Multi-core submarine cable and manufacturing device therefor

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a multi-core submarine cable and a manufacturing device therefor. The multi-core submarine cable comprises: power cables, the power cables each comprising electric units for electric conduction and an optical unit for communication; buffering and heat insulation structural units, wherein the buffering and heat insulation structural units each comprise a braided rope and a first protective sleeve, the first protective sleeve being extruded on the outer side of the braided rope; and auxiliary metal units, wherein the auxiliary metal units each comprise a metal pipe and a second protective sleeve, the second protective sleeve being extruded on the outer side of the metal pipe; the cross sections of the power cables and the buffering and heat insulation structural units are all circular; the diameters of the cross sections of the power cables are equal to the diameters of the cross sections of the buffering and heat insulation structural units; and the buffering and heat insulation structural units, the auxiliary metal units and at least two of the power cables are stranded to form cable cores of the multi-core submarine cable. The present application can improve the stability and reliability of the submarine cable and reduce the production cost of the submarine cable.

Description

Multi-core submarine cable and manufacturing device thereof

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on July 28, 2023, with application number 202310943277.7 and application name “A multi-core submarine cable and its manufacturing device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of submarine cables, and in particular to a multi-core submarine cable and a manufacturing device thereof. Background Art

[0003] With the continuous increase in oil and natural gas production in continental shelf waters, marine engineering has become a key means of addressing the current energy crisis. During the offshore oil and gas production process, electricity is the primary power source for offshore oil and gas platforms. However, due to the difficulty of generating sufficient electricity locally, most offshore platforms rely on power transmission from the land grid. Since offshore power transmission is difficult to achieve with overhead lines, lightweight and efficient submarine cables have become the most effective way to safely transmit electricity over long distances.

[0004] Conventional submarine cables consist of a single, three-core power cable that centrally supplies power to all equipment on the platform. This results in a relatively simple transmission system and limited transmission capacity, requiring additional cables for oil and gas transmission, increasing cable production costs. Furthermore, submarine cables exhibit dynamic operating characteristics. During operation, rising system temperatures can easily cause changes in the cable's electrical performance parameters, resulting in low cable stability and reliability.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present application provides a multi-core submarine cable and a manufacturing device thereof, which can improve the stability and reliability of the submarine cable and reduce the production cost of the submarine cable.

[0007] A first aspect of the present application provides a multi-core submarine cable, comprising: a power cable, the power cable comprising an electrical unit for conduction and an optical unit for communication; a buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit comprising a braided rope and a first protective sheath, the first protective sheath being extruded on the outside of the braided rope; an auxiliary metal unit, the auxiliary metal unit comprising a metal tube and a second protective sheath, the second protective sheath being extruded on the outside of the metal tube; wherein the cross-sections of the power cable and the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit are both circular, the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable is equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, and the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, the auxiliary metal unit and at least two power cables are twisted together to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

[0008] By setting up a buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, it can play a buffering and isolating role in the cabling and twisting process of multiple power cables, effectively avoiding the extrusion stress during the twisting process of the power cables. The buffer and thermal insulation structural unit can also reduce the power loss during the operation of the multi-core submarine cable, and can control the operating temperature of the multi-core submarine cable, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the multi-core submarine cable during operation. By setting the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable to be equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, it can ensure that the composite cabling effect is round and improve the roundness of the finished submarine cable. By setting up an auxiliary metal unit, the auxiliary metal unit includes a metal tube, which can be used to fill oil and air into the offshore platform equipment, provide power and hydraulics to the submarine equipment, maintain signal transmission and inject the required reagents to ensure the normal operation of the underwater control system, thereby eliminating the need to set up additional submarine cables and reducing the production cost of the multi-core submarine cable. In addition, since the power cables include at least two, the power transmission capacity of the multi-core submarine cable can be improved.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the electrical unit includes a conductor, and a conductor shielding layer, an anti-water tree XLPE insulation layer, an insulation shielding layer, a first semi-conductive resistive water tape layer, a copper tape shielding layer, a second semi-conductive resistive water tape layer, and a third protective cover wrapped around the outside of the conductor from the inside to the outside.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the conductor includes a plurality of round metal wires and a semiconducting resistive adhesive; the plurality of round metal wires are compressed and twisted, and the semiconducting resistive adhesive fills the compressed and twisted plurality of round metal wires to form the conductor.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the optical unit includes an optical fiber unit, and an outer sleeve, a semiconductive inner sheath, an optical unit armor layer, a water-blocking tape layer, and a semiconductive outer sheath wrapped around the outside of the optical fiber unit from the inside to the outside.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the power cables include four, the buffer and thermal insulation structural units include three, and the auxiliary metal units include two; wherein the center lines of three of the four power cables form an equilateral triangle, and the other power cable is located at the center of the equilateral triangle; the three buffer and thermal insulation structural units are respectively located on the three sides of the equilateral triangle.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the multi-core submarine cable further includes a circular filling unit; four of the power cables, two of the buffer and thermal insulation structural units, and two of the auxiliary metal units are twisted together, and the circular filling unit fills the gaps after the four power cables, two of the buffer and thermal insulation structural units, and two of the auxiliary metal units are twisted together to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the power cable includes three electrical units and one optical unit; wherein center lines of the three electrical units form an equilateral triangle, and the optical unit is located in a gap between two adjacent electrical units.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the multi-core submarine cable further includes a cable inner sheath wrapped around the outside of the cable core, an armor layer wrapped around the outside of the cable inner sheath, an anti-corrosion layer coated on the outside of the armor layer, and a cable outer sheath wrapped around the outside of the anti-corrosion layer.

