Two-Floor Offshore HVDC Topside Layout for Compact Converter Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore HVDC converter platforms face challenges in minimizing their overall footprint, volume, and weight, which affects their efficiency, fabrication, transportation, and installation costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed topside platform for a VSC HVDC symmetrical monopole offshore converter station is designed with a first floor for transformer modules and an incoming AC switchgear module, and a second floor for converter modules, optimizing the layout to reduce the platform's dimensions and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If equipment is arranged in separate rooms/modules interconnected via electrical and mechanical interfaces, then operational functionality is achieved, but overall footprint, volume, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple equipment modules (transformer module, converter module, and AC switchgear module) into a single integrated topside platform structure. The modules are arranged on different floors of the same platform, sharing common structural support, cable routes, and mechanical interfaces, thereby reducing the overall footprint, volume, and weight compared to separate interconnected modules.
2Ease of operation
If equipment is arranged in separate rooms/modules interconnected via electrical and mechanical interfaces, then operational functionality is achieved, but fabrication, transportation, and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functional modules into a single fabricated topside platform unit that can be manufactured as one complete structure. This unified fabrication approach simplifies manufacturing processes, reduces assembly complexity, and enables the entire platform to be transported as a single unit or pre-assembled sections, thereby improving ease of manufacture, transportation, and installation.
3Volume of moving object
If transformer modules and converter modules are arranged on the same floor, then platform volume is reduced, but operational maintenance and safety access becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict between compactness and accessibility by transitioning from a two-dimensional same-floor arrangement to a three-dimensional multi-floor configuration. The transformer module is placed on the first floor while the converter module is placed on the second floor, vertically stacking functional areas. This vertical separation maintains compact horizontal footprint while providing distinct access routes and maintenance spaces for each module type.
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 configuration results in a reduced overall footprint, volume, and weight of the platform, making it easier to fabricate, transport, and install, while providing a more economical solution.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second transformer modules are arranged on the first floor of the topside platform and are configured to transform the first AC signal into a second AC signal
Implementation Method 2
first and second converter modules configured to convert the second AC signal into a direct current, DC, signal for a DC circuit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
There is provided a topside platform (402) for a voltage source converter high voltage direct current, VSC HVDC, symmetrical monopole offshore converter station, the topside platform (402) comprising: a first floor (404) and a second floor (405), an incoming AC switchgear module (454) and first and second transformer modules (446, 448), wherein the incoming AC switchgear module (454) is configured to distribute a first alternating current, AC, signal from an AC grid to the first and second transformer modules (446, 448), wherein the first and second transformer modules (446, 448) are arranged on the first floor (404) of the topside platform (402) and are configured to transform the first AC signal into a second AC signal; and first and second converter modules (410, 412) configured to convert the second AC signal into a direct current, DC, signal for a DC circuit, wherein the first and second converter modules (410, 412) are positioned on the second floor (405) of the topside platform (402), wherein the incoming AC switchgear module (454) is positioned between the first and second converter modules (410, 412).