Subsea Device for Sediment Removal

Abstract

Subsea device with vertical axis for removal of sediment, comprising a pump unit which supplies pressurized water to a nozzle assembly and nozzle assembly comprising a central nozzle. The nozzle assembly furthermore comprises at least two additional nozzles directed with an inclination in relation to the central nozzle and arranged angularly symmetric in relation to the vertical axis of the device.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A subsea device ( 10 ) for removal of sediment with a vertical axis ( 11 ), comprising a pump unit ( 30 ) for supplying pressurized water to a nozzle assembly ( 40 ), the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprising a central nozzle ( 41 ) and at least two additional nozzles ( 42 ) directed with an inclination in relation to the central nozzle ( 41 ) and arranged angularly symmetric in relation to the vertical axis ( 11 ) of the device. 
     
     
         14 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , comprising a directionally controlling unit ( 20 ) for controlling any rotation around the vertical axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         15 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the directionally controlling unit ( 20 ) comprises two substantially horizontally disposed thrusters. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 15 , wherein the two thrusters ( 21 ) can be operated in parallel to move the device along a line parallel with the thruster axis. 
     
     
         17 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises a first nozzle ( 41 ), a second nozzle ( 42 ) and a third nozzle ( 42 ), the first nozzle ( 41 ) being oriented straight downwards, and the second and third nozzles ( 42 ) being oriented with a substantially downward inclination and in opposite directions from each other. 
     
     
         18 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises fourth and fifth nozzles ( 43 ) which are oriented with a downward inclination, angularly symmetrical relative to each other around the device vertical axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         19 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises second and third mutually opposite nozzles ( 42 ) that each have an inclination from the vertical axis ( 11 ) which is different from that of the fourth and fifth nozzles ( 42 ). 
     
     
         20 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 19 , wherein each of the fourth and fifth nozzles ( 43 ) is positioned directly above one of the second and third nozzles ( 42 ). 
     
     
         21 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , being &ranged to be operated from a crane ( 52 ). 
     
     
         22 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of darn  13 , comprising a distance monitoring unit equipped with sonar or echo sounder to monitor the distance from the bottom and to subsea stations. 
     
     
         23 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , comprising a gyro which cooperates with the thrusters ( 21 ) to control rotation about the vertical axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         24 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the flushing pressure is provided by use of one or more propels or thrusters ( 32 ). 
     
     
         25 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises a first nozzle ( 41 ) that projects downward coaxial to the axis ( 11 ), and second and third nozzles ( 42 ) that each project downward obliquely from the axis ( 11 ) at opposite angular positions about the axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         26 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 25 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises a fourth nozzle ( 43 ) positioned above and angularly aligned with the second nozzle ( 42 ) and a fifth nozzle ( 43 ) positioned above and angularly aligned with the third nozzle ( 42 ), the fourth and fifth nozzles ( 43 ) each projecting downward obliquely from the axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         27 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises a first nozzle ( 41 ) that projects downward coaxial to the axis ( 11 ), and second and third nozzles ( 42 ) that each project downward obliquely from the axis ( 11 ) at opposite angular positions about the axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         28 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 17 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises fourth and fifth nozzles ( 43 ) which are oriented with a downward inclination, angularly symmetrical relative to each other around the device vertical axis ( 11 ). 
     
     
         29 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises a first nozzle ( 41 ), a second nozzle ( 42 ) and a third nozzle ( 42 ), the first nozzle ( 41 ) being oriented straight downwards, and the second and third nozzles ( 42 ) being oriented with a substantially downward inclination and in opposite directions from each other. 
     
     
         30 . The subsea device ( 10 ) of  claim 15 , wherein the nozzle assembly ( 40 ) comprises a first nozzle ( 41 ), a second nozzle ( 42 ) and a third nozzle ( 42 ), the first nozzle ( 41 ) being oriented straight downwards, and the second and third nozzles ( 42 ) being oriented with a substantially downward inclination and in opposite directions from each other.