[0016] A second aspect of the present application provides a manufacturing device for a multi-core submarine cable, comprising: a power unit turntable, a structural unit reel, an auxiliary metal unit reel, a structural unit tension control device, a line-dividing and shaping device, and a cable-stranding device; the power unit turntable is used to pay out the power cable, the structural unit reel is used to pay out the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, and the auxiliary metal unit reel is used to pay out the auxiliary metal unit; the structural unit tension control device is used to control the tension of the structural unit reel during the pay-out process, so that the tension of the structural unit reel during the pay-out process is the same as the tension of the power unit turntable during the pay-out process; the line-dividing and shaping device is used to determine the positions of the power cable, the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, and the auxiliary metal unit according to the cable core structure of the multi-core submarine cable; the cable-stranding device is used to strand the power cable, the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit, and the auxiliary metal unit after line-dividing and shaping to form the cable core of the aforementioned multi-core submarine cable.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the structural unit tension control device includes a tension control retractor, a rotary support wheel, a tension control chain and a structural unit wire-passing device; the structural unit wire-passing device includes two sets of parallel guide wheels, and the buffering and heat-insulating structural unit passes the wire through the middle of the guide wheels; the tension control retractor is connected to the tension control chain, and realizes reciprocating telescopic motion through the rotary support wheel to adjust the wire-paying tension of the structural unit wire drum.

[0018] It can be understood that the manufacturing device of the multi-core submarine cable of the second aspect provided above corresponds to the structure of the first aspect. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding structure provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0019] In combination with the above technical solutions, the present application provides a multi-core submarine cable and its manufacturing device. By setting a buffering and heat-insulating structural unit, it can play a buffering and isolating role in the cabling and twisting process of multiple power cables, effectively avoiding the extrusion stress during the twisting process of the power cables. The buffering and heat-insulating structural unit can also reduce the power loss during the operation of the multi-core submarine cable, and can control the operating temperature of the multi-core submarine cable, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the operation process of the multi-core submarine cable. By setting the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable to be equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffering and heat-insulating structural unit, it can ensure that the composite cabling effect is round and improve the roundness of the finished submarine cable. By setting an auxiliary metal unit, the auxiliary metal unit includes a metal tube, which can be used to fill oil and air into the offshore platform equipment, provide electricity and hydraulic pressure to the submarine equipment, maintain signal transmission and inject the required reagents to ensure the normal operation of the underwater control system, thereby eliminating the need to set up additional submarine cables and reducing the production cost of the multi-core submarine cable. In addition, since the power cable includes at least two, the power transmission capacity of the multi-core submarine cable can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG1 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-core submarine cable provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical unit provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0022] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of a light unit provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0023] FIG4 is a cross-sectional view of a buffer and heat-insulating structure unit provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG5 is a cross-sectional view of an auxiliary metal unit provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG6 is a cross-sectional view of another structure of a multi-core submarine cable provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for manufacturing a multi-core submarine cable according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a structural unit tension control device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG9 is a top view of a line-splitting and shaping device provided in one embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In order to more clearly understand the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of the present application, the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application and the features therein can be combined with each other in the absence of conflict.

