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(11) | EP 2 237 380 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Method for realizing a subsea distribution of electric power Verfahren zur Realisierung einer Unterwasser-Stromverteilung Procédé de réalisation d'une distribution d'énergie sous-marine |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention in general relates to a method of subsea distribution of electric power.
WO 02/43215 discloses a method for underground distribution of electric power.
[0002] In offshore oil and gas operations there is often a need for distribution of electric power to or from a number of subsea installations, with branching or splitting of cable systems, for example from several points along a main supply cable. A particularly interesting field of use for this invention is in offshore windmill parks.
[0003] Wind turbines may be combined with wave turbines in one park. Collecting the electric power from several sources is one of the challenges that are facing wind and wave power production at sea. Today there is no subsea solution available connecting the cables from individual wind turbines and wave turbines together and further to a larger or main cable connecting the whole plant to an onshore power network. The prior art solution to this problem is to terminate all the interconnection cables inside a windmill or other local installation above the sea level. This implies that several cables must connect to one installation like a windmill.
[0004] It would be highly desirable in plants or parks of the above type to be able to provide for the required interconnections or terminations in assemblies normally located on or near the seabed, or at least well immerged below the sea surface so as not to interfere with surface operations and to avoid many riser cables extending to platforms or windmill structures above sea level. Problems encountered in that connection involve deployment of cables and equipment concerned, as well as the need for retrieval in case of repair and maintenance. From time to time there may also be a need for changing the cable connections established.
[0005] Thus, according to this invention there is provided a method of subsea distribution of electric power from a number of windmills to consumers onshore according to claim 1.
[0006] A component or unit of particular interest here is a type of T-connectors, being configured substantially in the shape of a "T". One example of such a unit is the T-connector supplied by Euromold® (a Nexans company). Such T-connectors are used with great advantage in the present termination assembly, since their plug-in functionality makes possible relatively easy replacement or addition of cable connections that may be required in the offshore installations and operations concerned. Maximum voltage levels may be for example up to 36kV.
[0007] A special advantage is obtained with this invention in the case of offshore floating windmills, since there will be a need for only one dynamic (riser) cable to each windmill.
[0008] In the following description this invention will be further explained by way of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings:
Fig. 1 in a simplified manner partially in cross-section and in perspective view shows an assembly according to the invention for splitting an electric power cable into two cables.
Fig. 2 is a cross-section at an enlarged scale of three T-connectors assembled within an enclosure, corresponding to parts of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a still more enlarged and detailed cross-section of a T-connector for use in a specific embodiment of this invention.
[0009] The embodiment of fig. 1 is of major importance, since this is the case of interconnecting three submarine power cables 1a, 1b and 1c. Thus, cables 1a and 1c, belong to a main cable for supplying produced electric energy from a number of windmills, to consumers onshore. Cable 1b is connected to a windmill in the system. What is done at this point in the system is to electrically connect each phase of the three-phase cable 1b to each corresponding phase of cable(s) 1a and 1c. This takes place inside a water-tight enclosure 10 shown in fig. 1 (and fig. 2). Before entering enclosure 10 cables 1a-c are each surrounded by a bend stiffener 2a-c, respectively, according to known methods. Moreover, lead-in means 3a-c for sealed entry of each cable into the enclosure are provided, also as known per se.
[0010] Inside the enclosure 10 there are three groups of T-connectors 21-23, 24-26 and 27-29, respectively, supported by a bracket 19. T-connectors 21-23 are shown more detailed in fig. 2, i.e. for one (corresponding) phase 11a, 11b and 11c from respective cables 1a-c. The similar arrangements are provided for connecting the other two cable phases by means of groups 24-26 and 27-29, respectively, of T-connectors.
[0011] As will be seen from fig. 2, T-connectors 21, 22 and 23 are directly attached to one another by plugging together at their upper or transverse legs with a through-running electrically conductive path comprising conducting elements 34 and 35. In this manner conductors 31, 32 and 33 belonging to cable phases 11a, 11b and 11c, respectively, are connected together. Looking again at fig. 1, there is shown one phase 13a from cable 1a, being extended to T-connector 27 in the third or rear group of T-connectors.
[0012] The central or main leg 45 is indicated for T-connector 21, with all other T-connectors having the same kind of central leg, all such central legs being oriented vertically as shown in the drawings. This of course does not mean that in actual service this orientation is normal. It is to be noted also that in the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the axial direction of power of cables 1a-c, as well as the bend stiffeners 2a-c is generally the same as for the above central or main legs 45. In actual practice this is a very advantage arrangement, facilitating the assembling operations as well as any repair or changes to be made during the lifetime of the termination assembly.
