High-voltage subsea assembly with bridging unit

Abstract

A high-voltage subsea assembly (30) comprising a subsea high-voltage wet-mate connector (15) with a male part a female part or a penetrator (9) with a penetrator body (9a) extending through a wall aperture (7a) of an enclosure wall (7) of a subsea enclosure A high-voltage bridging unit (20) connects to the male or female part, or to the penetrator. The bridging unit comprises a first and second end (27, 29), a main body (22) with an inner bore (23). A dielectric body (24) is radially within the inner bore, with a dielectric body inner bore (28). A conductor unit (26) comprising metal extends between the first and second ends and is arranged inside the dielectric body inner bore (28).

Description

HIGH-VOLTAGE SUBSEA ASSEMBLY WITH BRIDGING UNITTechnical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the transfer of high electrical power at subsea locations.Background Art

[0002] High voltage wet-mate connectors are used to connect electric components and modules together after installation at a subsea location. A typical example is the connection between a large subsea transformer to a power cable. Since it is impractical to land the subsea transformer on the seabed while the power cable is connected to it, the connection must take place after landing on the seabed.

[0003] At the seabed, there may exist significant pressures. Some electrical components, such as said subsea transformers, may be pressure compensated, such that the oil inside their enclosures has substantially the same pressure as the ambient seawater. However, other electric subsea components are not pressure compensated. This leads to a significant pressure difference over the enclosure wall. A penetrator is used to guide the electric power through the enclosure wall without risking intrusion of seawater into the enclosure.

[0004] Connecting high-power subsea equipment at the seabed requires expensive equipment, such as service vessels and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Furthermore, the equipment used to connect such equipment is expensive and sometimes delicate.

[0005] It is thus an aim to reduce the time necessary for installing such equipment.

[0006] Another object may be to reduce the complexity of the connecting components, such as cables, cable terminations, penetrators, and wet-mate connectors, and thereby reduce the risk of failure.

[0007] Still further objects will be clear to the skilled reader from the following discussion.Summary of invention

[0008] There is disclosed a high-voltage subsea assembly comprising a subsea high-voltage wet-mate connector with a male part a female part, and / or a penetrator with a penetrator body extending through a wall aperture of an enclosure wall of a subsea enclosure. The high-voltage subsea assembly further comprises a high- voltage bridging unit connected to the male part or female part, and / or connected to the penetrator. The high-voltage bridging unit comprises a first end and a second end, a main body with an inner bore extending between the first and second ends. The main body is conductive. A dielectric body is arranged radially within the inner bore, comprising a dielectric body inner bore and extending between the first and second ends. Furthermore, the high-voltage subsea assembly comprises a conductor unit comprising metal, extending between the first and second ends, and arranged inside the dielectric body inner bore.

[0009] The main body can be of a metal, such as stainless steel. This will make the main body electrically conductive.

[0010] The dielectric body can comprise epoxy, glass, PEEK / plastic, or another dielectric material.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first end and the second end face in opposite, parallel directions.

[0012] In other embodiments, the first end and the second end face in non-parallel directions, deviating from oppositely facing parallel directions with a bending angle.

[0013] The bending angle can for instance be 45° or 90°.

[0014] The first end and the second end can be identical. However, in other embodiments, the first end and the second end can have different configurations.

[0015] Also disclosed is a high-voltage bridging unit rated for voltages above 12 kV, comprising a first end and a second end. It has a main body with an inner bore extending between the first and second ends and a dielectric body radially within the inner bore. The main body is conductive. The dielectric body comprises a dielectric body inner bore and extends between the first and second ends. Furthermore, the high-voltage bridging unit has a conductor unit comprising metal, extending between the first and second ends, and arranged inside the dielectric body inner bore.

[0016] To make the main body electrically conductive, it can be made of a metal, such as steel.

[0017] The first end and the second end can face in opposite, parallel directions. In other embodiments, the first end and the second end can face in non-parallel directions, deviating from oppositely facing parallel directions with a bending angle.

[0018] The bending angle can for instance be 45° or 90°.

[0019] The first end and the second end of the high-voltage bridging unit can be identical. In other embodiments, the first end and the second end can have different configurations.

[0020] The high-voltage bridging unit is configured for or is rated for voltages above 12 kV but could instead be configured for voltages above 24 kV, 36 kV, or even above 60 kV.

[0021] The high-voltage bridging unit can advantageously further comprise two connection flanges.