[0030] In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. The described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application.

[0032] It should be further noted that, in this document, the terms "comprises," "includes," or any other variations thereof are intended to encompass non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus comprising a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not preclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element.

[0033] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural.

[0034] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 together. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-core submarine cable provided in the present application; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical unit provided in the present application; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical unit provided in the present application; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit provided in the present application; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary metal unit provided in the present application.

[0035] The multi-core submarine cable includes a power cable 1, which includes an electrical unit 101 for conduction and an optical unit 102 for communication; a buffer and thermal insulation structure unit 2, which includes a braided rope 22 and a first protective sleeve 23, and the first protective sleeve 23 is extruded on the outside of the braided rope 22; an auxiliary metal unit 4, which includes a metal tube 24 and a second protective sleeve 25, and the second protective sleeve 25 is extruded on the outside of the metal tube 24; wherein the cross-sections of the power cable 1 and the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit 2 are both circular, the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable 1 is equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit 2, and the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit 2, the auxiliary metal unit 4 and at least two power cables 1 are twisted to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

[0036] By providing a buffering and heat-insulating structural unit 2, a buffering and isolating effect can be provided during the cabling and twisting process of multiple power cables 1, effectively avoiding compression stress during the twisting process of the power cables 1. The buffering and heat-insulating structural unit 2 can also reduce the power loss during the operation of the multi-core submarine cable, and can control the operating temperature of the multi-core submarine cable, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the multi-core submarine cable during operation. By setting the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable 1 to be equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffering and heat-insulating structural unit 2, the composite cabling effect can be ensured to be round, thereby improving the roundness of the finished submarine cable. By providing an auxiliary metal unit 4, the auxiliary metal unit 4 includes a metal tube 24, which can be used to fill oil and air into the offshore platform equipment, provide power and hydraulic pressure to the submarine equipment, maintain signal transmission, and inject the required reagents to ensure the normal operation of the underwater control system, thereby eliminating the need to provide additional submarine cables and reducing the production cost of the multi-core submarine cable. In addition, since the power cable 1 includes at least two cables, the power transmission capacity of the multi-core submarine cable can be improved.

[0037] In some embodiments, the braided rope 22 is made of polypropylene. This material can provide the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2 with higher strength, thereby ensuring the structural stability of the multi-core submarine cable during cabling. Furthermore, the first protective cover 23 can be made of polyethylene, and this embodiment does not impose any specific restrictions on the material of the first protective cover 23.

[0038] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional diameter of the braided rope 22 is equal to 2 / 3 of the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable 1. The braided rope 22 is formed by braiding multiple strands of single-wire high-strength PP ropes and is twisted; the outer layer of the braided rope 22 is extruded and coated with a polyethylene protective sheath 23, wherein the extrusion control temperature of the polypropylene PP material is at 200°C, and the extrusion temperature of the polyethylene is 160°C~170°C, ensuring the production stability of the first protective sheath 23 made of polyethylene during the extrusion process, and finally the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable 1 is equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffer and heat insulation structure unit 2.

[0039] In some embodiments, the metal tube 24 is a stainless steel tube, and the second protective sleeve 25 is made of polyethylene. The auxiliary metal unit 4 assists in filling the offshore platform equipment with oil and air. It also provides power and hydraulics to the subsea equipment, maintains signal transmission, and injects required reagents to ensure the normal operation of the underwater control system.

[0040] Referring again to FIG. 2 , the electrical unit 101 includes a conductor 8 and, from the inside out, a conductor shielding layer 9, an anti-water-tree XLPE insulation layer 10, an insulating shielding layer 11, a first semi-conductive resistive water-tape layer 12, a copper tape shielding layer 13, a second semi-conductive resistive water-tape layer 14, and a third protective sheath 15 wrapped around the outside of the conductor 8 in sequence.

[0041] In some embodiments, the conductor 8 includes a plurality of round metal wires and a semiconducting resistive adhesive; the plurality of round metal wires are compressed and twisted, and the semiconducting resistive adhesive fills the compressed and twisted plurality of round metal wires to form the conductor.

[0042] Specifically, the conductor 8 is an extruded conductor structure, which is obtained by twisting multiple round metal wires in multiple layers. During the twisting process, the gaps between the strands are filled with semiconducting water-blocking glue. The semiconducting water-blocking glue is a water-blocking material composed of a semiconductor compound. It is used to replace the semiconducting water-blocking tape in conventional submarine cable structures to achieve better longitudinal water-blocking effect.

