SUB-LINK™ Buoyant Vertebrae Bend Restrictors
Subsea Energy Solutions‘ SUB-LINK™ Buoyant Vertebrae Bend Restrictors comprises a number of interlocking elements which articulate when subject to an external load and lock together to form a smooth curved “locking” radius. This radius is chosen to be equal to or greater than the minimum bend radius of the pipe that it is applied to.
Once the elements have locked together the bending moment present is transferred into the elements and back through a specially designed steel interface structure into the adjacent rigid connection, therefore protecting the pipe/cable from potentially damaging loads.
Flexible pipes, flowlines, power cables and umbilicals are usually connected to a rigid structure such as a subsea riser base, PLEM or wellhead. To prevent these pipes from over bending at the interface between flexible and rigid structures, Vertebrae Bending Restrictors are often installed on the pipe. The VBR is specifically used where static or quasi-static loads act on a pipe, rather than dynamic loads when a bending stiffener would be more suited.
KEY FEATURES
• A split design allows installation of the restrictor after pipe termination
• Ease of installation onshore and offshore
• Buoyant in water, eliminating self weight loading
Learn more about Subsea Energy Solutions’ SUB-LINK™ Buoyant Vertebrae Bend Restrictors.
