WO2017102034A1

WO2017102034A1 - Arrangement for subsea housing of electric components

Info

Publication number: WO2017102034A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/080641
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Gunnar; John Pretlove
Original assignee: Abb Schweiz Ag
Priority date: 2015-12-18
Filing date: 2015-12-18
Publication date: 2017-06-22

Abstract

There is provided an arrangement for subsea housing of electric components. The arrangement comprises a hermetically sealed housing (2). The arrangement comprises at least one electric component (3) provided inside the housing. The at least one electric component has a first transceiver (4) connected to the housing. The first transceiver is configured to receive power and data from a second transceiver (7) of a connector (6). The housing defines a transmission device (19) for a combined power and data connection (9) between the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR SUBSEA HOUSING

OF ELECTRIC COMPONENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments presented herein relate to housing of electric components, and particularly to an arrangement for subsea housing of electric components.

BACKGROUND

In communications networks, there is always a challenge to obtain good performance and capacity for a given communications protocol, its

parameters and the physical environment in which the communications network is deployed.

In general terms, subsea electronic modules (SEMs) comprise electronics, such as of control equipment, encapsulated in a water tight housing. In general terms the SEM, or a network of SEMs, may comprise electronics that control and monitor subsea systems, including the production, automation and electrical systems, as well as other subsea infrastructure equipment.

The SEMs are connected to an electrical supply that powers the electronics of the SEMs. The SEMs are also connected to the equipment that the SEMs are configured to control and monitor. The SEMs may also receive and transmit data between surface equipment and subsea equipment. It is common practice to separate electrical power and signal connectors, thus having multiple connectors. Sometimes each signal connector comprises multiple contacts (such as a 4-way, a 7-way, or a 12-way pin contact) in a single connector.

Connectors that penetrate the housing (often referred to as penetrators) are used to provide electrical power to the SEM and also to provide signals or data to and from the SEM. The mechanical integrity of the housing should still be maintained. The connectors may be considered a weak point of the housing from a reliability point of view. Connectors are also notoriously expensive and the market is dominated by a few specialized companies.

Hence, there is a need for housings for electric components having improved connections.

SUMMARY

An object of embodiments herein is to provide housings for electric components having improved connections.

Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) may in subsea environments be used to perform certain duties. The connectors may therefore be engineered to be connectable and disconnectable by such a ROV. The inventors of the enclosed embodiments have realized that it may therefore be desirable to reduce the number of contacts (e.g., the number of pin contacts) of the connector to a minimum - for design considerations and retrievability. A particular object is therefore to provide housings for electric components having improved connections with a reduced number of contacts.

According to a first aspect there is presented an arrangement for subsea housing of electric components. The arrangement comprises a hermetically sealed housing. The arrangement comprises at least one electric component provided inside the housing. The at least one electric component has a first transceiver connected to the housing. The first transceiver is configured to receive power and data from a second transceiver of a connector. The housing comprises a transmission device for a combined power and data connection between the first transceiver and the second transceiver. Advantageously this provides housings for electric components having improved connections to both power and signals.

Advantageously this provides housings for electric components having improved connections with a reduced number of contacts. Advantageously this allows for a simple replacement of the hermetically sealed housing (comprising the at least one electric component) or the single connector, for example during intervention.

Advantageously this enables a robust hermetically sealed housing with high reliability.

Advantageously this enables the number of penetrations needed in the hermetically sealed housing to be minimized.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive concept is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams illustrating arrangements for subsea housing of electric components according to embodiments;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of an arrangement for subsea housing of electric components according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventive concept will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. Any step or feature illustrated by dashed lines should be regarded as optional.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to subsea housing of electric components.

Figure l is schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement la for subsea housing of electric components 3 according to an embodiment. According to the schematic diagram of Figure 1 the arrangement la is provided in a body of water 18, such as in an ocean, a sea, or a lake. The arrangement la may be placed on the seabed 10 of the body of water 18.

The arrangement la comprises a hermetically sealed housing 2. The arrangement la further comprises at least one electric component 3. The at least one electric component 3 is provided inside the housing 2. The at least one electric component 2 has a first transceiver 4. The first interface 4 is connected to the housing 2. The first transceiver 4 is configured to receive power and data from a second transceiver 7 of a connector 6. The housing 2 defines a transmission device 19 for a combined power and data connection 9 between the first transceiver 4 and the second transceiver 7.

Further details of the arrangement la for subsea housing of electric

components 3 will now be disclosed.