[0043] The conductor shielding layer 9, the water-tree resistant XLPE insulation layer 10 and the insulating shielding layer 11 are a cross-linked three-layer co-extruded structure that carries the working voltage of the submarine cable. The insulation material is water-tree resistant XPLE material, which can ensure that the submarine cable does not form water trees and cause insulation extrusion when water enters, thereby ensuring the stability of the circuit. The cross-linked three-layer co-extruded structure is degassed through the core to remove low-molecular gases in the cross-linking reaction process of the submarine cable, avoiding affecting the performance of the submarine cable.

[0044] The first semiconducting water-resistant tape layer 12, the copper tape shielding layer 13 and the second semiconducting water-resistant tape layer 14 are wrapped synchronously. The first semiconducting water-resistant tape layer 12 and the second semiconducting water-resistant tape layer 14 further play a buffering and water-blocking effect. The copper tape shielding layer 13 is an overlapping wrapping of soft copper tape to play a better electromagnetic shielding role.

[0045] In some embodiments, the third protective sheath 15 is made of polyethylene, thereby providing better waterproofing for the electrical unit 101. Referring again to FIG3 , the optical unit 102 includes an optical fiber unit 16, and, from the inside out, an outer sleeve 17, a semi-conductive inner sheath 18, an optical unit armor layer 19, a water-blocking tape layer 20, and a semi-conductive outer sheath 21, which are wrapped around the outside of the optical fiber unit 16 in sequence.

[0046] Please refer to FIG. 1 again. The power cable 1 includes three electrical units 101 and one optical unit 102 . The center lines of the three electrical units 101 form an equilateral triangle, and the optical unit 102 is located in the gap between two adjacent electrical units 101 .

[0047] Specifically, after the power cable 1 completes the extrusion of the phase-separated sheath, the three cores (i.e., three electrical units 101) of the power cable 1 are cabled according to the arrangement position of the three-phase sheath cable cores. The gaps between the optical units 102 are filled with the gaps between the adjacent two-phase electrical units 101, and the gaps are filled with cylindrical polyethylene strips to achieve a better cabling rounding effect. After cabling, a layer of artificial synthetic tape is wrapped around the outer layer of the core to achieve a rounding effect after bundling the three cores.

[0048] In some embodiments, the multi-core submarine cable further includes a cable inner sheath 5 wrapped around the outside of the cable core, an armor layer 6 wrapped around the outside of the cable inner sheath 5, an anti-corrosion layer coated on the outside of the armor layer 6, and a cable outer sheath 7 wrapped around the outside of the anti-corrosion layer.

[0049] It should be noted that during the transmission process of the electrical unit 101, there is electric field interaction and heating. When the multi-core submarine cable is in operation, the current distribution in the cable core is uneven, and eddy currents are generated in the copper tape shielding layer 13 and the armor layer 6, resulting in power loss. At the same time, the temperature of the multi-core submarine cable during operation increases layer by layer from the cable core, copper tape shielding layer 13, third protective cover 15, cable inner sheath 5, and armor layer 6, reaching equilibrium after a period of time. The temperature increase affects the performance parameters of the cable. By twisting the buffer insulation structure unit 2 into a cable, the power loss during the operation of the multi-core submarine cable can be greatly reduced, and the temperature during the operation of the multi-core submarine cable can be controlled, thereby improving the stability of the multi-core submarine cable during operation.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 1 again. The power cables 1 include four, the buffer and thermal insulation structural units 2 include three, and the auxiliary metal units 4 include two. Among them, the center lines of three of the four power cables 1 form an equilateral triangle, and the other power cable 1 is located at the center of the equilateral triangle. The three buffer and thermal insulation structural units 2 are respectively located on the three sides of the equilateral triangle.

[0051] The multi-core submarine cable also includes a circular filling unit 3; four power cables 1, three buffer and thermal insulation structural units 2 and two auxiliary metal units 4 are twisted together, and the circular filling unit 3 fills the gaps after the four power cables 1, three buffer and thermal insulation structural units 2 and two auxiliary metal units 4 are twisted together to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

[0052] Specifically, the power cable 1, the buffer insulation structure unit 2 and the auxiliary metal unit 4 are arranged and twisted into a cable according to the gap position, and the gap position is filled with a circular filling unit 3 to ensure the roundness of the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

[0053] In some embodiments, the circular filling unit 3 is a polyethylene circular filling strip.

