Subsea Power Distribution Centralized Capacitive Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea electric power distribution installations are complex and cumbersome to install and maintain, especially in deep water environments, due to their high number of components, which affects their reliability and increases maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A subsea electric power distribution installation with a centralized energy storage unit that uses capacitive storage instead of batteries, providing a shared power supply to electronic equipment and incorporating a modular structure with pressure-resistant containers to simplify the physical structure and enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a high number of components are used in subsea electric power distribution installations, then the functionality and control capability are improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate battery units into a single centralized energy storage unit. This merging approach maintains the necessary control capability while significantly reducing the number of discrete components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and reducing installation complexity in deep water environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized energy storage unit serves multiple functions: it provides power to electronic equipment, acts as a buffer during voltage dips, and enables reliable operation of subsea facilities. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain adaptability and control capability while using fewer components.
2Use of energy by moving object
If traditional battery systems are used in subsea installations, then power supply functionality is provided, but reliability issues arise due to battery-related problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of energy storage technology from chemical batteries to capacitive energy storage. This parameter change eliminates battery-related reliability issues such as degradation, temperature sensitivity, and maintenance requirements, while maintaining the power supply functionality through the centralized energy storage unit.
3Ease of repair
If complex maintenance interventions are required for subsea installations, then component functionality can be restored, but the cost and complexity of maintenance increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple battery units into a single centralized energy storage unit, the patent reduces the number of components that require maintenance. This simplification directly reduces maintenance complexity and makes interventions less costly and more feasible in deep water environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive-based centralized energy storage unit requires minimal maintenance compared to traditional battery systems. The system is designed to operate with self-service characteristics, reducing the need for complex maintenance interventions and extending the time between maintenance cycles.
4Reliability
If multiple separate energy storage units are used for electronic equipment, then power redundancy is improved, but the overall system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate energy storage units into a single centralized energy storage unit that serves all electronic equipment. This consolidation reduces the overall system volume while maintaining power redundancy through the centralized unit's capacity to support multiple loads simultaneously.
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
The centralized energy storage unit simplifies the installation and maintenance of subsea electric power distribution installations, improves reliability by overcoming battery-related reliability issues, and reduces the overall size and complexity of the system, while providing stable power supply during voltage dips or failures.
Implementation Method 1
uses capacitive storage instead of batteries
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea electric power distribution installation including: one or more MV switching apparatuses electrically connected with an electric power source an one or more electric loads, the switching apparatuses being adapted to switch a MV electric power supply to the electric loads; electronic equipment operatively associated with the switching apparatuses for managing the operation of the switching apparatuses, the electronic equipment being configured to receive a LV electric power supply. The subsea electric power distribution installation includes a centralized energy storage unit including one or more storing devices for storing electric energy to feed the electronic equipment, wherein the centralized energy storage unit is adapted to receive electric power from the electric power source to charge the storing devices, wherein the centralized energy storage unit is adapted to provide an electric power supply to the the electronic equipment by absorbing electric power from the storing devices.