Submarine power cable

Abstract

A submarine power cable comprises a cable core, a pipeline, a filling layer and a protective layer, and the cable core comprises a water-blocking conductor, a conductor shielding layer, an insulating layer, an insulating shielding layer, a buffer layer, a lead sheath layer and a semi-conductive sheath layer which are sequentially coated from inside to outside; the hollow pipeline is arranged on the outer side of the cable core along the radial direction; the filling layer coats the surfaces of the cable core and the pipeline; the protective layer comprises a water-blocking binding tape layer, a corrugated aluminum sheath layer, a polyethylene sheath layer, a steel wire armor layer and a polypropylene sheath layer which are sequentially coated from inside to outside; and the water-blocking binding tape layer is coated on the surface of the filling layer. According to the submarine power cable provided by the embodiment of the invention, redundancy design is carried out in the aspects of protection and water blocking, so that the external force damage resistance of the submarine power cable is improved; and the pipeline is arranged in the submarine power cable, so that power transmission is realized, fluid substances such as water, oil and gas can be conveyed at the same time, and multi-functionalization of the submarine power cable is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cable technology, specifically to a submarine power cable. Background Technology

[0002] As human exploration of the ocean deepens and marine operations become more frequent, the requirements for submarine cables are becoming increasingly stringent. Submarine power cables are current-carrying devices that transmit electricity on the seabed and can be used to power offshore drilling platforms, islands, and other locations. Submarine power cables consist of a cable core, an armor layer, and an outer sheath. The cable core comprises multiple twisted metal wires and a water-blocking medium filling the gaps between the twisted wires; the armor layer covers the cable core, and the outer sheath covers the armor layer.

[0003] In related technologies, when submarine power cables are used in harsh environments, problems such as water ingress and cable damage can easily occur, affecting the safe operation of submarine cables. Moreover, most submarine power cables can only transmit electrical energy and have a single function. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a submarine power cable that solves the problems of easy water ingress and limited functionality of cables.

[0005] To achieve the objectives of this application, the following technical solution is provided:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a submarine power cable, comprising:

[0007] The cable core includes, from the inside out, a water-blocking conductor, a conductor shielding layer, an insulation layer, an insulation shielding layer, a buffer layer, a lead sheath layer, and a semi-conductive sheath layer.

[0008] A hollow tube is provided on the radially outer side of the cable core;

[0009] A filler layer covers the surface of the cable core and the conduit;

[0010] The protective layer comprises, from the inside out, a water-blocking strapping layer, a corrugated aluminum sheath layer, a polyethylene sheath layer, a steel wire armor layer, and a polypropylene sheath layer, wherein the water-blocking strapping layer covers the surface of the filler layer.

[0011] In one embodiment, the pipe is a corrugated stainless steel pipe.

[0012] In one embodiment, the cable core is provided with at least three cores, which are connected to form an accommodating space. An optical fiber is provided in the accommodating space, and the space between the optical fiber and the cable core is filled with the filling layer.

[0013] In one embodiment, multiple conduits are provided, with one conduit located between any two adjacent cable cores.

[0014] In one embodiment, a plurality of the tubes are uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction of the optical fiber.

[0015] In one embodiment, the optical fiber includes multiple fiber cores, at least one of which is used for temperature measurement.

[0016] In one embodiment, the surface of the wrinkled aluminum sheath layer is coated with anti-corrosion asphalt.

[0017] In one embodiment, the steel wire armor layer includes an inner steel wire armor layer and an outer steel wire armor layer, wherein the inner steel wire armor layer is wound around the surface of the polyethylene sheath layer, and the outer steel wire armor layer is wound around the surface of the inner steel wire armor layer.

[0018] The winding direction of the inner steel wire armor layer is opposite to that of the outer steel wire armor layer.

[0019] In one embodiment, the polypropylene sheath layer includes an inner polypropylene sheath layer and an outer polypropylene sheath layer, both of which are formed by winding polypropylene ropes.

[0020] The inner polypropylene sheath layer is wound around the surface of the outer steel wire armor layer, and the outer polypropylene sheath layer is wound around the surface of the inner polypropylene sheath layer.

[0021] The winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer is opposite to that of the outer polypropylene sheath layer.

