Method for electrical power generation utilizing a turbine secured to a subsea pipe, the turbine having turbine blades encircling an outer periphery of the subsea pipe

• US 10,125,738 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Clements, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikailoff, S.
• Application Number:
  US14/915,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20160237979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/132 Submersible electric motors H02K5/128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating electrical power are disclosed. The method includes the steps of turning turbine blades of at least one turbine provided at a region of a subsea pipe or umbilical via a respective motion of seawater through a swept area associated with the turbine blades and generating electrical power responsive to turning of the turbine blades.

Claims

1. A method of generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:

turning turbine blades of at least one turbine, wherein the at least one turbine is secured to an outer sheath or to an end fitting of either;

a subsea pipe;

or

a subsea umbilical;

wherein the turbine blades are turned via motion of seawater with respect to the subsea pipe or the subsea umbilical through a swept area associated with the turbine blades; and

generating said electrical power responsive to the turning of the turbine blades;

wherein each of the turbine blades has a first end and a second end and the turbine comprises a first rotatable blade support connected to all of the first ends of the turbine blades and a further rotatable blade support connected to all of the second ends of the blades, and each blade support encircles an outer periphery of the outer sheath or end fitting of the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical via a ring connector and a bearing element, the bearing element being located between the ring connector and the blade support; and

wherein the blade supports and the ring connectors enable the turbine blades to turn around a longitudinal axis of the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein auxiliary equipment is provided on or proximate to said outer sheath or end fitting, and wherein the method further comprises the step of providing said electrical power to said auxiliary equipment.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing the motion of seawater with respect to the subsea pipe or the subsea umbilical by continuously moving the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical through a body of seawater to thereby continuously move the turbine blades through the body of seawater.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, the method further comprising the step of:

moving the turbine blades by moving said outer sheath or end fitting of the subsea pipe or the subsea umbilical through the body of seawater.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

driving a driveshaft of the turbine via the turning of the turbine blades; and

generating the electrical power via a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) of the turbine responsive to rotation of the driveshaft.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing the motion of seawater with respect to the subsea pipe or the subsea umbilical by moving seawater with respect to the subsea pipe or the subsea umbilical.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

generating the electrical power when a current flows in the seawater.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

providing the electrical power to the auxiliary equipment via a contactless connection between the turbine and the auxiliary equipment.

20. The method of generating power as claimed in claim 1 wherein each turbine blade comprises free side edges, and wherein each turbine blade is elongate in form, extending between the first rotatable blade support and the second rotatable blade support, along a longitudinal blade axis which is not coincident with the longitudinal axis of the subsea pipe.

9. A method of providing electrical power to auxiliary equipment, comprising the steps of:

generating said electrical power via at least one turbine comprising turbine blades secured to an outer sheath or to an end fitting of either;

a subsea pipe;

or

a subsea umbilical; and

directly or indirectly providing said electrical power to the auxiliary equipment;

wherein each of the turbine blades has a first end and a second end and the turbine comprises a first rotatable blade support connected to all of the first ends of the turbine blades and a further rotatable blade support connected to all of the second ends of the turbine blades, and each blade support encircles an outer periphery of the outer sheath or end fitting of the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical via a ring connector and a bearing element, the bearing element being located between the ring connector and the blade support; and

wherein the blade supports and the ring connectors enable the turbine blades to spin around a longitudinal axis of the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical to thereby generate said electrical power.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the auxiliary equipment is proximate to said outer sheath or end fitting.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the electrical power is provided directly to the auxiliary equipment via an electrical connection such that the electrical power is provided simultaneously as the electrical power is generated.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the generated electrical power is provided to the auxiliary equipment via a permanent or contactless connection.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10,

wherein the electrical power is provided indirectly to the auxiliary equipment by first charging a power source with the generated electrical power and subsequently providing power to the auxiliary equipment from the power source.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9,

wherein generating the electrical power comprises generating an extra low voltage of around 24 volts root square mean (RMS) or less.

15. A turbine for generating electrical power, comprising:

a plurality of rotatable turbine blades associated with a swept area;

a driveshaft that rotates as the turbine blades rotate; and

a power generator that generates said electrical power responsive to the rotation of the driveshaft;

wherein the turbine is secured to an outer sheath or to an end fitting of either;

a subsea flexible pipe;

or

a subsea umbilical;

wherein the rotation of said turbine blades is caused by motion of seawater with respect to the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical through said swept area;

wherein each of the turbine blades has a first end and a second end and the turbine comprises a first rotatable blade support connected to all of the first ends of the turbine blades and a second rotatable blade support connected to all of the second ends of the turbine blades, and each blade support encircles an outer periphery of the outer sheath or end fitting of the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical via a ring connector and a bearing element, the bearing element being located between the ring connector and the blade support; and

wherein the blade supports and the ring connectors enable the turbine blades to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the subsea pipe or subsea umbilical.

16. The turbine as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

the turbine is connected to auxiliary equipment, wherein the auxiliary equipment is on or proximate to said outer sheath or end fitting.

17. The turbine as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the power generator comprises a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) having permanent magnets on a generator end region of said driveshaft.

18. The turbine as claimed in claim 15 wherein the power generator is located on an end fitting of the subsea flexible pipe or the subsea umbilical.

21. The turbine as claimed in claim 15 wherein each turbine blade comprises free side edges, and wherein each turbine blade is elongate in form, extending between the first rotatable blade support and the second rotatable blade support, along a longitudinal blade axis which is not coincident with the longitudinal axis of the subsea pipe.

19. A turbine for generating electrical power, comprising:

a plurality of rotatable turbine blades associated with a swept area;

a driveshaft that rotates as the turbine blades rotate; and

a power generator that generates said electrical power responsive to the rotation of the drive shaft;

wherein the turbine is secured to a rigid section, the rigid section connected to at least one end fitting of a subsea pipe;

wherein the rotation of said turbine blades is caused by motion of seawater with respect to the subsea pipe, the seawater flowing through said swept area;

wherein each of the turbine blades has a first end and a second end and the turbine comprises a first rotatable blade support connected to all of the first ends of the turbine blades and a second rotatable blade support connected to all of the second ends of the turbine blades;

wherein each blade support encircles an outer periphery of the rigid section or the end fitting of the subsea pipe via a ring connector and a bearing element, the bearing element being located between the ring connector and the blade support;

wherein the blade supports and the ring connectors enable the turbine blades to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the subsea pipe; and

wherein the subsea pipe is a steel catenary riser (SCR).