[0054] In some embodiments, there is no specific limitation on the number of power cables 1 and it can be set according to actual needs. The number of buffer insulation structure units 2 is adjusted accordingly according to the change in the number of power cables 1. For example, when there are 5 power cables 1, there are 2 buffer insulation structure units 2.

[0055] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a cross-sectional view of another multi-core submarine cable structure provided in an embodiment of the present application. There are seven power cables 1, and only electrical units 101 are provided within each power cable 1 to increase the load capacity of the power cable 1. Optical units 102 and auxiliary metal units 4 are provided in the gaps between adjacent power cables 1.

[0056] For ease of understanding, the multi-core submarine cable provided in the embodiment of the present application is specifically described below:

[0057] Four power cables 1 and three buffer and heat-insulating structural units 2 are compositely cabled, two auxiliary metal units 4 are gap-filled in the gaps between the power cables 1 and the buffer and heat-insulating structural units 2, and the remaining gaps are filled with circular filling units 3 (such as flexible material circular PE strips + PP filling ropes) to ensure better bending flexibility of the multi-core submarine cable. The filling material fills the composite cable gaps to ensure the roundness of the composite cable of the multi-core submarine cable; after cabling, the outer layer is wrapped with a layer of braided artificial synthetic belt to play the role of tightening, buffering and isolation.

[0058] After cabling, the core of the multi-core submarine cable is extruded with an inner cable sheath 5 to ensure better waterproofing. The armor layer 6 is made of steel wire, determined by the specific water depth requirements for the multi-core submarine cable. For example, conventional galvanized low-carbon steel wire is used for shallow water depths, medium-carbon galvanized steel wire is used for deeper water depths, and galvanized high-carbon steel wire is used for armoring in complex environments to ensure better mechanical properties. The outer layer of the armor layer 6 is coated with an anti-corrosion layer sprayed with modified asphalt to ensure that the anti-corrosion layer is evenly and completely coated on the surface of the armor layer 6.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a structural diagram of a manufacturing device for a multi-core submarine cable provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] The manufacturing device of the multi-core submarine cable includes: a power unit turntable 261, a structural unit reel 263, an auxiliary metal unit reel 262, a structural unit tension control device 265, a line-dividing and shaping device 266, and a cable twisting device 267; the power unit turntable 261 is used to pay out the power cable 1, the structural unit reel 263 is used to pay out the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2, and the auxiliary metal unit reel 262 is used to pay out the auxiliary metal unit 4; the structural unit tension control device 265 is used to control the tension during the payout process of the structural unit reel 265 so that the tension during the payout process of the structural unit reel 263 is the same as the tension during the payout process of the power unit turntable 261; the line-dividing and shaping device 266 is used to determine the positions of the power cable 1, the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2, and the auxiliary metal unit 4 according to the cable core structure of the multi-core submarine cable; and the cable twisting device 267 is used to twist the power cable 1, the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2, and the auxiliary metal unit 4 after the line-dividing and shaping to form the cable core of the aforementioned multi-core submarine cable.

[0061] Specifically, the multi-core submarine cable manufacturing apparatus also includes a filling unit reel 264, a cable wrapping device 268, an upper steering wheel 269A, and a lower steering wheel 269B. The filling unit reel 264 is used to pay out the circular filling units 3, and the cable wrapping device 268 is used to wrap a layer of braided synthetic tape around the cores of the twisted multi-core submarine cable, thereby tightening, buffering, and isolating the cables.

[0062] As shown in Figure 7, the multi-core submarine cable manufacturing apparatus also includes a vertical cabling bottom platform 2610, a vertical cabling platform 1 2611, a vertical cabling platform 2612, and a vertical cabling stranding platform 2613. The power unit turntable 261, the auxiliary metal unit reel 262, and the lower steering wheel 269B are all located on the vertical cabling bottom platform 2610; the structural unit reel 263 and the filler unit reel 264 are both located on the vertical cabling platform 1 2611; the structural unit tension control device 265 is located on the vertical cabling platform 2612; and the line splitting and shaping device 266 is located on the vertical cabling stranding platform 2613.

