Active cooling of medium voltage power umbilicals
First Claim
1. An umbilical, comprising:
- a. an outer sheath disposed substantially about an entire length of an umbilical, the outer sheath defining an interior void;
b. a power core disposed within the interior void; and
c. an open loop forced convection cooling circuit disposed within the interior void proximate the power core, the forced convection cooling circuit comprising;
i. a heat exchange delivery fluid conduit disposed proximate the power core within the sheath and configured to provide for evacuation of heat energy from the power core within a predetermined operating temperature range along a predetermined length of the power core within the sheath;
ii. a heat exchange return fluid conduit in fluid communication with the heat exchange delivery fluid conduit;
iii. an inlet configured to receive a cooling fluid, the inlet in fluid communication with the heat exchange delivery fluid conduit; and
iv. an outlet configured to vent the cooling fluid into a body of water at a location along the umbilical length beyond which additional cooling is not required, the outlet in fluid communication with the heat exchange return fluid conduit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An umbilical comprises an outer sheath defining an interior void; one or more power cores; and one or more forced convection cooling circuits disposed within the interior void proximate the power cores, typically at least one forced convection cooling circuit paired with each power core. The forced convection cooling circuit comprises a heat exchange delivery fluid conduit and a heat exchange return fluid conduit in fluid communication with the heat exchange delivery fluid conduit, where at least one of the fluid conduits is disposed either proximate to the other conduit or disposed within the other conduit. The forced convection cooling circuit has a length which has been determined to be sufficient to achieve a desired heat exchange that results in a desired efficient evacuation of heat energy from the power cores along a predetermined length of the umbilical.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An umbilical, comprising:
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a. an outer sheath disposed substantially about an entire length of an umbilical, the outer sheath defining an interior void; b. a power core disposed within the interior void; and c. an open loop forced convection cooling circuit disposed within the interior void proximate the power core, the forced convection cooling circuit comprising; i. a heat exchange delivery fluid conduit disposed proximate the power core within the sheath and configured to provide for evacuation of heat energy from the power core within a predetermined operating temperature range along a predetermined length of the power core within the sheath; ii. a heat exchange return fluid conduit in fluid communication with the heat exchange delivery fluid conduit; iii. an inlet configured to receive a cooling fluid, the inlet in fluid communication with the heat exchange delivery fluid conduit; and iv. an outlet configured to vent the cooling fluid into a body of water at a location along the umbilical length beyond which additional cooling is not required, the outlet in fluid communication with the heat exchange return fluid conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification