Subsea electrical power system

• US 9,203,218 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy AS (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Boe, Ove
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Hiram E
• Application Number:
  US14/046,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 174/31.5, 361/601
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 7/00 Enclosed substations, e.g. compact substations
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/10 in or under water
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/02 laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A subsea electrical power system is provided. The subsea electrical power system includes a first subsea electric device having a first subsea enclosure and a second subsea electric device having a second subsea enclosure. The first subsea electric device and the second subsea electric device are mounted on a common frame. A duct is provided between the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure.

Claims

1. A subsea electrical power system comprising:

a first subsea electric device comprising a first subsea enclosure that is configured to enable deployment of the first subsea electric device at a first subsea location;

a second subsea electric device comprising a second subsea enclosure that is configured to enable deployment of the second subsea electric device at a second subsea location;

a common frame, wherein the first subsea electric device and the second subsea electric device are mounted to the common frame;

a duct between the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure, the duct being sealed to the first subsea enclosure and to the second subsea enclosure; and

at least one electric connection between the first subsea electric device and the second subsea electric device, the at least one electric connection reaching from inside the first subsea enclosure through the duct to inside the second subsea enclosure, wherein the at least one electric connection is configured to transfer power between the first subsea electric device and the second subsea electric device,

wherein a connection between the duct and the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure comprises a liquid tight barrier preventing a flow of liquid between an inside of the duct and the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure, respectively.

2. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure and the duct are pressure balanced against an ambient medium.

3. The subsea electrical power system of claim 2, wherein the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, the duct, or a combination thereof comprises a pressure compensator.

4. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, the duct, or a combination thereof comprises a pressure compensator.

5. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein a connection between the duct and the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure comprises a flange on the duct and a flange on the respective subsea enclosure of the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure, the flange on the duct being mechanically mounted to the flange on the respective subsea enclosure to provide a flange connection.

6. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the duct is welded to the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure.

7. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein a connection between the duct and the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure comprises bushings for providing the at least one electric connection from inside the first subsea enclosure through the duct to inside the second subsea enclosure.

8. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electric connection comprises a cable, a bus bar, or the cable and the bus bar.

9. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electric connection comprises a bus bar or a cable reaching from inside the first subsea enclosure through the duct to an inside of the second subsea enclosure.

10. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the duct is made from a metal.

11. The subsea electrical power system of claim 10, wherein the metal is steel.

12. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the duct is at least partially flexible.

13. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the duct comprises a bellow portion for providing a flexible portion of the duct.

14. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the first subsea electric device comprises a subsea transformer.

15. The subsea electrical power system of claim 1, wherein the second subsea electric device comprises a subsea power distribution unit or a subsea switchgear.

16. A method of providing a subsea electrical power system comprising:

mounting a first subsea electric device comprising a first subsea enclosure and a second subsea electric device comprising a second subsea enclosure on a common frame;

providing a duct between the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure;

sealing the duct to the first subsea enclosure and to the second subsea enclosure; and

providing an electric connection between the first subsea electric device and the second subsea electric device, the electric connection being provided from inside the first subsea enclosure through the duct to inside the second subsea enclosure, wherein the electric connection is configured to transfer power between the first subsea electric device and the second subsea electric device,

wherein a connection between the duct and the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure comprises a liquid tight barrier preventing a flow of liquid between an inside of the duct and the first subsea enclosure, the second subsea enclosure, or the first subsea enclosure and the second subsea enclosure, respectively.