Buoyant Bend Limiters for Offshore Umbilical Cables

Buoyant bend limiters are essential components in offshore energy systems, designed to safeguard umbilical cables from excessive bending and mechanical stress during installation and operation. These devices are especially suitable for dynamic subsea applications where cable movement and flexing are frequent due to ocean currents, wave action, and floating structures.

Our buoyant bend limiters are engineered to match the demanding requirements of 22kV, 35kV, and even higher-voltage umbilical cables, offering robust protection across a wide range of cable diameters, including 130mm, 150mm, 170mm, 200mm, 260mm, and 310mm.

Key features

• Customizable sizes: Designed to fit various cable diameters and voltage classes.

• High hardness ratings: Manufactured with polyurethane materials rated at 80D or 85D, ensuring excellent rigidity and resistance to environmental stress.

• Split design: Allows for easier installation and maintenance without the need to disconnect the cable.

• Vertebrae & interlock structure: The interlocking vertebrae structure provides controlled flexibility while effectively limiting bend radius, preventing kinking or structural damage to the cable.

• Wide temperature range: Operational from -62°c to 93°c (-80°f to 200°f), suitable for both arctic and tropical offshore environments.

• Lightweight & buoyant: With a density of 1.03, these bend limiters offer neutral to positive buoyancy, helping reduce stress on the umbilical system in suspended or floating configurations.

Applications

These bend limiters are ideal for use in offshore wind farms, subsea oil and gas installations, floating production systems, and dynamic cable riser systems. Their buoyant properties also make them well-suited for J-tube entries and cable transitions from the seabed to surface structures.

Philson is a professional submarine cable accessories manufacturer and can also provide cable protection devices such as hang-offs, stiffeners, buoyancy modules, centralizers, etc. Contact us for relevant design solutions.