Subsea electric power distribution installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10873185-B2
Application number	US-201716313509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A subsea electric power distribution installation including: one or more MV switching apparatuses electrically connected with an electric power source an one or more electric loads, the switching apparatuses being adapted to switch a MV electric power supply to the electric loads; electronic equipment operatively associated with the switching apparatuses for managing the operation of the switching apparatuses, the electronic equipment being configured to receive a LV electric power supply. The subsea electric power distribution installation includes a centralized energy storage unit including one or more storing devices for storing electric energy to feed the electronic equipment, wherein the centralized energy storage unit is adapted to receive electric power from the electric power source to charge the storing devices, wherein the centralized energy storage unit is adapted to provide an electric power supply to the the electronic equipment by absorbing electric power from the storing devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A subsea electric power distribution installation comprising:
one or more MV switching apparatuses electrically connected with an electric power source and one or more electric loads, said switching apparatuses being adapted to switch a MV electric power supply to said electric loads;
electronic equipment operatively associated with said switching apparatuses for managing the operation of said switching apparatuses, said electronic equipment being configured to receive a LV electric power supply;
at least a centralized energy storage unit including one or more storing devices for storing electric energy, wherein said centralized energy storage unit is adapted to receive electric power from said electric power source to charge said storing devices, wherein said centralized energy storage unit is adapted to provide an electric power supply (V 2 , V 3 ) to said electronic equipment by consuming electric power provided by said storing devices,
wherein said centralized energy storage unit comprises:
a first electronic module configured to receive a first feeding voltage (V 1 ) from said electric power source and provide an input voltage (VIN);
an energy storage module comprising said storing devices; and
a second electronic module configured to receive said input voltage (VIN) from said first electronic module and provide a charging voltage (VC) to said energy storage module to charge said storing devices, said second electronic module being configured to provide a second feeding voltage (VH 2 ) to said electronic equipment consuming electric power provided by said storing devices, and
wherein said centralized energy storage unit comprises a third electronic module comprising:
a first electronic stage configured to receive said second feeding voltage (V 2 ) from said second electronic module and provide a third feeding voltage (V 3 );
a second electronic stage electrically connected with at least an auxiliary power supply unit and second equipment of said subsea electric power distribution installation, wherein said second electronic stage is configured to reversibly switch between a first circuit configuration (A), at which second electronic stage receives said third feeding voltage from said auxiliary power supply unit and provides said third feeding voltage to said second electronic equipment, when said auxiliary power supply unit is active, and a second circuit configuration (B), at which said second electronic stage receives said third feeding voltage from said first electronic stage and provides said third feeding voltage to said second electronic equipment, when said auxiliary power supply unit is inactive.

2. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 1 , wherein said second electronic module is electrically connected with first electronic equipment of said subsea electric power distribution installation to feed said first electronic equipment with said second feeding voltage (V 2 ).

3. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 2 , wherein said first electronic equipment comprises a plurality of power and control units operatively associated with said switching apparatuses.

4. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 1 , wherein said second electronic equipment comprises one or more protection and control units operatively associated with said switching apparatuses.

5. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 1 , wherein said third feeding voltage (V 3 ) is lower than said second feeding voltage (V 2 ).

6. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 1 , wherein said centralized energy storage unit comprises a fourth electronic module configured to exchange data or control signals (S) with at least a control unit of said subsea electric power distribution installation.

7. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 1 , further comprising a first subsea container having an outer enclosure adapted to define an internal volume with a predefined pressure, wherein said centralized energy storage unit is accommodated in the internal volume of said first subsea container.

8. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 7 , wherein said first subsea container comprises a storage section for accommodating said storing devices and an electronic section for accommodating one or more electronic boards on which one or more of said electronic modules are mounted.

9. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 7 , wherein said first subsea container comprises a material capable of absorbing hydrogen, said material being accommodated in the internal volume of said subsea container.

10. The subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 7 , further comprising a retrievable subsea containing structure for accommodating said first subsea container and second and third containers, in which said electronic equipment is accommodated.

11. A subsea electric power distribution grid comprising a subsea electric power distribution installation, according to claim 1 .

12. A subsea electric power distribution installation comprising:
one or more MV switching apparatuses electrically connected with an electric power source and one or more electric loads, said switching apparatuses being adapted to switch a MV electric power supply to said electric loads;
electronic equipment operatively associated with said switching apparatuses for managing the operation of said switching apparatuses, said electronic equipment being configured to receive a LV electric power supply;
at least a centralized energy storage unit including one or more storing devices for storing electric energy, wherein said centralized energy storage unit is adapted to receive electric power from said electric power source to charge said storing devices, wherein said centralized energy storage unit is adapted to provide an electric power supply (V 2 , V 3 ) to said electronic equipment by consuming electric power provided by said storing devices,
wherein said centralized energy storage unit comprises:
a first electronic module configured to receive a first feeding voltage (V 1 ) from said electric power source and provide an input voltage (VIN);
an energy storage module comprising said storing devices; and
a second electronic module configured to receive said input voltage (VIN) from said first electronic module and provide a charging voltage (VC) to said energy storage module to charge said storing devices, said second electronic module being configured to provide a second feeding voltage (VH 2 ) to said electronic equipment consuming electric power provided by said storing devices,
wherein said second electronic module is electrically connected with first electronic equipment of said subsea electric power distribution installation to feed said first electronic equipment with said second feeding voltage (V 2 ), and
wherein said centralized energy storage unit comprises a third electronic module comprising:
a first electronic stage configured to receive said second feeding voltage (V 2 ) from said second electronic module and provide a third feeding voltage (V 3 );
a second electronic stage electrically connected with at least an auxiliary power supply unit and second equipment of said subsea electric power distribution installation, wherein said second electronic stage is configured to reversibly switch between a first circuit configuration (A), at which second electronic stage receives said third feeding voltage from said auxiliary power supply unit and

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Di Maio Luciano
• Thevar Dukkaiappan Subbiah
• Futane Pravin A
• Testa Marco
• Gunnar Johan
• Hansen Kai Tormod

Classifications

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H02J3/32 Primary

  using batteries or super capacitors with converting means · CPC title

• H02J9/06 Primary

  with automatic change-over {, e.g. UPS systems} · CPC title

• H02J3/36

  Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks via high-voltage DC [HVDC] links; Arrangements for transfer of electric power between generators and networks via HVDC links · CPC title

• H02J1/102

  being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence) · CPC title