For example, the arrangement la may further comprise the second

transceiver 7. The second transceiver 7 may then be configured to be connected to a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) 13. The ROV 13 may be configured to provide data and power to the at least one electric component 3. Alternatively the second transceiver 7 is part of such a ROV 13. In any case, there is just a single interface, as defined by the combined power and data connection 9 between the ROV 13 and the at least one electric component 3. Yet alternatively the second transceiver 7 may be connected to a further arrangement la (not illustrated) and thus be configured to receive, transmit, or exchange data with the further arrangement la. The second transceiver 7 may be configured to be connected to an electric power source, such as an underwater cable or a subsea electrical power distribution system.

There may be different transmission devices arranged between the first transceiver and the second transceiver. The transmission device may be an integral part of the hermetically sealed housing 2. Thus, in such cases, if the hermetically sealed housing 2 is made from metal, the transmission medium may also be made from metal; if the hermetically sealed housing 2 is made from ceramic, the transmission medium may also be made from ceramic, and so on. In the case of a metal housing, the transmission device may be an integral part or section made from the same metal. Alternatively the transmission device may be manufactured from different material in the form of a section, plug, insert or similar and fixed in an opening in the housing with a hermetic or watertight seal. The hermetically sealed housing 2 may have a certain thickness. For example, the hermetically sealed housing 2 may have a thickness of about between 2cm and 7 cm. Since the hermetically sealed housing 2 has a relative thin thickness, high bandwidth bi-directional communications may be possible at high frequency with minimum losses between the first transceiver 4 and the second transceiver 7.

There may be different ways to provide the combined power and data connection 9. Different embodiments relating thereto will now be described in turn. For example, each of the first transceiver 4 and the second

transceiver 7 may be provided as a modem.

A composite signal comprising a modulated carrier signal carrying data may be transmitted from the second transceiver 7 towards the first transceiver 4 over a single connection 9. Thus, at least some of the embodiments disclosed herein are based on combining a separate power connection and a separate data connection into one single connector by using principles resembling those of power-line communications (PLC). According to one embodiment the combined power and data connection is provided by means of an alternating current (AC) electric power signal. For example, the second transceiver 7 may comprise an electromagnetic transmitter. The electromagnetic transmitter is configured to transmit an AC electric power signal. The first transceiver 4 may then comprise an

electromagnetic receiver. In this case transmission device 19 may be an integral part of a housing 2 made of metal. The transmission device made be made from the same metal or a different metal or alloy suitable fixed in place in an opening in housing 2 such that a hermetic seal is obtained. The metal is preferably selected to have low electromagnetic losses. The electromagnetic receiver is configured to receive the AC electric power signal. As such, an AC electric power signal may provide both power and data to a receiver of the AC electric power signal. The AC electric power signal thereby provides the combined power and data connection 9. The AC electric power signal may have a voltage of about 230 to 690 Volts. In a variation of this embodiment, the transmission device of a combined power and data connection 9 may comprise an electrical conductor that penetrates the wall of the housing 2. In this case the electrical conductor may be arranged surrounded by an insulating material or a bushing to insulate the electrical conductor from the wall material of the housing 2 and/or from another power or data connection adjacent or close by. A combined power and data connection 9 with an electrically conductive transmission device as previously described, in combination with a suitable insulation material or bushing, may be hermetically sealed to the wall of the housing 2 to prevent the ingress of water.

According to one embodiment the combined power and data connection is provided by means of a magnetic field. For example, the second transceiver 7 may comprise a second inductive coil. The second inductive coil may be configured to generate a magnetic field. The first transceiver 4 may then comprise a first inductive coil. The first inductive coil is configured to sense the magnetic field. In this case transmission device 19 may be an integral part of a housing 2 made of metal. The transmission device made be made from the same metal or a different metal or alloy plug, insert or section suitably fixed in place in an opening in housing 2 such that a hermetic seal is obtained. The metal may be preferably selected to have high transmission characteristics due to low losses, eg hysteresis losses in changing magnetic fields. As such, a magnetic field may provide both power and data in a composite signal, wherein the composite signal comprises a modulated carrier signal carrying data, to a receiver of the magnetic field. The magnetic field thereby provides the combined power and data connection 9.

