Objective
Develop seabed and midwater transportation systems for the "RUE" underwater excavation system together with ancillary improvement of the energy supply system by the introduction of seawater hydraulics. The innovations encompass a completely new type of seabed crawler to manoeuvre the buoyant excavator around the seabed; an ROV deployable excavator for use where seabed access is impossible and will introduce the new technology of seawater hydraulics to the offshore industry.
Stage 001- Seabed Transportation System is available for hire. (PROTEAS Record Accession Number 1767 dated 91-04-08)
Stage 003 - Jet Prop RUE 5000 system is available for hire. (PROTEAS Record Accession Number 1766 dated 91-04-08).
A three stage development programme comprising :
1) Underwater Seabed Transportation System
The unique manner in which the RUE underwater unit is used, that is buoyantly from a weight deployed on the seabed, requires an innovatory approach to its transportation system. A caterpillar type tracked system is favoured for pipeline excavation of a novel two in line design rather than the conventional side by side arrangement as in bulldozers and tanks etc.
2) Neutrally Buoyant Reactionless System
To allow the underwater unit to be carried to areas inaccessible from the seabed, such as inside steel platform structures and onto cell tops of concrete structures, a "flying" system is required. Presently available Remotely Operated Vehicles would be used to fly the excavator unit underwater, an operation which is only feasible if the unit is neutrally buoyant and reactionless. The innovative development here is to design out reactive forces when operating the excavator rather than changes to the buoyancy system which are within known technology. A combination of the present thrust compensation system (where suction from the reversed water intake opposes thrust) and a limited use of retroactive thrust could achieve this objective. This will require a detailed study and redesign of the RUE underwater unit.
3) Conversion from Oil to Seawater Hydraulics
To double the power of the present oil hydraulic powered units to cope with very large excavations, and to increase the depth at which present RUE's can operate, a conversion to seawater hydraulics is required.
The use of natural seawater as a hydraulic fluid would allow at least a two fold increase in power at the excavator without increasing the present "handleable" size of the umbilical.
The present return line could be replaced with a second supply line (no return line being necessary). The exhaust seawater is simply vented back into the sea. Additionally, conversion to seawater hydraulics would eliminate all risk ofoil pollution from burst hoses or leaking seals. The use of seawater hydraulics to power a large excavator is innovative because it will be the first application of this technology. However it will require redesign of the power transmission system, new umbilical, power pack and control system. An immediate commercial advantage resulting from this innovation is a 50% reduction in the cost of umbilicals. The use and experience gained with seawater hydraulics will benefit the subsea engineering industry generally as there are many other uses for such applied technology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
AB2 8JW ABERDEEN
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.