[0013] Lead-ins 3a-c are provided at one end or sidewall 16 of enclosure 10. The opposite end or side wall is denoted 17. At the end 17 there is provided lifting means in the form of an eye structure 100 making possible deployment as well as retrieval of the whole assembly with power cables 1a-c connected thereto. It will be understood that depending on water depth at the site of installation, there may be a quite considerable weight to be carried by lifting eye 100 during such operations. In many cases it may be considered advantageous to have the dimensions of enclosure 10 to be largest in a direction between the end or side walls 16 and 17, and also to have the central legs 45 of the T-connectors mounted to extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the enclosure, i.e. more or less in parallel to the direction of cables 1a-c when entering the enclosure through bend the stiffeners 2a-c and lead-ins 3a-c.
[0014] Whereas fig. 1 illustrates the important case of three electric power cables 1a-c interconnected within enclosure 10, there may be more simple cases not falling within the invention, for example when only two three-phase high voltage submarine cables are to be connected to one another (in a simple joint), whereby it may be sufficient to provide two cable lead-ins and six T-connectors within the enclosure.
[0015] A still more simplified arrangement is illustrated in fig. 3, where a single phase of cable 1x is connected to T-connector 20 with a similar kind of central leg 45 as in the above embodiment, and with two transverse legs 26 and 27, to serve only as a termination and insulation of cable 1x. Thus, a common cylindrical housing 41 of insulating material and insulating plugs 42 as well as rubber caps 43 provide for the required insulation and termination. This is particularly useful for testing purposes, which may be a quite important operation during installation of submarine cables. For this purpose it may be sufficient to have just one cable lead-in and three termination units or T-connectors for testing of a three-phase high voltage submarine cable.
- connecting every windmill to a cable (1b) that is connected to a termination assembly for three-phase high voltage submarine cables (1a-c) comprising:
• a water-tight enclosure (10) with three cable lead-in means (3a-c) for sealed entry of each cable (1a-c) into the enclosure (10),
• nine T-connectors (20,21-29) within said enclosure (10) for receiving three phase conductors (31,32,33) per cable (1a-c), and
• lifting means (100) located on the enclosure (10) at an opposite end (17) in relation to said lead-in means (3a-c),
- connecting two other cables (1a,1c) to said termination assembly, the two other cables (1a,1c) belonging to a main cable for supplying produced electric energy from a number of windmills, to consumers onshore, in order to electrically connect each phase of the windmill cable (1b) to each corresponding phase of the two other cables (1a,1c).
- Verbindung von jeder Windmühle mit einem Kabel (1b) das mit einer Abschlussmontage für dreiphasige Hochspannungs-Unterwasserkabel (1a-c) verbunden ist, umfassend:
- ein wasserdichtes Gehäuse (10) mit drei Kabeleinführungsmitteln (3 a-c) für einen abgedichteten Eingang von jedem Kabel (1 a-c) in das Gehäuse (10),
- neun T-Verbinder (20, 21-29) in dem Gehäuse (10), zur Aufnahme von drei Phasenleitern (31, 32, 33) pro Kabel (1 a-c), und
- Hebemittel (100), die sich auf dem Gehäuse (10) an einem gegenüber liegenden Ende (17) mit Bezug auf die Einführungsmittel (3 a-c) befinden.
- Verbindung der zwei anderen Kabel (1a, 1c) mit der Abschlussmontage, wobei die zwei anderen Kabel (1a, 1c) Teil eines Hauptkalbels sind, um produzierte elektrische Energie von einer Anzahl von Windmühlen an Verbraucher auf dem Land zu schicken, um jede Phase des Windmühlenkabels (1b) elektrisch an jede entsprechende Phase der zwei anderen Kabel (1a, 1c) zu verbinden.
raccorder chaque éolienne à un câble (1b) qui est raccordé à un ensemble de terminaison pour des câbles sous-marin haute tension triphasés (1a-c) comprenant :
une enceinte étanche à l'eau (10) avec trois moyens d'entrée de câble (3a-c) pour l'entrée étanche de chaque câble (1a-c) dans l'enceinte (10),
neuf connecteurs en T (20, 21-29) à l'intérieur de ladite enceinte (10) pour recevoir des conducteurs triphasés (31, 32, 33) par câble (1a-c), et
des moyens de levage (100) positionnés sur l'enceinte (10) au niveau d'une extrémité opposée (17) par rapport auxdits moyens d'entrée (3a-c),
raccorder deux autres câbles (la, 1c) audit ensemble de terminaison, les deux autres câbles (la, 1c) appartement à un câble principal pour fournir l'énergie électrique produite à partir d'un certain nombre d'éoliennes, aux consommateurs à terre, afin de raccorder électriquement chaque phase du câble d'éolienne (1b) à chaque phase correspondante des deux autres câbles (la, 1c).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description