[0063] It can be understood that in the process of composite cabling of multi-core submarine cables, since the cabling includes multiple power cables 1, buffer insulation structure units 2, auxiliary metal units 4, and circular filling units 3, each unit has different tension characteristics, and conventional cabling twisting is difficult to control; the internal structure of the buffer insulation structure unit 2 is a high-strength polypropylene braided rope structure, and the outer layer is extruded with a polyethylene sheath, so that the buffer insulation structure unit 2 has high strength characteristics while being light in weight and having low tension control, and the cabling twisting process needs to increase tension control; the interior of the auxiliary metal unit 4 is a stainless steel tube structure with high strength, and the cabling twisting process needs to reduce tension control; therefore, the cabling twisting process of each unit of the multi-core submarine cable is prone to position offset due to different tension control of each unit, resulting in the multi-core submarine cable composite cabling being difficult to form, and uneven cable tension resulting in cable serpentine phenomenon.

[0064] By means of the manufacturing device for the multi-core submarine cable provided in this embodiment, the power cable 1 is paid out through the power unit turntable 261 arranged on the vertical cabling bottom platform 2610, the auxiliary metal unit 4 is paid out from the auxiliary metal unit 262 reel, and the circular filling unit 3 is paid out through the filling unit reel 264 arranged on the vertical cabling platform 2611; due to the particularity of the buffering and thermal insulation structure unit 2, after the buffering and thermal insulation structure unit 2 is paid out through the vertical cabling platform 2611, it passes through the structural unit tension control device 265 of the vertical cabling platform 2612, and is threaded to the branching and shaping device 266 of the cabling twisting platform 2613, and is cabled together with the power cable 1, the auxiliary metal unit 4 and the circular filling unit 3 through the cabling twisting device 267 to form a whole cabling core.

[0065] Please refer to Figure 8. The structural unit tension control device 265 includes a tension control retractor 265A, a rotating support wheel 265B, upper and lower limit support devices 265C1 and 265C2, a tension control chain 265D, a slide rail device 265E and a structural unit wire-passing device 265F. The structural unit wire-passing device 265F is composed of two sets of parallel guide wheels. The buffering and heat-insulating structural unit 2 is threaded from the middle position of the guide wheel. The tension control chain 265D is connected to the tension control retractor 265A, and reciprocating telescopic motion is realized through the rotating support wheel 265B to control the change of the wire-paying tension of the buffering and heat-insulating structural unit 2.

[0066] During the cabling and stranding process of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2, as the vertical cabling equipment rotates and the cables of each unit are twisted, the tension of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2 varies, pushing the structural unit wire-passing device 265F. The tension is adjusted and changed through the tension control retractor 265A and the tension control chain 265D. When the structural unit wire-passing device 265F is at the upper limit 265C1, the pay-off tension of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2 is high. This feedback is sent to the structural unit tension control device 265, causing the wire-passing device 265F to move downward, reducing the pay-off tension of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2. This ensures that the position of the cable stranding process is consistent and the cable core is round. When the pay-off tension is low, the structural unit wire-passing device 265F is at the lower limit, which is fed back to the structural unit tension control device 265, causing the wire-passing device 253F to move upward, increasing the pay-off tension of the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2 and ensuring a stable cabling process.

[0067] Referring to Figure 9, the cable splitter shaping device 266 is a twisted cable splitter disc, which includes a power unit limiting hole 266A, a structural unit limiting hole 266B, an auxiliary metal unit limiting hole 266C, and a circular filler unit limiting hole 266D. The power cable 1, the buffer and thermal insulation structural unit 2, the circular filler unit 3, and the auxiliary metal unit 4 are sequentially threaded through the cable splitter shaping device 266 according to the multi-core submarine cable structure, thereby ensuring the stability of the cable twisting process of each unit. The cable splitter shaping device 266 determines the threading hole distribution based on the specific structural position of the cable core.

[0068] Compared with the related art, the embodiments of the present application have at least the following advantages: (1) It realizes the transmission of electric power, optical unit communication signals and oil pressure signals for underwater equipment to multiple offshore wellhead platforms at the same time, which greatly saves the raw material investment required for the design of conventional submarine cables and reduces the production cost of multi-core submarine cables. (2) It can realize the structural optimization of offshore wellhead platforms, reduce the size and weight of offshore wellhead platforms, and reduce the production and manufacturing cost of offshore wellhead platforms. (3) It greatly reduces the change of electrical performance parameters of submarine cables due to the increase of system temperature during operation of submarine cables, and improves the stability and reliability of submarine cables. (4) By setting the structural unit tension control device 265 and the line shaping device 266, the cable twisting stability of multi-core submarine cables can be better guaranteed, and the roundness of the cable cores can be guaranteed.

