Subsea electrical distribution system having subsea busbar enclosure assembly pressurized with sulfur hexaflouride (SF6) gas

• US 9,397,486 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Hazel, Terrence George, Andrea, Pierrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/706,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20130286549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 69/00 Apparatus or processes for the manufacture of emergency protective devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/01 Frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/22 Layouts for duplicate bus-bar selection
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/26 Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 5/06 gas-insulated
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 7/00 Enclosed substations, e.g. compact substations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00019 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/36 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks via a high-tension dc link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14337 specially adapted for underwater operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/60 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks or generators via a high voltage DC link [HVCD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A system and method for coupling electrical power subsea. The system comprises a subsea electrical distribution system having at least one modular subsea circuit breaker assembly. The modular circuit breaker comprises a busbar enclosure housing a busbar. In one embodiment, the bus bar enclosure is pressurized with sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) gas. At least one circuit breaker enclosure housing a subsea circuit breaker is secured to the busbar enclosure. The interior of the busbar enclosure may be sealed from the interior of the circuit breaker enclosure. The circuit breaker enclosure may be pressurized with SF₆ gas.

Claims

1. A subsea circuit breaker assembly, comprising:

a busbar enclosure having a hollow interior housing a busbar, the hollow interior of the busbar enclosure being pressurized with sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) gas;

a circuit breaker enclosure secured to the busbar enclosure, the circuit breaker enclosure having a hollow interior housing a circuit breaker, the hollow interior of the circuit breaker enclosure being isolated from the hollow interior of the busbar enclosure with a sealed barrier; and

a conductor extending from the circuit breaker enclosure through the sealed barrier to the busbar enclosure to electrically couple the circuit breaker to the busbar.

2. The subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker enclosure is pressurized with SF₆ gas.

3. The subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 2, wherein the circuit breaker enclosure comprises a plurality of circuit breaker enclosures, each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures having a hollow interior housing a circuit breaker and the hollow interior of each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures being isolated from the hollow interior of the busbar enclosure with a sealed barrier.

4. The subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 3, wherein the conductor comprises a plurality of conductors, each of the plurality of conductors extending from a circuit breaker enclosure to the busbar enclosure to electrically couple a circuit breaker to the busbar.

5. The subsea circuit beaker assembly of claim 3, wherein the busbar enclosure and the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures comprises a plurality of flanged connections to enable each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures to secure to the busbar enclosure.

6. The modular subsea circuit beaker assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of flanged connections of the busbar enclosure are oriented on the busbar enclosure so that each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures is oriented transverse to the busbar.

7. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 6, wherein at least two of the plurality of flanged connections of the busbar enclosure are oriented on opposite sides of the busbar enclosure.

8. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a spring operable mechanism to open the circuit breaker and a plurality of electric motors, each electric motor being operable to compress the spring.

9. A modular subsea circuit breaker assembly, comprising:

a busbar enclosure having a hollow interior housing a busbar, the hollow interior of the busbar enclosure being pressurized with sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) gas; and

a plurality of circuit breaker enclosures secured to the busbar enclosure, each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures having a hollow interior housing a circuit breaker electrically coupled to the busbar, the hollow interior of the circuit breaker enclosure being isolated from the hollow interior of the busbar enclosure.

10. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures is pressurized with SF₆ gas.

11. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of flanged connections of the busbar enclosure is oriented so that each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures is oriented transverse to the busbar.

12. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 11, wherein at least two of the plurality of flanged connections of the busbar enclosure are oriented on opposite sides of the busbar enclosure.

13. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 9, comprising a control module operable to control opening and closing of at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers, wherein the control module is housed in an enclosure separate from the busbar enclosure and each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures.

14. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly of claim 9, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a spring operable mechanism to open the circuit breaker and a plurality of electric motors, each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors being operable to compress the spring.

15. A method of assembling a subsea circuit breaker assembly, comprising:

securing a circuit breaker enclosure to a busbar enclosure, the circuit breaker enclosure and busbar enclosure being adapted to be disposed subsea;

disposing a circuit breaker within the circuit breaker enclosure;

disposing a busbar within the busbar enclosure;

extending at least one conductor between the circuit breaker and the busbar via a sealed opening between the circuit breaker enclosure and the busbar enclosure; and

pressurizing the busbar enclosure with sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) gas.