Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2012/073301, filed Nov. 22, 2012, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from German Patent Application No. 10 2011 088 246.4, filed Dec. 12, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a water lifting system, especially a fire extinguishing plant for offshore installations, such as oil and/or gas production platforms, or ships, or the like, with a pump having a suction port and a discharge port, a pump-turbine assembly having a pump unit and a turbine unit, wherein pump unit and turbine unit have in each case a suction or inlet port and a discharge port, and with a line connecting the discharge port of the pump unit of the pump-turbine assembly and the suction port of the pump, and conducting a volume flow, and also relates a method using such a system. 
         [0003]    A device for the starting of pumps for fire extinguishing purposes and similar purposes, in which it is necessary to overcome large suction heads, is known from German patent publication no. DE 643 151 A. Since the pump used for fire extinguishing purposes cannot draw up the required water alone in the case of large suction heads, the pump is connected via a line to an auxiliary pump which is arranged in an extinguishant reservoir or the like and is driven by means of a liquid or air turbine, the propellant of which is delivered by a special propellant pump. The turbine is connected to the propellant pump via two lines. In this case, it is disadvantageous that provisions have to be made, which provisions can compensate again the possible leakage losses in the propellant circuit. Since the propellant is pumped in a closed circuit from the propellant pump to the turbine and back again, the propellant is continuously heated up more and has to be cooled since otherwise parts of the plant can suffer damage. 
         [0004]    The object of the invention is to create a reliable water lifting system, which economizes in installation space, is to be installed at lower cost and at the same time is afflicted with lower losses, and to create a method for operating such a water lifting system. 
         [0005]    The object is achieved by the volume flow comprising a first partial volume flow and a second partial volume flow, wherein a line conducting the first partial volume flow is connected to at least one water extraction point and a line conducting the second partial volume flow is connected to an inlet port of the turbine unit of the pump-turbine assembly. 
         [0006]    Consequently, the pump-turbine assembly needs to be connected to only two lines, which lead from the platform or from the ship into the sea. Moreover, a hydraulic circuit, which is operated by a fluid, especially hydraulic oil, for driving the pump-turbine assembly, a tank filled with the fluid, and a cooling device with heat exchangers or the like for cooling the fluid, can be dispensed with. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment, the turbine unit has a discharge port which is connected to a water reservoir or leads to the water reservoir. 
         [0008]    In order to increase the operational reliability during starting of the water lifting system, provision is made on the offshore installation or the ship for a water supply which is accommodated in a tank. 
         [0009]    According to the invention, an outlet opening of the tank is connected to the suction port of the pump. 
         [0010]    According to a further embodiment, the line conducting the volume flow is connected to an inlet opening of the tank. 
         [0011]    Also, the line conducting the volume flow can be connected to the outlet opening of the tank. 
         [0012]    The discharge port of the pump is expediently connected to the at least one water extraction point via the line conducting the first partial volume flow. 
         [0013]    According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the discharge port of the pump is connected to the inlet port of the turbine unit of the pump-turbine assembly via the line conducting the second partial volume flow. 
         [0014]    In an alternative embodiment, the discharge port of the pump unit is connected to a suction port of an additional pump device, preferably a high-pressure pump. 
         [0015]    A further advantageous embodiment ensues if the discharge port of the additional pump is connected to the inlet port of the turbine unit of the pump-turbine assembly via the line conducting the second partial volume flow. 
         [0016]    In order to protect the pump-turbine assembly, which permanently resides in the salty seawater, against seizures and blockages, an electric motor is expediently attached to the pump-turbine assembly. 
         [0017]    The object of the invention is also achieved by a first partial volume flow of a volume flow, which is extracted from a water reservoir and delivered via a line, being delivered to at least one water extraction point by means of a line conducting the first partial volume flow, and by a second partial volume flow being delivered back to the water reservoir by means of a line conducting the second partial volume flow. 
