel and so are the jaws 9 on opposite sides of the receptacle. In FIG. 8B, the flanges 2, for example the collars of flanges 2, increase linearly in thickness with distance from the pipe section 4. Correspondingly, the width of the receptacle decreases linearly with radial distance from the pipe section 4. The increase in thickness of the flanges 2 can also increase non-linearly, for example by curving smoothly. In FIG. 8C, an increase in thickness is step-wise and comprises a shoulder 21 of the flanges 2 behind which the jaws 9 hook for optimum fit. In FIG. 8D, a similar configuration is illustrated as in FIG. 8C, however, with a shoulder 2G that is inclined, which eases mounting of the jaws 9 on the flanges 2, especially the fit to the shoulder 2G.

FIG. 9A and 9B illustrate a further embodiment, where each clamp unit 7 spans only a minor portion of the circumference of the flange 5 in the order of 5-10 degrees of the circle around the pipe section 4. This implies that each clamp unit 7 is less heavy than if the clamp unit spans 1/8 of the circle as illustrated in FIG. IE. For ease of insertion, the clamp unit 7 comprises a lifting eye 22, for example for lifting by a crane. FIG. 10a in perspective view and FIG. 10B in cross sectional view illustrate an embodiment where the clamp unit 7 comprises recesses 25 for giving access to bolt connections 23 that are used as redundant means for pressing the flanges 5 together. In order to optimize the pressure, the clamps 7 have portions 24 that extends to regions in between the bolt connections 23.