[0022] The high-voltage bridging unit provides flexibility for the operator when installing a high voltage subsea assembly at the seabed.

[0023] Furthermore, the bridging unit can be configured or rated for voltages above 12 kV, or even for voltages above 24 kV, 36 kV, or above 60 kV.Detailed description of the invention

[0024] While various features of the present invention have been discussed in general terms above, a more detailed and non-limiting example of embodiment is given in the following with reference to the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment according to the prior art, illustrating how a subsea power cable is connected to a subsea transformer;Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment according to the present disclosure;Fig. 3 depicts the same embodiment as Fig. 2, however illustrating some parts with a separate view;Fig. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment;Fig. 5 is a cross section side-view through a high-voltage subsea assembly;Fig. 6 is a cross section side-view through a high-voltage bridging unit; andFig. 7 is a cross section side-view through another embodiment of a high-voltage bridging unit.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment according to prior art. A subsea power cable 101 shall be connected to a high voltage subsea transformer 103. The transformer 103 is schematically indicated and has a subsea enclosure 105. The transformer 103 is installed on the seabed and is thus surrounded by seawater.

[0026] The enclosure 105 has an enclosure wall 107. A penetrator 109 is installed in the enclosure wall 107 in a sealed manner. The penetrator 109 comprises a penetrator flange 112 that is configured for attachment to the enclosure wall 107.Moreover, the penetrator flange 112 is provided with a sealing surface (not shown), for sealing abutment against a seal (not shown) for sealing between the penetrator flange 112 and the enclosure wall 107. Metal seals are typically used for large sea depths where the hydrostatic pressure is substantial.

[0027] A jumper 111 connects to the penetrator 109 via a jumper termination 113a. The jumper termination 113a functions as a dry-mate connector. Consequently, the jumper 111 is connected to the penetrator 109 before the subsea transformer 103 is lowered into the sea.

[0028] At the subsea location, the subsea power cable 101 is connected to the jumper 111 with a high-voltage wet-mate connector 115. The wet-mate connector 115 has a male part 115a and a female part 115b. The connection of the male part 115a and the female part 115b can typically be performed with the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), as is common in the art.

[0029] Fig. 2 depicts an embodiment comprising several components that correspond to the components shown in Fig. 1 . A subsea cable 1 is terminated with a cable termination 13b. The cable termination 13b further connects to a female part 15b of a wet-mate connector 15. The wet-mate connector 15 further has a male part 15a, to which the female part 15b is configured to connect at a subsea location. A jumper 11 extending between two jumper terminations 13a is also shown.

[0030] Differing from the assembly shown in Fig. 1 , is that one of the jumper terminations 13a connects to the male part 15a of the wet-mate connector 15 via a bridging unit 20. Fig. 3 depicts the same as Fig. 2, however with the bridging unit 20 in a non-connected state.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the bridging unit 20 has a bend or angle of 45°. The construction of the bridging unit 20 will be discussed in more detail further below.

[0032] Fig. 4 depicts an embodiment similar to the embodiment in Fig. 2. However, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the bridging unit 20 has an angle of 90°.

[0033] Fig. 5 depicts another embodiment comprising a bridging unit 20. In this embodiment, the bridging unit 20 is connected to a penetrator 9. Furthermore, the bridging unit 20 does not have a bend, i.e. the angle is 0°. In other terms, the two ends of the bridging unit 20 face in opposite and parallel directions.

[0034] The penetrator 9 has a penetrator flange 12 attached to an enclosure wall 7 of an enclosure of a subsea transformer. The penetrator 9 has a penetrator body 9a that extends through a wall aperture 7a of the enclosure wall 7. Indicated between the penetrator flange 12 and the enclosure wall 7 is a metal seal 14, which provides sealing between the penetrator 9 and the enclosure wall 7.

[0035] While a subsea transformer is given as an example, the penetrator 9 could also attach to other subsea high voltage components, such as switchgears or VSDs (variable speed drive).

[0036] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a high voltage bridging unit 20 is used to connect the penetrator 9 to the female part 15b. Notably, when connected, the bridging unit 20, the female part 15b, and the penetrator 9 are connected into one rigid structure.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a cross section view through the bridging unit shown in the embodiment of Fig. 5. It comprises two connection flanges 21 that are used to connect the bridging unit 20 to the penetrator 9 and to the female part 15b, as shown in Fig. 2. The connection flanges 21 protrude out from a main body 22. The main body 22 has an inner bore 23. Radially within the inner bore 23 there is arranged a dielectric body 24 with a dielectric body bore 28. The dielectric body 24 has a firstconical surface 25a and a second conical surface 25b, which each are arranged at opposite axial ends of the high voltage bridging unit 20.