         [0018]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows the schematic representation of an offshore platform having a water lifting device according to an embodiment of the invention with a pump and a pump-turbine assembly, 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows an offshore platform having a water lifting device according to  FIG. 1  with a closed pressurized tank for a water supply, 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows an offshore platform and water lifting device according to  FIG. 1  with an open tank for a water supply, 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows an offshore platform with a further embodiment of the water lifting device according to  FIG. 3 , 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an offshore platform with a further embodiment of the water lifting device according to  FIG. 3 , 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows an offshore platform according to  FIG. 1  having a water lifting device with a pump, a pump-turbine assembly and an additional pump device, 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows an offshore platform and water lifting device with a pump unit and a pump-turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows an offshore platform and water lifting device according to  FIG. 1  with a motor arranged on the pump-turbine assembly  6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  schematically shows an offshore installation  1  in the embodiment of an oil and/or gas platform with a pump  3 , preferably a circulating pump, which is arranged on the offshore installation  1  and driven via a motor  2 , and with a pump-turbine assembly  6 , located in the sea, having a pump unit  4  and a turbine unit  5 . Pump unit  4  and turbine unit  5  can be designed as separate units or as units which are accommodated in a housing. The pump unit  4  for example comprises a circulating pump which is designed as an underwater pump, and the turbine unit  5  comprises an underwater pump, driven as a turbine, preferably a multistage underwater pump or a multistage circulating pump. The two components are preferably arranged on a shaft and/or interconnected via a transmission. 
         [0028]    The pump unit  4  has a suction port—not shown in more detail—which lies below the sea level, preferably in a region with little swell. A discharge port of the pump unit  4  is connected to a suction port of the pump  3  via a first line  7 , preferably a pipe or a hose, which conducts a volume flow Q S . A second line  8  leads from a discharge port of the pump  3  to an inlet opening of a first distribution device  9 . A first outlet opening of the distribution device  9  is connected to at least one water extraction point, especially a fire extinguishing device, for example a sprinkler system, hydrant or the like—not shown in the drawings—which is arranged on the offshore installation  1 , via a third line  10  conducting a first partial volume flow Q F . A second outlet opening of the distribution device  9  is connected to an inlet port of the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  via a fourth line  11  conducting a second partial volume flow Q T . Therefore, the volume flow Q S  comprises a first partial volume flow Q F  and a second partial volume flow Q T , wherein a line  10  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F  is connected to at least one water extraction point and a line  11  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T  is connected to the inlet port of the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 . The turbine unit  5  in turn has a discharge port which leads to a water reservoir, especially the sea, or is at least connected to the water reservoir, and which lies beneath the water level and via which the water which is delivered to the turbine unit  5  is ejected into the water reservoir. 
         [0029]    The motor  2 , which is preferably designed as an internal combustion engine or turbine, drives the pump  3  which is located on the platform. The pump-turbine assembly  6 , which is located underwater, is driven via the second partial volume flow Q T  which is conducted through the line  11 . The pump-turbine assembly  6  serves as a forwarding pump for the pump  3  and ensures lifting of the water level to the level of the pump  3 . 
         [0030]    Used as an extinguishing pump, the pump  3 , in the case of a fire, has to provide the first partial volume flow Q F , which is conducted via the line  10  and required for firefighting, the required pressure head H D  and also the second partial volume flow Q T , which is conducted via the line  11  and drives the turbine. In this case, the second partial volume flow Q T  is significantly lower than the first partial volume flow Q F  for firefighting. The pump unit  4  has to produce the suction head H S  and also the two partial volume flows Q F  and Q T . 
         [0031]    The turbine unit  5  has to therefore produce a second partial volume flow Q T  and also the pressure head H D  plus the suction head H S . Especially suitable for this, as previously mentioned, is a multistage underwater pump, driven as a turbine, which can convert the high pressure into a rotational movement for driving the pump unit  4 . As the pump unit  4 , circulating pumps, designed as single-stage scroll casing pumps which overcome the suction head H S  with the high volume flow Q S  or the partial volume flows Q F  and Q T  which form the volume flow Q S , for example for firefighting, are particularly well suited. 
         [0032]    Therefore, a first partial volume flow Q F  of the volume flow Q S , which is extracted from the water reservoir and delivered via the line  7 , is thus delivered to at least one water extraction point by means of the line  10  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F  and the second partial volume flow Q T  is delivered back to the water reservoir by means of the line  11  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T . 
