New generation subsea excavator
SubSea Propulsion Solutions announces its New Generation of Variable Mass Flow SubSea Excavators operated electric/hydraulic or by direct electric motor drives (400 to 3400 Vac) pressure compensated and built as an integral part of the excavator unit.
The Variable Mass-Flow Excavation systems are designed to cope with highly variable soil conditions with cutting capabilities enhanced to tackle stiff clays of up to 50 kPa.
Units are designed for either ROV or DP-equipped offshore support vessels and available from 25 upto 1000Kw.
The Excavator System is an efficient, cost-effective solution for the removal of sandbag stabilization and other materials from existing pipelines in combined soils consisting of sand, gravels, other non-cohesives and clays. The PT. SubSea Propulsion Solution excavator is a fully integrated launch, excavation and survey/profiling system for larger systems. Mass flow excavation involves no physical contact between the subsea unit and seabed and allows pipelines and valves to be exposed without risk of damage. Soils can be removed from and within complex shapes with relative ease.
The main tasks for Excavator System include:
- Pipeline burial/deburial,
- Trenching,
- Excavation, and
- Stabilization/scour protection removal.
The system normally operates at 2-5 meters above the seabed and has dual propeller counter rotating propellers for use in the blowing or cuffing mode (or combination).
- In the blowing mode, production rates upto 20 cubic meters/second can be achieved through use of the variable displacement Nozzle Assembly. Propeller speeds are adjustable for an optimum balance between flow and speed when dredging combined soils.
- In the cutting mode, flows upto 11 cubic meters/second are achieved.
In the blowing mode, high flow can be selected for the excavation of sandy soils. In the cutting mode, high water speed is available to deal with stiff clays. The new system’s turbines are configured for much higher speeds. In addition, the turbines counter-rotate to provide
Underwater Site Preparation/Excavation and Dredging Modules
The modules come complete with Jetting Nozzles.
Other uses include:
• Seabed Leveling with Port/Harbor dredging and clearance capabilities.
• Treasure Hunting and is ideal for removal of sand in large areas with digging capabilities.
Maneuverability in strong currents – Tracking
Models are available from 15 to 250 Horsepower for ROV mounted units and from 250 Hp to 1200Hp as self contained vessel assisted Modules. They are complete with electric/hydraulic pressure compensated drives in a Stationary or Maneuverable Option. The operator can combine Underwater Camera Systems with Lighting, and can incorporate manipulator arms, and a sub-bottom profiler. The module can incorporate a flotation collar with full ship-based control systems.
SubSea Propulsion Solutions, your partner…capable excavation systems with positioning systems when you need it!
Reliable products in an unpredictable SubSea World
Features
- High Flow Rates
- Low Operating Pressures
Sonsub LTD. has developed the ROV-deployed excavator system named Aeolus utilizing our Model E250VM hydraulically driven excavation unit, the Aeolus system has been developed to deliver mass excavation of seabed material with undrained shear strength of less than 20kPa or excavation of seabed material which has been previously cut or fluidized.
The excavation unit, Aeolus, is sized to match the power available for the Sonsub InnovatorROV. Providing a 300 Hp capability at 3000 meters water depth, the Aeolus/Innovator combination is a positively buoyant submersible that utilizes conventional ROV propulsion techniques to navigate from the surface to the work-site. Additionally, it can operate in either free-fly mode “excavator configured for balanced thrust” or “high power excavator mode” which utilizes the Aeolus pipeline traction system to counteract the resultant thrust and navigate along the pipeline.
The intended fields of utilization for the Aeolus are excavation of mechanically cut or fluidized soil, pipeline/flowline free-span removal tool, pipeline/flowline trencher, trench back-fill tool, drill cutting removal tool (in “free-fly” mode), and cable/umbilical trencher when excavator head is mounted onto “heavy” track based equipment. The system went through a very successful trial campaign.
The dual propeller counter – rotational system eliminates reactive torque and provides a high degree of gyroscopic stabilization for the excavator unit while in operation.
Surveying and monitoring equipment can be installed on the units, resulting in precise positioning and trench depth control. Multi-beam sonar can also be mounted on the trailing end of the excavator to get a real-time image of the excavation effect.
Larger units and all ancillary parts can be provided with standard 20 ft ISO containers for ease of mobilization and storage.
The Excavator System (units more than 350Kw) may be deployed from any DP-equipped vessel. We can supply the launch system ensuring the subsea unit is unaffected as the vessel adopts an optimal heading in relation to wind and sea conditions.
The operator has a straightforward control desk with camera, profiler and computer displays. Launch and recovery are controlled from the desk
Details: Two counter rotating propeller pumps direct a low pressure high velocity water jet through a vertically positioned nozzle to the seabed thus creating an excavating effect which results in a trench when the tool is moved laterally. The gyroscopic effect of the two counter rotating propellers provides a high degree of lateral stability whilst the weight of the tool maintains vertical stability.