[0069] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-core submarine cable, characterized in that: include: A power cable comprising an electrical unit for conducting electricity and an optical unit for communicating; A buffer and heat-insulating structural unit, the buffer and heat-insulating structural unit comprising a braided rope and a first protective cover, wherein the first protective cover is extruded outside the braided rope; An auxiliary metal unit, the auxiliary metal unit comprising a metal tube and a second protective sleeve, the second protective sleeve being extruded outside the metal tube; Among them, the cross-sections of the power cable and the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit are both circular, the cross-sectional diameter of the power cable is equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit, and the buffer and thermal insulation structure unit, the auxiliary metal unit and at least two power cables are twisted to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

2. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrical unit comprises a conductor, and a conductor shielding layer, an anti-water tree XLPE insulating layer, an insulating shielding layer, a first semi-conductive resistive water tape layer, a copper tape shielding layer, a second semi-conductive resistive water tape layer and a third protective sleeve which are sequentially wrapped around the outside of the conductor from the inside to the outside.

3. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conductor includes a plurality of round metal wires and a semi-conductive water-based glue; The multiple round metal wires are compressed and twisted, and the semi-conductive water-based glue fills the multiple round metal wires that are compressed and twisted to form the conductor.

4. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical unit comprises an optical fiber unit, and an outer sleeve, a semi-conductive inner sheath, an optical unit armor layer, a water-blocking tape layer and a semi-conductive outer sheath which are sequentially wrapped around the outer side of the optical fiber unit from the inside to the outside.

5. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power cables include four, the buffer and heat insulation structural units include three, and the auxiliary metal units include two; Among them, the center lines of three of the four power cables form an equilateral triangle, and the other power cable is located at the center of the equilateral triangle; the three buffer and heat-insulating structural units are respectively located on the three sides of the equilateral triangle.

6. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 5, characterized in that: The multi-core submarine cable also includes a circular filling unit; The four power cables, the three buffer and heat-insulating structural units and the two auxiliary metal units are twisted together, and the circular filling unit fills the gaps after the four power cables, the three buffer and heat-insulating structural units and the two auxiliary metal units are twisted together to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable.

7. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power cable comprises three of the electrical units and one of the optical units; The center lines of the three electrical units form an equilateral triangle, and the optical unit is located in the gap between two adjacent electrical units.

8. The multi-core submarine cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multi-core submarine cable also includes a cable inner sheath wrapped around the outside of the cable core, an armor layer wrapped around the outside of the cable inner sheath, an anti-corrosion layer coated on the outside of the armor layer, and a cable outer sheath wrapped around the outside of the anti-corrosion layer.

9. A device for manufacturing a multi-core submarine cable, characterized in that: include: Power unit turntable, structural unit wire drum, auxiliary metal unit wire drum, structural unit tension control device, branching shaping device and cable twisting device; The power unit turntable is used for paying out the power cable, the structure unit reel is used for paying out the buffer and heat insulation structure unit, and the auxiliary metal unit reel is used for paying out the auxiliary metal unit; The structural unit tension control device is used to control the tension of the structural unit wire drum during the wire pay-off process, so that the tension of the structural unit wire drum during the wire pay-off process is the same as the tension of the power unit turntable during the wire pay-off process; The line splitting and shaping device is used to determine the positions of the power cable, the buffer and heat insulation structural unit, and the auxiliary metal unit according to the cable core structure of the multi-core submarine cable; The cable twisting device is used to twist the power cable, the buffer and heat insulation structural unit and the auxiliary metal unit after the branching and shaping to form the cable core of the multi-core submarine cable according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The manufacturing device of the multi-core submarine cable according to claim 9, characterized in that: The structural unit tension control device includes a tension control retractor, a rotating support wheel, a tension control chain and a structural unit wire-passing device; the structural unit wire-passing device includes two sets of parallel guide wheels, and the buffer and heat-insulating structural unit passes the wire through the middle of the guide wheels; the tension control retractor is connected to the tension control chain, and realizes reciprocating telescopic motion through the rotating support wheel to adjust the wire-paying tension of the structural unit wire drum.

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