         [0033]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  largely corresponds to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . In order to further increase the operational reliability of the system, provision is additionally made on the platform for a water supply, wherein the water supply is accommodated in a tank  12 . The line  7  conducting the volume flow Q S  is connected to an inlet opening of the tank  12 . The discharge port of the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  is connected to the inlet opening on the upper side of the tank  12  directly via the line  7  conducting the volume flow Q S , wherein the tank  12  in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  is designed as a closed pressurized tank. If required, a vent valve  13  can be arranged on the upper side of the tank  12  or, alternatively, on one of the walls in a region which lies above the water level. An outlet opening of the tank  12  is connected to the suction port of the pump  3 . For this, the outlet opening at the bottom of the tank  12  is connected via a fifth line  7   a  to an inlet of a first fitting  14 , for example a valve or a gate, which can close off the line  7   a.  The outlet of the valve  14  is connected via a sixth line  7   b  to the suction port of the pump  3  which is driven by means of the motor  2 . The discharge port of the pump  3  is connected to the at least one water extraction point via the line  10  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F  and is connected to the inlet port of the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  via the line  11  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T . The line  8  leads from the discharge port of the pump  3  to the inlet opening of the distribution device  9 . The first outlet opening of the distribution device  9  is connected to an inlet of a second valve  15  by means of a seventh line  10   a  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F . Via the line  10  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F , the outlet of the valve  15  is fluidically connected to the at least one water extraction point, which is not shown. The second outlet opening of the distribution device  9  is connected to the inlet port of the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  via the line  11  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T . 
         [0034]    For starting the system, the valve  14  on the tank  12  is opened and the pump  3  is started. The vent valve  13  which is attached to the tank  12  lets air flow into the tank  12 . Therefore, the water can flow out of the tank  12 , via the lines  7   a  and  7   b,  into the pump  3 . The valve  15  is initially closed during starting of the pump  3  so the water flows via the lines  8  and  11  and the turbine unit  5  into the sea and in the process drives the pump-turbine assembly  6 . The pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  draws in seawater as a result and delivers it into the tank  12 . If the tank  12  has reached the required filling level for restarting the system by means of feed through the turbine unit  5 , the valve  15  is opened and the vent valve  13  is closed. At the water extraction point, or points, the maximum amount of water delivered by the pump unit  4  and the pump  3  is now available. The vent valve  13  has to be designed so that during starting of the pump  3  it prevents a vacuum in the tank  12  and in the case of a pressure increase during operation of the system closes off the tank  12  in a pressure-tight manner. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, the vent valve  13  can be omitted. For this, it is to be ensured that the water level in the tank  12  does not lie above the level in the pump  3 . Consequently, the water cannot flow out of the tank  12  through the pump  3  and the turbine unit  5  into the open air or the sea. Therefore, it is ensured that sufficient water is available for repeated starting of the system after a shutdown. 
         [0036]    A further embodiment for starting the system is shown in  FIG. 3 . In addition to the distribution device  9 , which connects the pump  3  via the lines  8  and  10  to the water extraction points and via the line  11  connects the pump  3  to the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 , provision is made for a second distribution device  16 , the inlet opening of which is connected to the discharge port of the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  via the line  7  conducting the volume flow Q S . Via an eighth line  7   c,  one of the outlet openings of the distribution device  16  is connected to an inlet of a third valve  17 . An outlet of the valve  17  is fluidically connected by a ninth line  7   d  to the inlet opening of the tank  12 . As a result, the line  7  conducting the volume flow Q S  is connected to the outlet opening of the tank  12 . The inlet opening is provided on one of the walls of the tank  12  in a region which is located beneath the water level. In the case of the tank  12  shown here, it is a tank which on its upper side is fully or partially open, or a tank with an opening which connects the interior of the tank  12  to the outside environment. The outlet opening at the bottom of the tank  12  is connected via the line  7   a  to the inlet of the valve  14 . The outlet of the valve  14  is connected via the line  7   b  to a first inlet opening of a third distribution device  18 . An outlet opening of the distribution device  18  is fluidically connected via a tenth line  7   e  to the suction port of the pump  3 . A second inlet opening of the distribution device  18  is connected by means of an eleventh line  7   f  to an outlet opening of a fourth valve  19 , the inlet opening of which is connected in turn via a twelfth line  7   g  to an outlet opening of the distribution device  16 . Therefore, the distribution device  16  is connected to the distribution device  18  via a system of lines which comprises the lines  7   a,    7   b,    7   c  and  7   d,  and via a system of lines which comprises  7   f  and  7   g.  On a further outlet of the distribution device  16  provision is made for a vent line  7   h  which is connected to a vent valve  20 . The connecting of the discharge port of the pump  3  is carried out in the same way, as described in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    For starting the system with the open tank  12 , first of all the valves  15 ,  17 ,  19  have to be closed and valve  14  and vent valve  20  opened. The closed valve  17  prevents an escape of water from the tank  12 , which is contingent upon level differences of the tank  12  and the pump unit  4 . Via the lines  7   a,    7   b  and  7   e,  the water flows into the pump  3  and from there flows into the sea via the lines  8  and  11  and also via the pump unit  5 . The pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  delivers water into the line  7  until the air which is present in this can escape from the vent valve  20 . As soon as water reaches the vent valve  20 , the vent valve  20  is closed and the valve  17  opened. The water which is delivered by the pump unit  4  is delivered into the tank  12  via the lines  7 ,  7   c  and  7   d.  If the tank  12  has reached the defined filling level for restarting the system, the valves  14  and  17  are closed and the valves  15  and  19  opened. The valve  14  prevents the escape of water from the tank  12  and the valve  19  enables the feed of the pump  3  by means of the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 . 
