Method and system for increasing the load capacity of fixed points of mooring systems by thermal weighting of foundation grounds

Abstract

The present invention is applied in the area of offshore mooring systems and methods and, more specifically, relates to a system for increasing the load capacity of fixed points of mooring systems comprising: a chain connected to a pile and a connector; the pile comprising: —a lower portion internally containing ballast material; and —an upper portion filled with reagents containing a chemical reagent of composition A in a first compartment and a chemical reagent of composition B in a second compartment; wherein the compartment containing chemical reagent A and the compartment containing chemical reagent B are separated by a rupture diaphragm that autonomously and automatically ruptures when the pile is driven into seabed, generating products C and D and releasing energy in the form of heat due to the exothermic reaction between reagents A and B, without the generation of flame, thereby increasing the load capacity of the mooring systems by artificially increasing the undrained shear resistance of the foundation ground carried out through thermal weighting of foundation grounds.

1 . A system for increasing the load capacity of fixed points of mooring systems, comprising:
 a chain connected to a pile and a connector;   the pile comprising:
 a lower portion internally containing ballast material; and 
 an upper portion filled with reagents containing:
 a chemical reagent of composition A in a first compartment; and 
 a chemical reagent of composition B in a second compartment; 
 
   wherein the first compartment containing chemical reagent of composition A and the second compartment containing chemical reagent of composition B are separated by a rupture diaphragm that is configured to autonomously and automatically ruptures when the pile is driven into a seabed to generate products C and D and release energy in the form of heat due to the exothermic reaction between reagents A and B, without the generation of flame.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical reagent of composition A comprises one or more of: calcium oxide, copper sulfate, magnesium, iron oxide, copper oxide, or a combination thereof; and
 wherein the chemical reagent of composition B comprises one or more of: water, carbon dioxide, zinc, aluminum, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical reagent of composition A has a proportion of 40% to 60% of the volume of the upper portion, and
 wherein the chemical reagent B has a proportion of 60% to 40% of the volume of the upper portion.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein product C comprises one or more of: calcium hydroxide, zinc sulfate, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum oxide, or a combination thereof; and
 wherein product D comprises one or more of: copper, hydrogen, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the pile comprises a nuclear reactor generating 3+ power below 1 MW in place of chemical reagents of compositions A and B. 
     
     
         6 . A method of increasing the load capacity of fixed points of mooring systems using the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 driving the pile into a seabed;   breaking the rupture diaphragm autonomously and automatically when driving the pile into the seabed; and   generating products C and D, releasing energy in the form of heat, in a region surrounding the pile.