Subsea Electric Control Unit With Local Sensor Feedback Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea production systems, relying on hydraulic and electro-hydraulic control systems, are complex, expensive, and suffer from latency issues, making them difficult to maintain and repair, with limited feedback in control loops.
Innovation Solution
A subsea smart electric control unit that collects data, performs in-situ analytics, and creates local control loops using external sensors and a smart controller, enabling real-time operation and optimization, and is capable of operating without an HPU, with a fail-to-specified condition capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic and electro-hydraulic control systems are used in subsea production, then control capability is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hydraulic control systems with an all-electric control system. The smart electric control unit uses electrical signals and power instead of hydraulic fluids and mechanical linkages to control subsea equipment, thereby eliminating the complexity associated with hydraulic components while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart electric control unit integrates multiple functions into a single device, combining control, monitoring, and communication capabilities. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall system while achieving comprehensive control over subsea production equipment.
2Ease of operation
If traditional control systems are deployed, then basic control functions are provided, but maintenance and repair difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The smart electric control unit incorporates self-diagnostics and monitoring capabilities that allow the system to detect and report its own status and faults. This self-service feature enables remote monitoring and reduces the need for physical intervention during maintenance, making the system easier to maintain despite its advanced functionality.
3Productivity
If current control systems are used, then control operations are performed, but latency reduces feedback effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements enhanced feedback mechanisms through the smart electric control unit, which continuously monitors system parameters and provides real-time data back to the control system. This improved feedback loop reduces latency by using electrical signal transmission instead of hydraulic feedback mechanisms, enabling faster response times and more effective closed-loop control.
Data Source
AI summary
A process and smart controller for controlling a subsea smart electrical control unit. The process including collecting operating data from one or more devices and one or more control end points, calculating and performing in-situ analytics, and reporting a health and a status of the one or more devices and one or more control end points. The smart controller including one or more external sensors that create local control loops for real time operation, adjustment, and optimization of the controlled end device, wherein the external sensors are used with a smart controller to create one or more control loops.