Submarine Power Management Inductor Diode Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing submarine equipment faces challenges in maintaining continuous current supply to electronic circuits due to relay activation, which causes power source disturbances and thermal loads, making it difficult to ensure reliable and efficient operation.

Innovation Solution

A power management device comprising an inductance and a free-wheel diode is introduced to store energy and maintain current flow during drops, with optional voltage limiters and auxiliary diodes to manage surges and optimize current distribution within the submarine equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If relay activation is used to control couplings in submarine branching unit, then configuration changes can be achieved, but power source disturbances occur and continuous current feeding becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration change capabilityVSAvoidcontinuous current supply

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inductance is pre-positioned in series with the electronic circuit before relay activation occurs. When relay switching causes current interruption, the pre-charged inductance immediately begins supplying current to the electronic circuit, preventing power disturbances before they can affect system operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inductance acts as an intermediary energy storage element between the main current source and the electronic circuit. During relay transitions, the inductance mediates the current supply, maintaining continuous power flow to the electronic circuit while allowing relay operations to proceed independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If two independent electronic circuits are provided for branch and trunk segments, then continuous current feeding is achieved, but device complexity and thermal load increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous current supplyVSAvoidcircuit duplication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management function is extracted from the electronic circuit itself and implemented as a separate passive network (inductance and diode) connected in series with the circuit. This allows the electronic circuit to remain single and simple while the power management function is handled independently by the inductance-diode network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The inductance-diode network serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains continuous current during relay transitions, limits thermal load on the electronic circuit, and works with any single electronic circuit configuration. This universal power management approach eliminates the need for circuit-specific duplications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If relay activation is used for configuration changes, then adaptability is improved, but thermal load and voltage drop increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration change capabilityVSAvoidthermal load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The inductance converts the harmful effect of relay-induced current interruption into a beneficial continuous current supply. By storing energy during normal operation and releasing it during transitions, the inductance transforms what would be thermal stress events into smooth, continuous power delivery, reducing overall thermal load on the electronic circuit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies and enhances the reliability of submarine equipment by ensuring continuous current supply, reducing thermal loads and complexity, and allowing for more efficient power management during reconfigurations and operations.

Implementation Method 1

an inductance, mounted in series with the electronic circuit between the first and second pins and arranged for storing energy to maintain a current temporarily when a main current drop occurs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a free-wheel diode, mounted in parallel with the electronic circuit and inductance between the first and second pins and arranged for allowing the maintained current to loop back toward the electronic circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiode rectification: Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2523297B1Power management device for allowing electronic circuits of a submarine equipment to be continuously fed with current

Publication Date: 2014.03.05 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

A power management device (D) equips a submarine equipment (BU) which comprises at least one electronic circuit (C1) mounted in series between first (P1) and second (P2) pins, between which a main current is intended to flow when in use. This device (D) comprises i) an inductance (IN) mounted in series with the electronic circuit (C1) between the first (P1) and second (P2) pins and arranged for storing energy to maintain a current temporarily when a main current drop occurs, and ii) a free-wheel diode (D1) mounted in parallel with the electronic circuit (C1) and inductance (IN) between the first (P1) and second (P2) pins and arranged for allowing the maintained current to loop back toward the electronic circuit (C1) in order to maintain a continuous current supply to the electronic circuit (Cj).