Submarine Power Cable Filler Channels for Hydrogen Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine power cables face challenges in transporting both electricity and hydrogen efficiently, as designs that incorporate hydrogen transportation reduce mechanical strength and require significant reconfiguration of production lines, especially when installed at significant depths.
Innovation Solution
A submarine power cable design featuring a plurality of power cores with an insulation system and a filler profile that includes a fluid channel for transporting hydrogen, minimizing mechanical strength reduction and production line adaptation, with the fluid channel being integral to the filler profile and capable of transporting liquid or gas hydrogen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tubular conductors are used for hydrogen transport, then hydrogen transportation capability is improved, but mechanical strength of conductors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cable structure is segmented into distinct functional components: traditional solid conductors for electricity transport remain intact, while separate filler profiles with fluid channels are introduced for hydrogen transport. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, preserving conductor mechanical strength while adding hydrogen transportation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Filler profiles act as intermediary elements between the conductors and the outer sheath. These filler profiles contain the fluid channels for hydrogen transport but do not replace the conductors themselves, thus serving as a mediating structure that enables dual functionality without directly weakening the electrical conductors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tubular conductors are used for hydrogen transport, then hydrogen transportation capability is improved, but cable installation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hydrogen transport function into separate filler profiles rather than integrating it into the conductors themselves, the original conductor structure and its installation characteristics remain unchanged, preserving installation reliability while adding new functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate hydrogen tube is added, then hydrogen transportation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filler profiles that contain the fluid channels are merged with the existing cable structure during the manufacturing process. These filler profiles are positioned in the spaces between conductors and integrated with the outer sheath, combining the hydrogen transport function with the existing cable architecture rather than adding completely separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The filler profiles serve multiple functions: they provide structural support within the cable, maintain the geometric arrangement of conductors, and contain the fluid channels for hydrogen transport. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If production line is reconfigured for hydrogen transport, then hydrogen transportation capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the modification requirement by keeping the existing conductor manufacturing process unchanged and only requiring additions to the filler profile manufacturing and assembly processes. This selective segmentation allows the majority of the production line to remain unchanged, reducing manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely reconfiguring the production line, the invention applies partial action by only modifying specific portions of the manufacturing process related to filler profile production and integration. This partial modification approach minimizes the disruption and cost associated with production line changes.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b)
AI summary
A submarine power cable (1) comprising: a plurality of power cores (3a-3c), each comprising a conductor (5a-5c), and an insulation system (7a-7c) arranged around the conductor (5a-5c), wherein the insulation system (7a-7c) comprises an inner semiconducting layer (9a-9c) arranged around the conductor (5a-5c), an insulation layer (11a-11c) arranged around the inner semiconducting layer (9a-9c), an outer semiconducting layer (13a-13c) arranged around the insulation layer (11a-11c), an outer layer (23) arranged around the plurality of power cores (3a-3c), and a filler profile (16a, 16b, 16c) arranged in a space between two of the power cores (3a-3c) and the outer layer (23), and a fluid channel (18a, 18b, 18c) arranged inside the filler profile (16a, 16b, 16c), wherein the fluid channel (18a, 18b, 18c) extends along the entire length of the filler profile (16a, 16b, 16c) for transporting fluid from one end of the submarine power cable (1) to an opposite end of the submarine power cable (1).