[0038] The bridging unit 20 has a first end 27 and a second end 29.

[0039] While the first and second conical surfaces 25a, 25b are inwardly coned (like a funnel), they may also be outwardly coned.

[0040] Centrally located, inside the dielectric body bore 28, there is arranged a conductor unit 26. The conductor unit 26 has a first conductor end 26a and a second conductor end 26b that protrudes in opposite axial, parallel directions.

[0041] When used in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the first and second conductor ends 26a, 26b establish electric contact with the conductor in the penetrator 9 and the conductor in the female part 15b. As the skilled person will appreciate, the conductor ends 26a, 26b can also mate with the conductor of a male part 15a.

[0042] Notably, the first end 27 and the second end 29 of the bridging unit 20 shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are identical. In particular, the two respective interfaces comprising the first and second conical surfaces 25a, 25b and the first and second conductor ends 26a, 26b are identical. Thus, the bridging unit can be mounted in an arbitrary direction.

[0043] Fig. 7 depicts another embodiment of the bridging unit 20, such as the bridging unit 20 used in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the first end 27 and the second end 29 are not identical. Furthermore, the bridging unit 20 has a bending angle a. The bending angle a is between the direction which the first end 27 faces and the direction which the second end 29 faces, as indicated in Fig. 7. In this embodiment, the bending angle a is 45°.

[0044] The bridging unit 20 shown in Fig. 7 has non-identical first and second ends 27, 29. The second end 29 is similar to the ends of the bridging unit 20 shown in Fig.6, i.e. with an inwardly conde shape at the end of the dielectric body 24. However, the first end 27 is not. The dielectric body 24 comprises a flat end face 24a that faces in the same direction as the first end 27.

[0045] The high voltage bridging unit 20 provides flexibility when designing and installing electric high-power subsea equipment at a subsea location.

Claims

Claims1 . A high-voltage subsea assembly (30) comprising- a subsea high-voltage wet-mate connector (15) with a male part (15a) a female part (15b); and / or- a penetrator (9) with a penetrator body (9a) extending through a wall aperture (7a) of an enclosure wall (7) of a subsea enclosure (5); and further comprising a high-voltage bridging unit (20) connected to the male part (15a) or female part (15b), and / or connected to the penetrator (9), wherein the high-voltage bridging unit (20) comprises- a first end (27) and a second end (29);- a main body (22) with an inner bore (23) extending between the first and second ends (27, 29), wherein the main body (22) is conductive;- a dielectric body (24) radially within the inner bore (23), comprising a dielectric body inner bore (28) and extending between the first and second ends (27, 29);- a conductor unit (26) comprising metal, extending between the first and second ends (27, 29), and arranged inside the dielectric body inner bore (28).

2. A high-voltage subsea assembly (30) according to claim 1 , wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) face in opposite, parallel directions.

3. A high-voltage subsea assembly (30) according to claim 1 , wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) face in non-parallel directions, deviating from oppositely facing parallel directions with a bending angle (a).

4. A high-voltage subsea assembly (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) are identical.

5. A high-voltage subsea assembly (30) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) have different configurations.

6. A high-voltage bridging unit (20) rated for voltages above 12 kV, comprising- a first end (27) and a second end (29);- a main body (22) with an inner bore (23) extending between the first and second ends (27, 29), wherein the main body (22) is conductive;- a dielectric body (24) radially within the inner bore (23), comprising a dielectric body inner bore (28) and extending between the first and second ends (27, 29);- a conductor unit (26) comprising metal, extending between the first and second ends (27, 29), and arranged inside the dielectric body inner bore (28).

7. A high-voltage bridging unit (20) according to claim 6, wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) face in opposite, parallel directions.

8. A high-voltage bridging unit (20) according to claim 6, wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) face in non-parallel directions, deviating from oppositely facing parallel directions with a bending angle (a).

9. A high-voltage bridging unit (20) according to one claims 6 to 8, wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) are identical.

10. A high-voltage bridging unit (20) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first end (27) and the second end (29) have different configurations.

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