Underwater abrasive entrainment waterjet cutting method

摘要

The use of abrasive entrainment waterjet technology to cut objects located at the bottom of a body of water. Abrasive is conducted to an abrasive waterjet cutting head under the control of an abrasive feed and metering system that monitors the differential pressure between the cutting head and reservoir of abrasive material and maintains the pressure at the abrasive reservoir greater than the pressure hydrostatic pressure at the cutting head.

主权项

1. A method for cutting objects located under a body of water using entrainment abrasive waterjet technology, which method comprises:
a) positioning an entrainment abrasive waterjet system in the proximity of an underwater object to be cut, which abrasive waterjet system is comprised of a waterjet pump, an entrainment abrasive waterjet cutting head, which waterjet cutting head comprising a mixing chamber, a process water inlet to said mixing chamber, and an abrasive feed inlet to said mixing chamber, which waterjet cutting head is in fluid communication with said waterjet pump and in fluid communication with a source of abrasive material, which waterjet pump is within reach of a remotely operated vehicle having a hydraulic system; b) supplying a flow of process water to be pressurized to said waterjet pump which increases the pressure of the flow of water to a pressure of at least about 280 MPa; c) supplying a flow of abrasive material to the abrasive feed inlet of said mixing chamber of said waterjet cutting head; and d) controlling the waterjet cutting head delivering a high velocity jet of water and abrasive to achieve a desired cutting track and a rate of cutting of said underwater object using a control system.