[0022] In one embodiment, the winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer is opposite to the winding direction of the outer steel wire armor layer.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1. In this application, a water-blocking filling layer and a protective layer are used. The protective layer is formed by sequentially covering the cable from the inside out with a water-blocking binding tape layer, a corrugated aluminum sheath layer, a polyethylene sheath layer, a steel wire armor layer, and a polypropylene sheath layer. The water-blocking binding tape layer is directly wrapped around the surface of the filling layer, further enhancing the cable's water-blocking performance and preventing moisture from seeping in through gaps between the filling layer and the cable core and conduit. The corrugated aluminum sheath has high strength and good flexibility, capable of withstanding significant external pressure and tension, protecting the internal structure of the cable from external damage, and adapting to bending deformation during cable bending installation, reducing the impact of bending stress on cable performance. The polyethylene sheath layer has good chemical corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, and insulation properties, further protecting the internal structure of the cable from external chemical corrosion, mechanical wear, and external electric field interference. The steel wire armor layer enhances the mechanical strength of the cable, enabling it to withstand significant tensile, compressive, and lateral pressure. As the outermost sheath, the polypropylene sheath layer has good weather resistance, chemical corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, and can resist the erosion of seawater, marine organism secretions and various chemical substances in the complex seabed environment.

[0025] 2. In this application, by incorporating a corrugated stainless steel pipe, the cable is made multifunctional. In addition to power transmission, it can also transport fluids such as water, oil, and gas, which greatly expands the application scope and value of submarine power cables and diversifies their functions.

[0026] 3. In this application, by adding an optical fiber at the center of the cable, an online intelligent temperature measurement function is realized, which can monitor the cable's operating status in real time. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a submarine power cable according to one embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cable core according to one embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical fiber according to one embodiment of this application.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0032] 100. Cable core; 110. Water-blocking conductor; 120. Conductor shielding layer; 130. Insulation layer; 140. Insulation shielding layer; 150. Buffer layer; 160. Lead sheath layer; 170. Semi-conductive sheath layer; 200. Pipe; 300. Filler layer; 400. Protective layer; 410. Water-blocking binding tape layer; 420. Corrugated aluminum sheath layer; 430. Polyethylene sheath layer; 440. Steel wire armor layer; 441. Inner steel wire armor layer; 442. Outer steel wire armor layer; 450. Polypropylene sheath layer; 451. Inner polypropylene sheath layer; 452. Outer polypropylene sheath layer; 500. Optical fiber; 510. Fiber core. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following are specific embodiments of this application, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to further illustrate the technical solutions of this application. However, this application is not limited to these embodiments.

[0034] Submarine power cables are an important carrier for marine energy transmission and are widely used in offshore wind power, island power supply, and cross-sea interconnection. As marine energy development continues to deepen, the performance requirements for submarine power cables are also becoming increasingly stringent.

[0035] However, existing submarine power cables are prone to safety hazards such as water ingress and cable damage in such harsh environments, affecting their normal operation. Secondly, existing submarine power cables have relatively simple functions, mainly used for power transmission, and lack real-time monitoring capabilities, especially temperature monitoring, making it impossible to detect abnormalities in cable operation in a timely manner. In addition, the existing submarine power cable structure is relatively simple and lacks multifunctionality, failing to meet the dual requirements of power transmission and fluid transport, thus limiting the application scenarios of submarine power cables.

[0036] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 This application provides a submarine power cable, including a cable core 100, a conduit 200, a filling layer 300, and a protective layer 400.

[0037] The cable core 100 comprises, from the inside out, a water-blocking conductor 110, a conductor shielding layer 120, an insulation layer 130, an insulation shielding layer 140, a buffer layer 150, a lead sheath layer 160, and a semi-conductive sheath layer 170. The water-blocking conductor 110 is made of copper, and its surface is coated with a water-blocking material, which effectively prevents moisture from penetrating along the conductor's axial direction. The conductor shielding layer 120 is made of a semi-conductive material and tightly wraps around the surface of the water-blocking conductor 110 to ensure uniform electric field distribution. The insulation layer 130 is made of cross-linked polyethylene, possessing excellent electrical insulation properties and mechanical strength. The insulation shielding layer 140 is also made of a semi-conductive material and wraps around the outer surface of the insulation layer 130, working together with the conductor shielding layer 120 to ensure uniform electric field distribution. The buffer layer 150 is made of semi-conductive paper tape, used to protect the insulation shielding layer 140 and provide a smooth support surface for the lead sheath layer 160. The lead sheath layer 160 is extruded from a lead alloy material and has good waterproof performance. The semiconductive sheath layer 170 is made of a semiconductive polymer material and covers the outer surface of the lead sheath layer 160 to protect the lead sheath and provide electrical shielding.

