Universal power supply system

• US 8,106,536 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Kunow, Peter, Biester, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US10/489,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20050013148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,422 Days
• Field of Search: 307/82, 340/850
• US Class Current: 307/82
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1584 with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel

Abstract

A universal power supply system is used for at least one electric consumer. The supply system comprises at least one AC source and a cable connection connecting said AC source to said electric consumer. The AC source has associated therewith an AC/DC converter for converting the AC voltage into DC voltage. The DC voltage generated in this way is adapted to be transmitted to the electric consumer via the cable connection. To improve such a universal power supply in such a way that it is possible to provide a high and stable voltage, even in the case of high power requirements in a reliable manner and at a reasonable price, without any additional components for e.g, heat dissipation being necessary, the AC/DC converter comprises as plurality of AC/DC converter components which, on the input side thereof, are connected in parallel with the AC source and which, on the output side thereof are connected serially to the electric consumer.

Claims

1. A system for supplying power to an electrical device, the system comprising:

an AC source;

a plurality of AC/DC converters, wherein an input side of each AC/DC converter is connected to the AC source and wherein an output side of each AC/DC converter is connected to an electrical conductor that couples to the electrical device;

each of the AC/DC converters comprising a switching mechanism that permits each AC/DC converter to be clocked independently of a frequency of the AC source;

a single controller coupled to the AC/DC converters, wherein the controller is operable to regulate a function of each AC/DC converter;

wherein the plurality of AC/DC converters are operable to supply a high DC voltage to the electrical device via the electrical conductor;

wherein each of the AC/DC converter outputs is independently controlled by the controller such that the system lacks a master converter, the operation of which determines the operation of the other AC/DC converter switching mechanisms.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data coupling device coupled to the electrical conductor, wherein the data coupling device is operable to send data to the electrical device and receive data from the electrical device via the electrical conductor while power is supplied to the electrical device via the electrical conductor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the data sent to the electrical device via the electrical conductor controls the electrical device.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the data received from the electrical device is used to monitor the electrical device.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a filter coupled between the data coupling device and the electrical device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to regulate more than one function of each AC/DC converter.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller is operable to detect failure of an AC/DC converter and cause functioning AC/DC converters to compensate for the failed AC/DC converter.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller independently controls an output power of each AC/DC converter.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the AC/DC converters are in a spaced relationship with each other such that heat from the AC/DC converters is dissipated without the need of a cooling mechanism.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each AC/DC converter comprises a pulse width modulator coupled to the switching mechanism and wherein the controller controls the pulse width modulator such that the switching mechanism is clocked according to a pulse width modulated signal.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical device is an actuator.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is a coaxial cable.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the electrical conductor is under water.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the electrical conductor is more than one kilometer in length.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of AC/DC converters are operable to supply a high DC voltage to the electrical device via the electrical conductor without a cooling mechanism that would otherwise be needed when less than the plurality of AC/DC converters are implemented to supply the high DC voltage to the electrical device.

16. A system for supplying power from a sea surface to a subsea location, the system comprising:

an AC source for disposal at the sea surface;

a subsea electrical device;

a plurality of AC/DC converters for disposal at the sea surface, each having an input side connected to the AC source and an output side connected to an electrical conductor extending subsea to the subsea electrical device;

each of the AC/DC converters comprising a switching mechanism that permits each AC/DC converter to be clocked independently of a frequency of the AC source;

a single controller coupled to the AC/DC converters, wherein the controller is operable to regulate a function of each AC/DC converter;

wherein the plurality of AC/DC converters are operable to supply a high DC voltage to the electrical device via the electrical conductor;

wherein each of the AC/DC converter outputs is independently controlled by the controller such that the system lacks a master converter, the operation of which determines the operation of the other AC/DC converter switching mechanisms.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a data coupling device coupled to the electrical conductor to send and receive data to and from the subsea electrical device via the electrical conductor while power is being supplied to the subsea electrical device via the electrical conductor.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the AC/DC converters are in a spaced relationship with each other such that heat from the AC/DC converters is dissipated without the need of a cooling component.