According to one embodiment the combined power and data connection is provided by means of an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal may be an ultrasound signal. For example, the second transceiver 7 may comprise an acoustic transmitter. The acoustic transmitter is configured to transmit an acoustic signal. The first transceiver 4 may then comprise an acoustic receiver. The acoustic receiver is configured to sense the acoustic signal. As such, an acoustic signal may provide both power and data in a composite signal, wherein the composite signal comprises a modulated carrier signal carrying data, to a receiver of the acoustic signal. The acoustic signal thereby provides the combined power and data connection 9. The acoustic

embodiment of the transmission device 19 may be arranged as a plug or insert in the housing wall 2, preferably selected or suitably manufactured so as to have improved acoustic properties such as having low acoustic losses in respect of the frequencies planned to be used for transmission. Such an acoustic plug, body, insert or section has to be fixed in the opening such that a hermetic seal is obtained. Embodiments relating to further details of arrangements for subsea housing of electric components will now be disclosed with reference to the

arrangement lb of Figure 2. Figure 2 is schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement lb for subsea housing of electric components 3 according to an embodiment. The arrangement lb is similar to the arrangement la and may hence comprise features, such as a hermetically sealed housing 2, and at least one electric component 3 having a first transceiver 4, and optionally also a second transceiver 7, with properties as disclosed above. The arrangement la, lb may comprise further entities, components, or devices, depending, for example, on what kind of combined power and data connection 9 is to be established between the first transceiver 4 and the second transceiver 7. For example, the arrangement la, lb may comprise a power supply 8. The power supply 8 is provided in the hermetically sealed housing 2. Further, the power supply 8 is connected between the first transceiver 4 and the at least one electric component 3. Hence the power supply 8 is operatively interposed between the first transceiver 4 and the at least one electric component 3. The power supply 8 may have different purposes. For example, a signal transmitted by the second transceiver 7 may have too high a power level according to power level specifications of the at least one electric component 3. The power supply 8 may therefore be configured to reduce power in a signal received by the first transceiver 4 from the second transceiver 7. The power supply 8 may further be configured to feed the signal with reduced power to the at least one electric component 3.

For example, a signal transmitted by the second transceiver 7 may be an AC signal, whilst the at least one electric component 3 may be configured only to receive a direct current (DC) signal. The power supply 8 may therefore be configured to rectify or otherwise transform an alternating current, AC, signal received by the first transceiver 4 from the second transceiver 7 into a DC signal. The power supply 8 may further be configured to feed the DC signal to the at least one electric component 3.

As noted above, such an AC signal may have a voltage of about 230 to 690 Volts. The at least one electric component 3 may be configured only to receive a DC current of substantially lower voltage. Thus, the power supply 8 may be configured to transform the AC signal into a DC signal having a voltage of about 24 Volts.

Embodiments relating to further details of arrangements for subsea housing of electric components will now be disclosed with reference to the arrangement lc of Figure 3. Figure 3 is schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement lc for subsea housing of electric components 3 according to an embodiment. The arrangement lc is similar to the arrangement la, lb and may hence comprise features, such as a hermetically sealed housing 2, and at least one electric component 3 having a first transceiver 4, and optionally also a second transceiver 7, with properties as disclosed above.

Figure 3 shows a data signal 6b and a power supply 6a in the form of a multiphase AC supply. Second receiver 7 combines or encodes the data signal with the AC power supply, for example, in the manner of power over line PLC. The transmission device 19 of Figure 3 is shown to consist of two parts, 19a and 19b. The transmission device 19 of this embodiment comprises a connector 19a and a receiving connector part 19b. Transmission device part 19a is arranged removable from connector part 19b. The connector may for example be of the wet-mate type and be arranged configured to allow connection of the two parts 19a, 19b underwater. For example it may be a wet-mate connector with means for excluding or removing water from the pins, sockets, other electrically conductive surfaces and/or from the insulating surfaces before, or during or after connection or re-connection of the removable part 19a to the fixed part 19b. Connector 19a is preferably designed suitable to be handled by a ROV or in particular by a manipulator arm of a ROV. Connectors 19a, 19b may be arranged to supply single phase or multiphase electric power.

The transmission device 19 and/or connector part 19b represents one single penetrator through the wall of the housing 2 providing both electric power and a signal or data connection. The transmission device and in particular transmission device part 19b should be hermetically sealed to the housing 2.

As indicated in the drawing a signal comprising eg data may be extracted or read from the incoming power supply 6a, 6b by the first receiver 4 and the signal and or data supplied 5b to the at least one component. Power from the connector 19a, 19b and first receiver 4 is led to a power supply conditioner 8 which provides eg DC power 5 to the at least one component. There are different examples of electric components 3 that could be provided inside the hermetically sealed housing 2. For example, each one of the at least one electric component 3 may be part of a semiconductor module.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of an arrangement lb or lc for subsea housing of electric components 3 according to an embodiment. Particularly, Figure 4 schematically illustrates the interface between signal connections 6a, 6b representing power and data outside the housing 2 and signal connections 5a, 5b representing power and data inside the housing 2.