[0038] The conduit 200 is a hollow structure and is located radially on the outer side of the cable core 100. Conduit 200 is made of corrugated stainless steel, possessing excellent flexibility and compressive strength, enabling it to maintain structural stability in complex seabed environments. The addition of corrugated stainless steel to the conduit 200 enables the cable to function multiple functions. In addition to power transmission, it can also transport fluids such as water, oil, and gas, greatly expanding the application range and value of submarine power cables and diversifying their functionality.

[0039] Optionally, the corrugated stainless steel pipe has an inner diameter of 8 mm, a wall thickness of 0.5 mm, a corrugation depth of 0.3 mm, and a corrugation spacing of 2 mm. The corrugated structure allows the pipe 200 to maintain strength while having a certain degree of flexibility, adapting to the bending requirements during subsea laying.

[0040] The filler layer 300 covers the surface of the cable core 100 and the conduit 200. The filler layer 300 is made of polypropylene material and fills the gap between the cable core 100 and the conduit 200 to make the overall structure tight and ensure that there are no gaps between the cable core 100 and the conduit 200, thus preventing seawater from seeping in.

[0041] The protective layer 400 includes, from the inside out, a water-blocking strapping layer 410, a corrugated aluminum sheath layer 420, a polyethylene sheath layer 430, a steel wire armor layer 440, and a polypropylene sheath layer 450, with the water-blocking strapping layer 410 covering the surface of the filler layer 300.

[0042] A water-blocking binding tape layer 410 is wrapped around the surface of the filler layer 300, and is made of polyester fiber tape containing water-blocking powder, wound in a spiral manner. The corrugated aluminum sheath layer 420 can be made of aluminum tape with a thickness of 0.8 mm, a corrugation depth of 0.4 mm, and a corrugation spacing of 3 mm.

[0043] The surface of the wrinkled aluminum sheath layer 420 is coated with anti-corrosion asphalt, which can be 0.3 mm thick, effectively preventing seawater from corroding the aluminum sheath.

[0044] The polyethylene sheath layer 430 is extruded from high-density polyethylene material, possessing excellent mechanical strength and waterproof performance. The steel wire armor layer 440 enhances the cable's mechanical strength, enabling it to withstand greater tensile, compressive, and lateral pressure. The polypropylene sheath layer 450, as the outermost sheath, exhibits good weather resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties, resisting erosion from seawater, marine organism secretions, and various chemicals found in the complex underwater environment.

[0045] In one embodiment, at least three cable cores 100 are provided, which are connected to form an accommodating space. An optical fiber 500 is disposed within the accommodating space, and a filling layer 300 is filled between the optical fiber 500 and the cable core 100. The three cable cores 100 are arranged in a triangle, each cable core 100 has the same structure, and the three cable cores 100 are in contact with each other and form a central accommodating space.

[0046] The optical fiber 500 is housed within the containment space. The optical fiber 500 comprises multiple fiber cores 510, at least one of which is used for temperature measurement, while the remaining fiber cores 510 serve as backups. The fiber cores 510 allow for real-time monitoring of the cable's temperature distribution, enabling timely detection of overheated spots and preventing cable damage, thus improving cable reliability. A filler layer 300, made of polypropylene, fills the gap between the optical fiber 500 and the cable core 100, ensuring a tight, gap-free overall structure.

[0047] Fiber 500 temperature measurement technology is based on the optical characteristics of fiber 500. It achieves accurate temperature measurement by measuring the characteristic parameters (such as light intensity, phase, wavelength, etc.) of the optical signal in fiber 500 as a function of temperature.

[0048] Multiple conduits 200 are provided, with one conduit 200 between any two adjacent cable cores 100. Optionally, three conduits 200 are provided, evenly distributed around the circumference of the optical fiber 500 and arranged at a 120-degree angle. Each conduit 200 is a corrugated stainless steel tube.

