Subsea Unit Passive Pressure Compensator and Pollutant Absorber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea equipment faces challenges with pressure compensation and pollutant absorption, leading to degradation and performance issues over time, especially due to the use of active components and accumulation of debris.
Innovation Solution
A subsea unit with a passive pressure compensator and absorber, utilizing materials like silicone gel, active coal, or magnetic materials to absorb pollutants and maintain pressure balance without active components, ensuring robustness and extended lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active pressure compensators are used in subsea equipment, then pressure compensation can be achieved, but the equipment degrades over time due to active component failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active mechanical pressure compensators with a passive compensator system that uses a deformable membrane and elastic elements (springs) to automatically balance pressure differences. This eliminates motors, sensors, and control systems, thereby improving reliability and lifespan while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive pressure compensator system is self-regulating and requires no external control or power supply. The elastic elements automatically adjust to pressure changes, enabling the system to compensate for pressure differences autonomously without active components that could fail.
2Reliability
If pollutants and debris accumulate inside subsea units, then electronic device performance degrades, but frequent maintenance increases operational costs and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an absorber material inside the pressure compensator chamber that proactively captures pollutants and debris before they can reach and damage electronic devices. This preliminary absorption action prevents contamination accumulation, maintaining device performance without requiring frequent maintenance interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorber material converts the harmful effect of pollutants and debris into a beneficial containment mechanism. Instead of allowing contaminants to damage electronics, the absorber captures them within the pressure compensator chamber, transforming a potential failure source into a protective feature that extends operational time between maintenance cycles.
3Reliability
If thick walls are used to withstand pressure difference, then equipment can operate at atmospheric pressure, but the equipment becomes heavy and costly with poor cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter inside the equipment by using a passive pressure compensator that equalizes internal pressure with external hydrostatic pressure. This allows the use of thinner walls and reduces equipment weight while maintaining pressure resistance, as the pressure difference across the walls is minimized through active compensation rather than structural thickness.
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 solution enhances the robustness and longevity of subsea units by eliminating the need for active components and effectively absorbing pollutants, preventing damage to electronic devices and maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a passive pressure compensator arranged to reduce a pressure difference between ambient subsea pressure and pressure inside the external housing
Implementation Method 2
a subsea unit liquid for counteracting deformation of the external housing
Implementation Method 3
an absorber arranged to absorb debris emitted by the first electronic or electric device, wherein the absorber comprises one of a silicone gel, active coal and magnetic material
Implementation Method 4
an absorber arranged to absorb debris emitted by the first electronic or electric device, wherein the absorber comprises one of a silicone gel, active coal and magnetic material
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~2c
Figure 2d~3c
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a subsea unit (1A) comprising an external housing (1a), a passive pressure compensator (1b) arranged to reduce a pressure difference between ambient subsea pressure and pressure inside the external housing (1a), a subsea unit liquid (1c) for counteracting deformation of the external housing (1a), and a first subunit (3) arranged inside the external housing. The first subunit (3) comprises a subunit housing, a passive pressure compensator arranged to reduce a pressure difference between the pressure inside the subunit housing and the pressure inside the external housing, a first electronic or electric device arranged inside the subunit housing, a first type of liquid for counteracting deformation of the subunit housing, and an absorber arranged to absorb a pollutant in the first subunit. A subsea power system is also presented herein.