         [0038]    If, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the valve  17  is designed as a check valve, for example as a swing check valve, the vent line  7   h,  shown in  FIG. 3 , which is fluidically connected to an outlet opening of the distribution device  16 , and the vent valve  20 , can be dispensed with. The valve  17 , which is designed as a check valve, prevents an escape of water, which is contingent upon level differences of the tank  12  and the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 , and, moreover, allows the air which is present in the system to escape via the open tank  12 . 
         [0039]    For starting the system, that is to say when the pump  3  is started, the valves  15  and  19  are closed. The valve  14  is opened and via the lines  7   a,    7   b  and  7   e  the water flows out of the tank  12  into the pump  3 , which is connected to the distribution device  18 , and from the pump  3  flows into the sea via the lines  8  and  11  and also the turbine unit  5 . The pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  delivers the water extracted from the sea via the lines  7 ,  7   c  and  7   d  into the tank  12 . If the tank  12  has again reached its defined filling level for restarting the system, the valve  14  is closed in order to keep the water in the tank  12 , and the valves  15  and  19  are opened in order to feed the pump  3 , via the pump unit  4  and the lines  7 ,  7   g,    7   f  and  7   e,  with the water extracted from the sea by the pump unit  4  and to supply one or more water extraction points with the delivered amount of water. 
         [0040]    If, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the feed into the tank  12 , which is fully or partially open on the upper side, is carried out in a region above the water level, it is ensured that the air which is present in the system can escape and despite the given level differences no water can escape from the tank  12  through the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 , which is contingent upon level differences. The construction is simplified to the effect that the components, shown in  FIG. 3 , comprising valve  17 , vent line  7   h  and vent valve  20  can also be dispensed with here. The line  7   c  is connected by one end to an outlet opening of the distribution device  16  and terminates at the other end in a region above the water level of the tank  12 . The connection of the lines  7   a,    7   b,    7   e,    7   f  and  7   g  and also of the valve  19  is carried out in a way similar to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    During the starting of the pump  3 , the valves  15  and  19  are closed and the valve  14  is opened. Via the lines  7   a,    7   b  and  7   e,  the water flows out of the tank  12  into the pump  3 , which is connected to the distribution device  18 , and from there flows into the sea via the lines  8  and  11  and also the turbine unit  5 . The pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  delivers water via the lines  7  and  7   c  into the tank  12  until this has reached the defined filling state for restarting the system. After this, the valve  14  is closed so that water can no longer be delivered from the tank. The valves  15  and  19  are opened in order to feed the pump  3 , via the pump unit  4  and the lines  7 ,  7   g,    7   f  and  7   e,  with the water extracted by the pump unit  4  from the sea so that the necessary first partial volume flow Q F  is available at the water extraction points. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 3 to 5  are shown with a tank  12  which is open on its upper side but which alternatively can be designed as a closed tank, according to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows a further exemplary embodiment according to the invention. The discharge port of the pump unit  4  is connected to a suction port of a pump device  21 , preferably a high-pressure pump. The discharge port of the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  is connected in this case to the inlet opening of the distribution device  18  via the line  7  conducting the volume flow Q S . The first outlet opening of the distribution device  18  leads via the line  7   e  to the suction port of the pump  3 . The discharge port of the  3  is connected to the at least one water extraction point via the line  10  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F . The second outlet opening of the distribution device  18  is connected to a suction port of the pump device  21  via a thirteenth line  11   a.  A discharge port of the pump device  21  is connected to the inlet port of the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  via the line  11  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T . Whereas in  FIGS. 1 to 5  the discharge port of the pump  3  is connected via the distribution device  9 , that is to say indirectly, to the inlet port of the turbine unit  5 , in this exemplary embodiment the discharge port of the pump device is connected directly to the turbine unit. The feed water for the pump device  21  is therefore extracted as a partial volume flow of the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 . The pump device  21  has as a rule a lower delivery rate than the pump  3  and delivers the second partial volume flow Q T  for driving the turbine unit  5 . The pump device  21  is preferably driven by means of the existing motor  2 . Alternatively, another drive device can also be provided for the pump device  21 . 
