Subsea Connector Volume Compensation Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional subsea connectors face issues with medium depletion during mating and de-mating cycles, leading to unreliable connections due to the displacement of compensation media, which can result in failure and loss of pressure balance, especially in harsh subsea environments.
Innovation Solution
The connector unit design interrupts flow communication between the communication chamber and the volume compensating chamber during mating, ensuring that the compensation medium remains within the connector parts, maintaining pressure balance and preventing medium depletion, by using moveable elements to seal and open passageways between the chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the communication chamber is connected to the volume compensating chamber during mating, then volume compensation is provided, but the compensation medium may be depleted from one connector part
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate connector parts, each with its own volume compensating chamber. The passageway connecting the communication chamber to the volume compensating chamber includes a first portion in the first connector part and a second portion in the second connector part. This segmentation ensures that the compensation medium remains contained within each connector part while still providing volume compensation functionality.
2Reliability
If the diaphragm volume is increased to provide sufficient flexible volume, then volume compensation is improved, but the connector size becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The volume compensation system is segmented across two connector parts, with each part containing a portion of the passageway and its own volume compensating chamber. This allows the compensation function to be distributed, reducing the need for large single-volume chambers in each connector while maintaining effective volume compensation.
3Reliability
If the passageway is opened during mating, then volume compensation is provided, but compensation medium may be lost due to uncompleted or disrupted displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The passageway is segmented into two portions located in different connector parts. This segmentation creates a contained system where the compensation medium cannot be lost during mating operations, as each connector part maintains its own sealed volume compensation system while still allowing pressure equalization.
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 design enhances the reliability of subsea connectors by maintaining the compensation medium within the connector parts, ensuring stable connections and protecting sensitive optical contacts from environmental pressures and thermal changes, even after multiple mating and de-mating cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a moveable element arranged around the contact support element and moveable along the contact support element. The first connector part and the second connector part are movable from an unmated state to a mated state. During mating of the first connector part and the second connector part, the moveable element seals the passageway between the communication chamber and the first volume compensating chamber
Implementation Method 2
the communication chamber is brought into flow communication with the second volume compensating chamber of the second connector part, so that the communication chamber is pressure compensated via second volume compensating chamber in the mated state of the connector unit
Implementation Method 3
current compensation systems use elastomeric diaphragms as a barrier and as a means of pressure and thermal compensation between seawater and the connector. The pressure stabilising or compensating medium acts in conjunction with the elastomeric materials. To provide volume compensation during the mating or de-mating of the connector unit, a volume of the diaphragm may be changed by deforming the diaphragm
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector unit (10) comprises a first connector part (12) and a second connector part (14); wherein the first connector part has at least a first volume compensating chamber (20) that is pressure compensated against an ambient environment (18). At least one contact support element (46) at least partly enters an at least second connector part (14) of the connector unit (10) during mating of the connector unit (10). The second connector part (14) of the connector unit (10) has at least a second volume compensating chamber (58) that is pressure compensated against the ambient environment (18). The connector unit further comprises a communication chamber (48) that is in flow communication with the first volume compensating chamber (20), when the connector unit (10) is in an unmated state. The communication chamber (48) is in flow communication with the second volume compensating chamber (58) of the second connector part (14) when the connector unit is in the mated state. The connector unit (10) is configured such that during mating of the first connector part (12) and the second connector part (14), flow communication between the communication chamber (48) and the first volume compensating chamber (20) of the first connector part (12) is interrupted and the communication chamber (48) is brought into flow communication with the second volume compensating chamber (58) of the second connector part (14), so that the communication chamber (48) is pressure compensated via the second volume compensating chamber (58) in the mated state of the connector unit (10).