Subsea Electric Control Unit With Local Smart Control Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea control systems are complex, expensive, and suffer from inherent latency, with limited feedback and high maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A subsea smart electrical control unit equipped with a smart battery, sensors, and a smart controller that enables real-time monitoring, control, and fail-to-safe operations, eliminating the need for hydraulic power units and providing integrated power and control capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic control systems are used in subsea operations, then reliable control can be achieved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hydraulic control systems with an all-electric control system. The electric control unit uses electrical signals and power instead of hydraulic fluid and mechanical linkages to actuate subsea equipment, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining control reliability through direct electrical actuation of motors and control elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the hydraulic power unit (HPU) and associated hydraulic infrastructure from the subsea system. By removing this complex mechanical subsystem and replacing it with electrical components powered by a smart battery, the patent reduces overall system complexity and cost while preserving essential control functions.
2Ease of operation
If traditional control systems are deployed, then basic control functions are provided, but maintenance costs and operational expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The smart controller incorporates self-diagnostics and monitoring capabilities that enable the system to detect and report its own status and faults. This self-service functionality reduces the need for external maintenance intervention and lowers operational expenses by allowing remote monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes sensors and feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor operational parameters and system health. This feedback enables real-time adjustments and early fault detection, reducing maintenance costs by preventing failures before they occur and extending component life through optimized operation.
3Loss of time
If current control systems are used, then control latency is inherent, but real-time monitoring and response are required for optimal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The smart battery and electric control unit are designed with sufficient power capacity and response speed to handle real-time control demands without latency. The system performs preliminary power储备 and control signal processing locally at the subsea unit, eliminating communication delays and enabling immediate response to operational changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a smart controller as an intermediary between sensors/actuators and the surface control system. This local intelligence processes control signals and sensor data in real-time, eliminating the need for continuous surface-system communication and reducing control latency while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2.1~2.2
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.