Doc. N.

: 965-IOM-en
Rev. N.: 1
150 Tons Pipe Tensioner Rev. Date: 16/07/2014
Page N.: 10-15

STEP DESCRIPTION REF.

10. Check and adjust if necessary the load share on the COMMON tensioners n. 61 FIG. 8-5
according to the instruction of the reference paragraph. n. 62
Para. 10.8
n. 63
n. 65
n. 66
n. 67

10.8. Load sharing

This function can be used to modify or adjust the load share between the pipe tensioners. The status of
the load share can be followed through the green/red horizontal bar in the “Common Tensioner
Monitor” page of the Monitoring System (refer to Para. 9.10).
The load share adjustment is effective only when the machines are in COMMON mode.
If the COMMON is not in TENSION control, when the single machine is switched to the
COMMON mode the share is automatically assigned to all the machines in equal parts (33,33% if
there are three tensioners, 50% if there are two tensioners, 100% if there is only one tensioner).
If the COMMON is in TENSION control, when the not common machine is switched to the
COMMON mode, its initial load share will be automatically set to 0 by the control system. The
operator can then adjust this value by pressing the necessary TENSIONER 1+,2+, 3+ pushbutton
in conjunction with a TENSIONER 1-, 2-, 3- pushbutton (n. 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67 in (FIG. 8-5)
and keeping them pressed until the required load share is reached. The operator must remember
that only the pressing of the pushbutton couple is effective. If a single “+” or “-” pushbutton is
pressed, it will have no effects on the system.

10.9. Dead band and position control

The Dead Band is used to stop the tension variation regulation around the set point within a specified
range, whose positive and negative values have been set into the Monitoring System “Common
tension setup” page (Para. 9.12). The control system does not control and let the pull oscillate within
the Dead Band.
It can be activated when it is necessary to keep the pipe stopped. A typical example is during the
welding process with bad sea conditions. In this case the pipe needs to be stopped in the welding
position but the bad sea would induce oscillations in the position if the control system would follow
the tension set point.
The Dead Band control can be activated only with the machine in COMMON and TENSION modes.
If the Dead Band needs to be activated rotate the selector switch to ON (n. 11 in FIG. 8-5).
The green status light will get steady if the tension is within the Dead Band.
The green status light will get on flashing if the tension is out of the Dead Band. In this case the
system will go on controlling until the tension drops within the Dead Band.
The green status light will get on flashing if the tension comes out of the Dead Band. In this case
the system will apply a ramp to smooth the error recovery.
If the Dead Band needs to be disabled rotate the selector switch to OFF (n. 11 in FIG. 8-5).

RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l. - Pipe Lay Equipment - Via Albenga, 38 - 10090 Cascine Vica Rivoli (To) Italy
Tel. +39 011 9576317/18 - Fax +39 011 9591008 - http://www.remacut.com/ - info@remacut.com
Cap.Soc.1.000.000,00€ int. vers. - Cod.Fisc. e P.IVA 07076450019 - N° Iscriz. Registro Imprese di Torino 493774/1996 C.C.I.A.A. N°835136
Company with Quality Management System certified by RINA according to ISO 9001:2008 Mod. MODQMS All.QMS-PRO 04-02-03 Rev.0
 Doc. N.: 965-IOM-en
Rev. N.: 1
150 Tons Pipe Tensioner Rev. Date: 16/07/2014
Page N.: 10-16

Refer to Para. 9.12 for further details on the Dead Band parameter.
The values displayed by the count meter (n. 51 in FIG. 8-4) are affected by the Dead Band activation:
During normal operations (Dead Band OFF) the count meter displays positive values to count the
meters of laid pipeline. This value increases up to a counter RESET command (n. 53 in FIG. 8-4).
When the Dead Band is activated the count meter is reset to ZERO. If the pipeline is moving
following barge oscillations, the count meter will display negative values that represent the cm
(centimetres) of moved pipeline from the Dead Band activation point. The control system will
smoothly recover this excess of movement to position the pipe at the exact point of the Dead Band
activation.
During the Dead Band operations if the barge has sharp and extreme oscillations that induce the
tension out of the Dead Band, the control system starts controlling again the pull and the count
meter reset to start counting positive values, up to a tension drop within the Dead band.
It is recommended to activate the Dead Band when the barge has completely stopped (stabilized pipe
position). It is possible to activate the Dead Band during the barge stopping phase to obtain a quicker
stopping and limit the pipe under tensioning.
If the Dead Band is activated with the pipe in movement and the tension within the Dead Band the
system apply a ramp to slow the speed to zero according to the “Dec. Ramp for DB Tension Loop”
parameter (Para. 9.12). It is recommended that the tensioner deceleration ramp is synchronized to the
barge ones. Since the Dead Band activation can be considered an electronic fixing of the desired pipe
position, the Dead Band should be activated when the joint reaches the required stop point.
If the Dead Band is activated with the pipe in movement and the tension outside the Dead Band the
system will go on controlling until the tension drops below the Dead Band.
If the barge (and so the pipe joint) moves too far from the required STOP position, after the Dead
band has been activated, the required STOP position could be lost. To reset the system it is
recommended to switch the Dead Band to OFF and repeat the Dead Band activation procedure. In this
way it is ensured that the control system applies the necessary smoothing ramps.

WARNING
If the Dead Band mode is not correctly used the system could experience instability, over
tensioning or under tensioning of the pipeline.

10.10. Brake hold back

This mode refers to a condition in which the brakes of the off-line tensioners are open and the tracks
are let following the pipeline in a “free wheel” mode.

WARNING
This is a very dangerous condition because the machines that are in free wheel cannot bear the
load of the pipeline! It must be commanded only by expert personnel and under particular
operating conditions.
The Brake Hold Back can be reached in the following two conditions:

RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l. - Pipe Lay Equipment - Via Albenga, 38 - 10090 Cascine Vica Rivoli (To) Italy
Tel. +39 011 9576317/18 - Fax +39 011 9591008 - http://www.remacut.com/ - info@remacut.com
Cap.Soc.1.000.000,00€ int. vers. - Cod.Fisc. e P.IVA 07076450019 - N° Iscriz. Registro Imprese di Torino 493774/1996 C.C.I.A.A. N°835136
Company with Quality Management System certified by RINA according to ISO 9001:2008 Mod. MODQMS All.QMS-PRO 04-02-03 Rev.0