PIPE FITTING
An apparatus and method are disclosed relating to a multi-layer flexible pipe for conveying a target fluid. The pipe includes a core layer arranged to provide an inner bore along which a fluid can flow and at least one barrier layer having a tensile elongation at yield of greater than 5% at a temperature of 23° C.
1 . A multi-layer flexible pipe for conveying a target fluid, comprising:
a core layer arranged to provide an inner bore along which a fluid can flow; and
a least one barrier layer having a tensile elongation at yield of greater than 5% at a temperature of 23° C.
2 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer provides a flexible pipe for withstanding temperatures greater than 150° C. continuously for more than twenty years.
3 . A multi-layer flexible pipe for conveying a target fluid, comprising:
a core layer arranged to provide an inner bore along which a fluid can flow; and
at least one barrier layer for withstanding temperatures greater than 150° C. continuously for more than twenty years.
4 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the barrier layer has a tensile elongation at yield of greater than 5% at a temperature of 23° C.
5 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the barrier layer has an elongation at yield of at least 7% at a temperature of 23° C.
6 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer is an extruded layer.
7 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises polyphenylenesulfide (PPS).
8 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 7 wherein said barrier layer comprises a blend of PPS with a flexibilising component.
9 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flexibilising component is an elastomer.
10 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises a copolymer of PPS.
11 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises a PPS and/or copolymer of PPS that is modified with conventional additives.
12 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises a barrier polymer layer.
13 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target fluid comprises crude oil.
14 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target fluid comprises a gas.
15 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target fluid comprises export oil.
16 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises a bore-fluid retaining layer.
17 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer directly surrounds the core layer.
18 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said multi-layer flexible pipe has three or more layers.
19 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer is disposed in a spaced apart relationship from said core layer.
20 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 19 wherein one or more intermediate layers are located between said core layer and said barrier layer.
21 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer has a high creep resistance.
22 . A flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer provides a layer with a high chemical resistance.
23 . A flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible pipe comprises a non-bonded flexible pipe.
24 . A flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core layer comprises a collapse-resistant layer.
25 . A flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises a fluid barrier layer.
26 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: at least one tensile strength layer; and at least one external fluid barrier layer.
27 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one barrier layer is an innermost polymer extruded layer located beneath a hoop strength layer.
28 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises one layer of a multi-layer barrier layer.
29 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 28 wherein the multi-layer barrier layer comprises one or more layers of a further barrier material.
30 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 29 wherein the further barrier material is selected from the list of HDPE, MDPE, PP, PA-I1, PA-12, TPE, and PVDF.
31 . The flexible pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer comprises a polymer having a melting point of more than 150° C.
32 . A method for providing a multi-layer flexible pipe for conveying a target fluid comprising the steps of:
providing a core layer having an inner bore along which a target fluid can flow; and
providing at least one barrier layer having a tensile elongation at yield of greater than 5% at a temperature of 23° C.
33 . The method as claimed in claim 32 further comprising: providing a multi-layer flexible pipe for withstanding temperatures greater than 150° C. continuously for more than twenty years.
34 . A method for providing a multi-layer flexible pipe for conveying a target fluid comprising:
providing a core layer having an inner bore along which a target fluid can flow; and
providing at least one barrier layer for withstanding temperatures greater than 150° C. continuously for greater than twenty years.
35 . The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising:
providing the at least one barrier layer which has a tensile elongation at yield of greater than 5%.
36 . The method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the barrier layer comprises a blend of polyphenylenesulfide (PPS).
37 . The method as claimed in claim 32 further comprising the steps of:
melting modified PPS in a feed hopper;
providing the melted polymer at an extrusion chamber; and
forming a barrier layer around an inner core layer at an extrusion station.
38 . The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising establishing two or more temperature zones in a melting node to thereby provide molten barrier material at the extrusion chamber.
39 . The method as claimed in claim 38 further comprising: providing a plurality of cooling baths to cool the barrier layer on said core layer subsequent to the core layer being passed through the extrusion chamber.
40 . The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein said blend of PPS comprises a blend of PPS with a flexibilising agent.
41 . The method as claimed in claim 32 wherein said barrier layer comprises a barrier polymer layer.
42 . (canceled)
43 . (canceled)