Submarine Power Cable Joint Reinforcement Armour
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submarine power cables face limitations in tensional stability and mechanical protection, particularly at conductor joints, where single-layer armoured cables transfer a higher load to the conductor, while double-layer armoured cables are heavier and more expensive.
Innovation Solution
A submarine power cable design featuring a dual-layer armour configuration only at the conductor joints, with a main armour layer and a joint reinforcement armour layer axially locked to the main armour wires, providing enhanced strength and reduced load on the conductor joints, while maintaining a single armour layer for the majority of the cable length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a single-layer armour is used, then the cable is lighter and cheaper, but the mechanical protection and tensional stability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different armour configurations to different sections of the cable: single-layer armour for non-critical sections and dual-layer armour for critical sections (conductor joints, termination points). This local differentiation provides enhanced strength where needed while maintaining overall lightness and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The armour is divided into multiple segments or layers that can be independently configured. The critical sections receive an additional reinforcement layer, while other sections use only the base armour layer, allowing optimized protection distribution along the cable length.
2Strength
If a double-layer armour is used, then the mechanical protection is improved, but the cable becomes heavier and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-layer armour configuration is applied selectively only to critical sections where mechanical protection is most needed, rather than uniformly along the entire cable length. This reduces overall weight while maintaining protection where essential.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing full dual-layer armour throughout the entire cable, the patent applies the reinforcement layer partially only to critical sections, achieving sufficient protection with reduced material usage and weight.
3Strength
If a double-layer armour is used, then the mechanical protection is improved, but the cable cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement layer is applied only to critical sections rather than the entire cable length, reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity while maintaining protection where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the expensive dual-layer armour configuration partially only to critical sections, achieving sufficient protection with reduced material costs compared to uniform dual-layer armour throughout.
4Device complexity
If single-layer armour is used, then the cable is simpler, but the load on conductor joints increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds reinforcement specifically at critical locations (conductor joints) where load bearing is most important, while maintaining simple single-layer armour elsewhere, thus reducing peak loads on joints without significantly increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The armour structure is segmented into critical and non-critical sections, with enhanced capacity at joints to handle concentrated loads, while other sections use simpler construction.
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 3c
AI summary
A submarine power cable (1) comprising: a power core (3) including a conductor (7), wherein the conductor (7) has a conductor joint (7a) in a joint region (R) of the power core (3), a main armour layer (11) comprising a plurality of main armour wires (11a) arranged around the power core (3) and extending in the axial direction of the power core (3), and a joint reinforcement armour layer (13) comprising a plurality of joint reinforcement armour wires (13a) axially locked relative to the main armour wires (11a), wherein the joint reinforcement armour layer (3) is provided only in the joint region and arranged layered with the main armour layer (11), the joint reinforcement armour layer (13) and the main armour layer (11) thereby forming a dual-layer armour only in the joint region (R).