LOADING ASSEMBLY FOR CONVEYING A PRESSURIZED GAS STREAM AND A SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A LOADING ASSEMBLY

摘要

A loading assembly has a gas conduit that extends between a floating structure and another structure, to convey a pressurized gas stream between the two structures. An emergency disconnection coupler is configured in the gas conduit. A switching system is provided for controlling switching of an engagement mechanism in the emergency disconnection coupler between a locked position and an unlocked position (in either direction). The switching system is subject to two distinct fail-safe regimes: a fail-unlocked regime which inherently instructs for release of the emergency disconnection coupler, and a fail-closed regime which inherently precludes release of the emergency disconnection coupler when there is pressurized gas in the gas connection. The fail-unlocked regime is active when the gas pressure in the gas connection is below a predetermined override threshold value. The fail-locked regime overrides the fail-unlocked regime.

主权项

1. A loading assembly for conveying a pressurized gas stream between a floating structure and another structure that is located adjacent to the floating structure, the loading assembly comprising:
a gas conduit that extends between the floating structure and the other structure, to convey a pressurized gas stream between the two structures; an emergency disconnection coupler configured in the gas conduit for establishing a selectively connectable and disconnectable gas connection between the floating structure and the other structure through the gas conduit, wherein gas present in the gas connection has a gas pressure, and wherein the emergency disconnection coupler comprises an engagement mechanism that is selectively switchable between a locked position and an unlocked position, whereby in said locked position the gas connection is established and whereby in said unlocked position the gas connection is interrupted whereby the engagement mechanism physically disengages when the engagement mechanism is in the unlocked position; an emergency disconnect power assembly functionally coupled to the engagement mechanism drive the switching of the engagement mechanism; a switching system arranged between the emergency disconnect power assembly and the engagement mechanism, wherein the switching system is configured to control the switching of the engagement mechanism in the emergency disconnection coupler between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the switching system is subject to two distinct fail-safe regimes contingent upon the internal gas pressure in the gas connection: a fail-unlocked regime when the internal gas pressure in the gas connection is below a preselected override threshold value, which sets the switching system to unlock the engagement mechanism upon power loss, and a fail-locked regime which sets the switching system to lock the engagement mechanism when the internal gas pressure in the gas connection is at or above the preselected override threshold value.