[0049] In one embodiment, the steel wire armor layer 440 includes an inner steel wire armor layer 441 and an outer steel wire armor layer 442. The inner steel wire armor layer 441 is wound around the surface of the polyethylene sheath layer 430, and the outer steel wire armor layer 442 is wound around the surface of the inner steel wire armor layer 441. The winding direction of the inner steel wire armor layer 441 is opposite to that of the outer steel wire armor layer 442. Specifically, the inner steel wire armor layer 441 uses galvanized steel wire and is wound in a right-hand spiral. The outer steel wire armor layer 442 is wound around the surface of the inner steel wire armor layer 441 and uses galvanized steel wire in a left-hand spiral. This reverse winding structure significantly improves the tensile strength and torsional resistance of the cable, meeting the needs of complex submarine environments.

[0050] The polypropylene sheath layer 450 includes an inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 and an outer polypropylene sheath layer 452, both of which are made of polypropylene rope wound together. The inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 is wound around the surface of the outer steel wire armor layer 442, and the outer polypropylene sheath layer 452 is wound around the surface of the inner polypropylene sheath layer 451. The winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 is opposite to that of the outer polypropylene sheath layer 452. The inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 uses polypropylene rope wound in a right-handed manner. The outer polypropylene sheath layer 452 is wound around the surface of the inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 using polypropylene rope wound in a left-handed manner. The winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 is opposite to that of the outer polypropylene sheath layer 452, and the winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer 451 is opposite to that of the outer steel wire armor layer 442. This multi-layer reverse winding structure forms a complete protective system, effectively protecting the internal structure of the cable and preventing seawater infiltration and external force damage.

[0051] The submarine power cable of this application embodiment features redundant design for protection and water resistance, enhancing its resistance to external damage. 500 optical fiber units are incorporated within the submarine power cable to enable online intelligent temperature monitoring. Through the conduit 200 within the submarine power cable, in addition to power transmission, it can simultaneously transport fluids such as water, oil, and gas, thus achieving multi-functionality for the submarine power cable.

[0052] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0053] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first," "second," and "a" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0054] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0055] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this application.

Claims

1. A subsea power cable, characterized in that, The application relates to a cable, which comprises: a cable core, which comprises, from inside to outside, a water-blocking conductor, a conductor shielding layer, an insulation layer, an insulation shielding layer, a buffer layer, a lead sheath layer and a semi-conductive sheath layer; a hollow pipe arranged on the radial outside of the cable core; a filling layer arranged on the surface of the cable core and the pipe; a protective layer, which comprises, from inside to outside, a water-blocking binding tape layer, a corrugated aluminum sheath layer, a polyethylene sheath layer, a steel wire armor layer and a polypropylene sheath layer, wherein the water-blocking binding tape layer is arranged on the surface of the filling layer.

2. The subsea power cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe is a corrugated stainless steel pipe.

3. The subsea power cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable core is provided with at least three cable cores, and the three cable cores are connected to form a containing space, and an optical fiber is arranged in the containing space, and the filling layer is filled between the optical fiber and the cable core.

4. The subsea power cable according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pipe is provided with a plurality of pipes, and one pipe is arranged between any two adjacent cable cores.

5. The subsea power cable according to claim 4, characterized in that, The plurality of pipes are uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction of the optical fiber.

6. The subsea power cable according to claim 3, characterized in that, The optical fiber comprises a plurality of fiber cores, and at least one fiber core is used for measuring temperature.

7. The subsea power cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the corrugated aluminum sheath layer is coated with anticorrosive asphalt.

8. The subsea power cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steel wire armor layer comprises an inner steel wire armor layer and an outer steel wire armor layer, the inner steel wire armor layer is wound on the surface of the polyethylene sheath layer, and the outer steel wire armor layer is wound on the surface of the inner steel wire armor layer. The winding direction of the inner steel wire armor layer is opposite to that of the outer steel wire armor layer.

9. The subsea power cable according to claim 8, characterized in that, The polypropylene sheath layer comprises an inner polypropylene sheath layer and an outer polypropylene sheath layer, and the inner polypropylene sheath layer and the outer polypropylene sheath layer are both formed by winding a polypropylene rope. The inner polypropylene sheath layer is wound on the surface of the outer steel wire armor layer, and the outer polypropylene sheath layer is wound on the surface of the inner polypropylene sheath layer. The winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer is opposite to that of the outer polypropylene sheath layer.

10. The subsea power cable according to claim 9, characterized in that, The winding direction of the inner polypropylene sheath layer is opposite to that of the outer steel wire armor layer.

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