There may be different ways for the second transceiver 7 to provide power and data to the first transceiver 4. For example, the second transceiver 7 may be configured to combine data received from an Ethernet connection 6b and power received from a power connection 6a before providing combined power and data in a composite signal 11 to the first transceiver 4. In Figure 3 the power connection 6a comprises three individual connections, for example representing three electrical phases. However, as the skilled person understands, there may be fewer or higher number of individual connections in the power connection 6a. In a variation of the combined electrical power and data embodiment, the transmission device of each power connection(s) 6a may be arranged surrounded by an insulating material or a bushing to insulate the electrical conductor of power connection(s) 6a from the wall material of the housing 2 and/or from another power connection adjacent or close by.

There may be different ways for the first transceiver 4 to provide power and data to the at least one electric component 3. For example, the first transceiver 4 may be configured to separate data from a composite signal 12 received by the first transceiver 4 from the second transceiver 7 and to provide the data over an Ethernet connection 5b to the at least one electric component 3 and to provide power of the composite signal 12 over a power connection 5a to the at least one electric component 3. In Figure 4 the power connection 5a comprises three individual connections, for example

representing three electrical phases. However, as the skilled person understands, there may be fewer or higher number of individual connections in the power connection 5a.

The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended patent claims.

For example, although some of the herein disclosed embodiments relate to providing data to the at least one electric component 3, data may also be transmitted from the at least one electric component 3 to the first transceiver 4 and over the combined power and data connection 9 towards the second transceiver 7.

For example, although only one electric component 3 has been schematically illustrated in the arrangements la, lb of Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively, each arrangement la, lb may comprise a plurality of electric components 3 provided in the hermetically sealed housing 2.

Claims

1. An arrangement (la, lb) for subsea housing of electric components (3), the arrangement comprising:

a hermetically sealed housing (2);

at least one electric component (3) provided inside the housing and having a first transceiver (4) connected to the housing;

wherein the first transceiver is configured to receive power and data from a second transceiver (7) of a connector (6);

wherein the housing comprises a transmission device (19; 19a, 19b) for a combined power and data connection (9) between the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device is made in part from a material with a low electromagnetic loss and the first transceiver comprises an electromagnetic receiver for receiving an alternating current, AC, electric power signal from the second transceiver, the AC electric power signal thereby providing the combined power and data connection.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2, further comprising the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver comprises an electromagnetic transmitter for transmitting the AC electric power signal.

4. The arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the AC electric power signal is a composite signal (11, 12) and comprises a modulated carrier signal carrying data.

5. The arrangement according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the AC electric power signal has a voltage of about 230 to 690 Volts.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device is made in part from a material with a low magnetic or hysteresis loss and the first transceiver comprises a first inductive coil for sensing a magnetic field generated by the second transceiver, the magnetic field thereby providing the combined power and data connection.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver comprises a second inductive coil for generating the magnetic field.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device (19) comprises at least one electrically conductive conductor configured to conduct alternating current, AC, electric power by means of: a first part (19a) connectable to a second part (19b); from the second transceiver to the first transceiver, the AC electric power signal thereby providing the combined power and data connection (9).

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device is made in part from a material with low acoustic loss and the first transceiver comprises an acoustic receiver for sensing an acoustic signal transmitted by the second transceiver, the acoustic signal thereby providing the combined power and data connection.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver comprises an acoustic

transmitter for transmitting the acoustic signal.

11. The arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the acoustic signal is an ultrasound signal. 12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first

transceiver is configured to separate data from a composite signal (9,

12) received by the first transceiver from the second transceiver and to provide the data over an Ethernet connection (5b) to the at least one electric component.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is configured to combine data received from an Ethernet connection (6b) and power received from a power connection (6a) before providing combined power and data in a composite signal (11) to the first transceiver.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1 or 8, further comprising a power supply (8) connected between the first transceiver and the at least one electric component configured to reduce power of a signal received by the first transceiver from the second transceiver and to feed the signal with reduced power to the at least one electric component.

15. The arrangement according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the power supply is configured to rectify or otherwise transform an alternating current, AC, signal received by the first transceiver from the second transceiver into a direct current, DC, signal, and to feed the DC signal to the at least one electric component.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the DC signal has a voltage of about 24 Volts.

17. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device is made in part from metal, glass, plastic, or ceramic.

18. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a thickness of about 2 to 7 cm.

19. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric component is part of a semiconductor module.