Submersible power distribution system and methods of assembly thereof

• US 9,439,316 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wijekoon, Piniwan Thiwanka Bandara, Chan, Mark Aaron, Sihler, Christof Martin, Schroeder, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US14/244,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0007 for underwater installations E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 7/01 gas-insulated
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14337 specially adapted for underwater operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A submersible power distribution system is provided. The system includes at least one receptacle configured to be exposed to an underwater environment and a plurality of power conversion modules positioned within the at least one receptacle. Each of the plurality of power conversion modules includes a first enclosure configured to be exposed to the underwater environment, the first enclosure defining a first interior cavity configured to have a first pressure. Power conversion modules also include at least one second enclosure positioned within the first interior cavity. The at least one second enclosure defines a second interior cavity configured to have a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure. The at least one second enclosure is configured to restrict exposure of non-pressure-tolerant power electronics in the second interior cavity to the first pressure.

Claims

1. A submersible power distribution system comprising:

at least one receptacle exposed to an underwater environment;

a plurality of power conversion modules positioned within said at least one receptacle, wherein each of said plurality of power conversion modules comprises;

a first enclosure exposed to the underwater environment, said first enclosure defining a first interior cavity having a first pressure;

at least one second enclosure positioned within said first interior cavity, said at least one second enclosure defining a second interior cavity having a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, said at least one second enclosure restricting exposure of non-pressure-tolerant power electronics in said second interior cavity to the first pressure; and

a wet-mateable connector coupled to said first enclosure and extending between said first interior cavity and the underwater environment.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising more than one second enclosures positioned within said first interior cavity of said first enclosure, wherein the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics from each of the more than one second enclosures are coupled together in electrical communication.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics comprise at least one of active semiconductor devices, controllers, gate drivers, optical receivers, optical transmitters, and sensors.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first pressure differential between the first and second pressures is less than or equal to about 450 bar.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the underwater environment is at a third pressure substantially equal to the first pressure of the first enclosure.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first interior cavity of said first enclosure is at least partially filled with dielectric liquid such that said at least one second enclosure is at least partially submerged in the dielectric liquid.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first enclosure is configured to house pressure-tolerant power electronics in said first interior cavity.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein pressure-tolerant power electronics comprise at least one of inductors, resistors, transformers, filter coils, mechanical switches, connectors, cables, capacitors, and busbars.

9. A power conversion module for use in an underwater environment, said module comprising:

a first enclosure exposed to the underwater environment, said first enclosure defining a first interior cavity having a first pressure;

at least one second enclosure positioned within said first interior cavity, said at least one second enclosure defining a second interior cavity having a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, said at least one second enclosure to restrict exposure of non-pressure-tolerant power electronics in said second interior cavity to the first pressure; and

a wet-mateable connector coupled to said first enclosure and extending between said first interior cavity and the underwater environment.

10. The module in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first enclosure has a length-to-diameter ratio of at least about 5-to-1.

11. The module in accordance with claim 9, wherein a second pressure differential between the first pressure and a third pressure of the underwater environment is less than about 1 bar.

12. The module in accordance with claim 9 further comprising more than one second enclosures positioned within said first interior cavity of said first enclosure, wherein the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics from each of the more than one second enclosures are coupled together in electrical communication.

13. The module in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first interior cavity of said first enclosure is at least partially filled with dielectric liquid such that said at least one second enclosure is at least partially submerged in the dielectric liquid.

14. A method of assembling a power conversion module, said method comprising:

providing a first enclosure exposed to an underwater environment, the first enclosure defining a first interior cavity having a first pressure;

providing at least one second enclosure defining a second interior cavity having a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure;

identifying non-pressure-tolerant power electronics of the power conversion module;

positioning the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics within the second interior cavity, wherein the at least one second enclosure restricts exposure of the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics in the second interior cavity to the first pressure of the first interior cavity;

positioning the at least one second enclosure within the first interior cavity; and

coupling a wet-mateable connector to said first enclosure and extending between said first interior cavity and the underwater environment.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein providing at least one second enclosure comprises:

providing more than one second enclosures that each houses non-pressure-tolerant power electronics of the power conversion module; and

electrically coupling the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics from each of the more than one second enclosures together.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising:

identifying pressure-tolerant power electronics of the power conversion module; and

positioning the pressure-tolerant power electronics within the first interior cavity of the first enclosure.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising coupling the pressure-tolerant power electronics and the non-pressure-tolerant power electronics together in electrical communication to form a power converter.

18. The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising at least partially filling the first interior cavity of the first enclosure with dielectric liquid such that the at least one second enclosure is at least partially submerged in the dielectric liquid.

19. The method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising pressurizing the first enclosure at the first pressure that is substantially equalized with a third pressure of the underwater environment.