Submersible Pump Power Contacts for Cryogenic Cable Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in managing the long power cables used for submersible pumps in liquefied gas storage tanks, as they are prone to damage and require labor-intensive installation and removal, posing risks and costs due to their length and exposure to extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A power feeding apparatus with movable electrical contacts and a positioning mechanism that allows the power cable to be permanently mounted within the pump column, eliminating the need to carry or remove the cable with the pump, ensuring reliable and safe operation by maintaining electrical connection through movable contacts and a support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the power cable is coupled to the pump and carried into/out of the pump column together with the pump, then the pump can be installed and removed easily, but the power cable is prone to damage and requires labor-intensive handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent parts: the power cable system remains fixed in the pump column, while the pump is moved separately. The power cable is segmented from the pump assembly, allowing the pump to be installed/removed without moving the cable, thus preventing cable damage while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
A contact structure serves as an intermediary between the moving pump and the fixed power cable system. This intermediary enables electrical connection without direct coupling, allowing the pump to be moved independently while maintaining power supply through the contact mechanism.
2Length of moving object
If the power cable is made long enough to reach the bottom of the pump column, then the pump can be positioned at the bottom, but the cable becomes more vulnerable to damage and requires more handling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the power cable to reach the pump at the bottom of the column, the approach is inverted: the power cable remains fixed at the top of the pump column, and the pump is moved to the desired position. This eliminates the need for long cables and reduces cable handling and damage risk.
3Reliability
If the power cable remains in the pump column while the pump is removed for maintenance, then cable damage is prevented, but electrical connection must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The contact structure is designed to be dynamic, automatically adjusting its position and contact state based on whether the pump is installed or removed. When the pump is present, electrical connection is maintained; when removed, the contact structure adapts to maintain the system's functional integrity without requiring complex manual reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a power feeding apparatus and a power feeding method for supplying electric power to a submersible pump for delivering liquefied gas, such as liquefied ammonia, liquefied natural gas (LNG), or liquid hydrogen. The power feeding apparatus includes a first electrical contact secured to the submersible pump and electrically coupled to an electric motor of the submersible pump; a second electrical contact configured to contact the first electrical contact; and a power cable electrically coupled to the second electrical contact. At least a part of the second electrical contact is located in a pump column in which the submersible pump is arranged.