         [0044]    In the case of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 , only the pump device  21  which is incorporated in the line  11  and driven by the motor  2  is provided on the platform. The discharge port of the pump unit  4  is connected to the inlet opening of the distribution device  18  via the line  7  conducting the volume flow Q S . The first outlet opening of the distribution device  18  is connected to the at least one water extraction point—not shown—via the line  10  conducting the first partial volume flow Q F . The second outlet opening of the distribution device  18  is connected to the suction port of the pump device  21  via the line  11   a  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T . The pump device  21  on the platform therefore obtains its feed water from the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 . Via the line  11  conducting the second partial volume flow Q T , the discharge port of the pump device  21  is fluidically connected to the suction port of the turbine unit  5  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  which is located beneath the sea level. The pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6  in this case takes over the task of the pump  3  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6  and so provides the required first partial volume flow Q F  for the at least one water extraction point, for example for firefighting, the required pressure head H D  plus the suction head H S , and also the second partial volume flow Q T  for feeding the pump-turbine assembly  6 . 
         [0045]    The embodiment of the water lifting system according to  FIGS. 6 and 7  with a water supply corresponds in the main to the possibilities which are described in  FIGS. 1 to 5  and represented in the corresponding figures. The tank  12  is placed on the offshore installation  1 , wherein an outlet opening of the tank  12  is connected to the suction port of the pump  3  and/or to the suction port of the pump device  21 , and an inlet opening of the tank  12  is connected to the discharge port of the pump unit  4  of the pump-turbine assembly  6 . 
         [0046]    Since the pump-turbine assembly  6  resides permanently in seawater with high salt content, it has to be protected against seizure of the rotor. To this end, by way of example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , an electric motor  22  can be attached to the pump-turbine assembly  6  and allows this to rotate at regular intervals. In this case, a slow rotational movement is sufficient without the pump unit  4  delivering water. An electric motor with a high pole count can advantageously be used. As a result, the use of a transmission is avoided. The electric motor, moreover, has to be designed for the rotational speeds during operation of the pump-turbine assembly  6 . 
         [0047]    Alternatively to this, the entire system could also be started at regular intervals. In this way, the function could be checked and seizing up of the assembly prevented. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 1 to 8  schematically show an offshore installation with reference to which the construction and principle of operation of the water lifting system according to the invention was discussed. Alternatively, the water lifting system according to the invention can also find use on a ship or the like. 
         [0049]    The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
       LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Offshore installation 
           2  Motor 
           3  Pump 
           4  Pump unit 
           5  Turbine unit 
           6  Pump-turbine assembly 
           7  Line 
           7   a  Line 
           7   b  Line 
           7   c  Line 
           7   d  Line 
           7   e  Line 
           7   f  Line 
           7   g  Line 
           7   h  Vent line 
           8  Line 
           9  Distribution device 
           10  Line 
           10   a  Line 
           11  Line 
           11   a  Line 
           12  Tank 
           13  Vent valve 
           14  Valve 
           15  Valve 
           16  Distribution device 
           17  Valve 
           18  Distribution device 
           19  Valve 
           20  Vent valve 
           21  Pump device 
           22  Electric motor 
         Q S  Volume flow 
         Q F  First partial volume flow 
         Q T  Second partial volume flow 
         H S  Suction head 
         H geo  Geodetic head

Technology Category: y