Modular subsea electrical distribution system having subsea cable harness assembly and method for assembling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9343880-B2
Application number	US-201213706280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2012
Priority date	Apr 28, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

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 subsea circuit breaker assembly may be coupled to sources of power and/or subsea loads via one or more subsea power cable harness assemblies. The modular subsea circuit breaker assembly has at least electrical connector. Each subsea power cable harness assembly has a corresponding electrical connector. At least one of these electrical connectors is extendable to engage an electrical connector opposite it.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular subsea electrical distribution system, comprising:
a subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly comprising a first circuit breaker, a frame, a first electrical connector secured to the frame and electrically coupled to a first side of the first circuit breaker; and
a first power cable harness assembly, comprising a frame, a second electrical connector secured to the frame, and a first power cable connected to the second electrical connector and supported by the frame,
wherein the first electrical connector and/or the second electrical connector is extendable relative to the frame to which it is secured to enable the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to connect to each other, electrically coupling the first power cable to the first side of the first circuit breaker.

2. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly comprises
a third electrical connector secured to the frame and electrically coupled to second side of the first circuit breaker; and
a second power cable harness assembly, comprising a frame, a fourth electrical connector secured to the frame, and a second power cable connected to the fourth electrical connector and supported by the frame,
wherein the second electrical connector and/or the fourth electrical connector is extendable relative to the frame to which it is secured to enable the third electrical connector and fourth electrical connector to connect to each other, electrically coupling the second power cable to the second side of the first circuit breaker.

3. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the first power cable is electrically coupled to a power source and the second power cable is electrically coupled to an electrical load.

4. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the subsea circuit breaker assembly comprises a busbar enclosure housing a busbar, the second side of the first circuit breaker being electrically coupled to the busbar to supply power to the busbar.

5. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 4 , wherein the subsea circuit breaker assembly comprises a plurality of subsea circuit breakers electrically coupled to the busbar, each of the plurality of subsea circuit breakers being coupled to the busbar to receive power from the busbar and supply power to a subsea load.

6. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 5 , wherein the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly comprises a plurality of electrical connectors secured to the frame, each of the plurality of electrical connectors being electrically coupled to one of the plurality of subsea circuit breakers.

7. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 6 , comprising a plurality of power cable harness assemblies, each of the plurality of power cable harness assemblies comprising a frame, an electrical connector secured to the frame, and a power cable connected to the electrical connector and supported by the frame,
wherein each electrical connector of the plurality of power cable harness assemblies is extendable relative to the frame to which it is secured to enable the electrical connector to connect to one of the plurality of electrical connectors secured to the frame.

8. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the subsea circuit breaker assembly comprises a busbar enclosure housing a busbar, the first side of the first circuit breaker being electrically coupled to the busbar to receive power from the busbar.

9. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrical connector is extendable relative to the frame to which it is secured to enable the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to connect to each other, electrically coupling the first power cable to the first side of the first circuit breaker, further wherein the second electrical connector is configured for engagement with a remote operated vehicle (“ROV”) to enable the ROV to extend the second electrical connector relative to the frame to which it is secured.

10. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 1 , comprising a support template configured to receive and align the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly and the first power cable harness assembly so that the first electrical connector is aligned with the second electrical connector.

11. A modular subsea electrical distribution system, comprising:
a subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly, comprising:
a busbar enclosure housing a busbar;
a plurality of circuit breaker enclosures secured to the busbar enclosure, each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures housing a circuit breaker and each circuit breaker being electrically coupled to the busbar;
a frame supporting the busbar enclosure and the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures; and
a plurality of electrical connectors secured to the frame, each of the plurality of electrical connectors being electrically coupled to a circuit breaker; and
a first power cable harness assembly, comprising a frame, an electrical connector secured to the frame, and a first power cable connected to the electrical connector,
wherein the electrical connector of the first cable harness assembly and/or a first electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors secured to the frame of the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly is extendable to enable the electrical connector and first electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors to connect to each other.

12. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 11 , comprising an electrical load coupled to the first power cable.

13. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 11 , wherein the first power cable is coupled to a source of power.

14. A modular subsea electrical distribution system, comprising:
a subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly, comprising:
a busbar enclosure housing a busbar;
a plurality of circuit breaker enclosures secured to the busbar enclosure, each of the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures housing a circuit breaker and each circuit breaker being electrically coupled to the busbar;
a frame supporting the busbar enclosure and the plurality of circuit breaker enclosures; and
a plurality of electrical connectors secured to the frame, each of the plurality of electrical connectors being electrically coupled to a circuit breaker; and
a plurality of power cable harness assemblies, each power cable harness assembly comprising a frame, an electrical connector secured to the frame, and a first power cable connected to the electrical connector,
wherein each electrical connector of the plurality of cable harness assemblies is extendable to enable each electrical connector of the plurality of cable harness assemblies to connect to a corresponding electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors of the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly.

15. The modular subsea electrical distribution system of claim 14 , comprising a support template configured to receive and align the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly and the plurality of power cable harness assemblies so that each electrical connector of the plurality of power cable harness assemblies is align with a corresponding electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors of the subsea electrical circuit breaker assembly.

16. A method of assembling a modular subsea electr

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Hazel Terrence George
• Andrea Pierrick

Classifications

• H02J13/1327

  using optical means · CPC title

• H02J4/00

  Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) · CPC title

• H02B1/22

  Layouts for duplicate bus-bar selection · 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

• H02B5/06

  gas-insulated · CPC title