Submarine Cable Integrating AC and DC Cores
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing submarine cable systems face challenges in simplifying the transmission of both AC and DC power, leading to increased manufacturing and installation costs due to the need for separate cables and complex installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A submarine cable system is designed with two DC power cores and a three-phase AC cable combined into a single system with a circular cross-section, all surrounded by a common armouring layer, allowing for simultaneous AC and DC power transmission with reduced costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate AC and DC submarine cables are used, then power transmission capability is ensured, but manufacturing and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two single-core DC cables and a three-core AC cable into a single integrated submarine cable system with a common armour layer. This merging reduces the total number of separate cable installations needed, simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing installation costs while maintaining the capability to transmit both AC and DC power simultaneously through shared protective structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cable system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it can transmit both AC and DC power through its different cores while sharing a common armour layer for mechanical protection. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity compared to using separate dedicated cables for each power type, as the single cable system replaces multiple separate cable installations.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate AC and DC submarine cables are deployed, then power transmission reliability is maintained, but installation costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the AC and DC cable functions into a single integrated cable system with common armour, the patent reduces the number of separate laying operations required. The combined cable can be installed in a single operation rather than requiring separate installations for AC and DC cables, thereby reducing installation costs and simplifying the installation process while maintaining reliable power transmission capabilities.
3Reliability
If multiple separate cables are used for AC and DC transmission, then mechanical protection is sufficient, but transportation and laying expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cable functions into a single integrated system where AC and DC cores share a common armour layer. This consolidation reduces the total volume and weight of cable material that needs to be transported and installed, thereby reducing transportation and laying expenses. The common armour provides sufficient mechanical protection for all cores simultaneously, maintaining reliability while reducing overall system costs.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Submarine electrical cable system (100) having a substantially circular cross-section and comprising: a first insulated core (1) and a second insulated core (2); a three-phase cable (3) comprising three stranded insulated cores (8) the three-phase cable (3) being stranded with the first core (1) and the second core (2); an armour (4) surrounding the first core (1), the second core (2) and the three-phase cable (3).