Actuator override mechanism for subsea circuit breaker

Abstract

A subsea circuit breaker for a subsea power distribution system. The subsea circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker enclosure, first and second contacts and an electro-mechanical actuator. The subsea circuit breaker is also furnished with a mechanical transmission mechanism for opening or closing the contacts in response to a mechanical command operation from the outside of the circuit breaker enclosure.

Claims

1. A subsea circuit breaker for a subsea power distribution system, the circuit breaker being configured for use underwater at depths of at least 1000 m and comprising: a water tight circuit breaker enclosure, first and second contacts arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure, an electro-mechanical actuator arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to open the contacts in response to a fault signal and to selectively open or close the contacts in response to a command signal, a protection element arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to generate said fault signal, a command signal input interface arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to receive said command signal from an external control system, wherein a mechanical transmission means is arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to cause the contacts to selectively open or close in response to a mechanical command operation from outside of the circuit breaker enclosure, and the circuit breaker enclosure is filled with a dielectric liquid and the subsea circuit breaker comprises a pressure compensating device, the pressure compensating device is adapted to ensure that a pressure inside the circuit breaker enclosure essentially equals a pressure outside the circuit breaker enclosure.

2. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 1 comprising a magnetic force transfer means adapted to transfer a mechanical force of said mechanical command operation to said mechanical transmission means.

3. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein the magnetic force transfer means comprises outer magnetic means, arranged outside the circuit breaker enclosure, and inner magnetic means, arranged inside the circuit breaker enclosure.

4. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein the outer magnetic means and/or the inner magnetic means comprises a permanent magnet.

5. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein the circuit breaker enclosure comprises a magnetic transfer area located in-between the outer and inner magnetic means, which magnetic transfer area exhibits low relative magnetic permeability, thereby essentially not affecting the magnetic interaction of the outer and inner magnetic means.

6. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 5, wherein the relative magnetic permeability (/.sub.0) of the magnetic transfer area is lower than 2.

7. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein the outer magnetic means comprises a permanent magnet or a material which is attracted to permanent magnets, and the inner magnetic means comprises a permanent magnet or a material which is attracted to permanent magnets, at least one of the inner and outer magnetic means comprising a permanent magnet, the permanent magnet or material which is attracted to permanent magnets of the inner and outer magnetic means being arranged at a distance from a common axis and being rotatable around said axis, such that a torque around the axis can be transferred from outside of the circuit breaker enclosure to the inside of the circuit breaker enclosure.

8. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 2 comprising a mechanical operation input interface for receiving said mechanical command operation, said mechanical operation input interface being connected to the mechanical transmission means via the magnetic force transfer means.

9. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the mechanical transmission means is mechanically connected to the electro-mechanical actuator.

10. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 1 comprising a mechanical actuator which is separate from the electro-mechanical actuator, the mechanical transmission means being mechanically connected to said mechanical actuator, which mechanical actuator is adapted to open or close the contacts in response to a mechanical command operation from outside of the circuit breaker enclosure.

11. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 10, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator or the mechanical actuator comprises two end positions, the first end position being one in which the contacts are open and the second end position being one in which the contacts are closed.

12. A subsea unit for a subsea power distribution system comprising: a subsea circuit breaker configured to use underwater at depths of at least 1000 m, the subsea circuit breaker including: a water tight circuit breaker enclosure, first and second contacts arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure, an electro-mechanical actuator arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to open the contacts in response to a fault signal and to selectively open or close the contacts in response to a command signal, a protection element arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to generate said fault signal, a command signal input interface arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to receive said command signal from an external control system, wherein a mechanical transmission means arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to cause the contacts to selectively open or close in response to a mechanical command operation from outside of the circuit breaker enclosure; wherein the circuit breaker enclosure is filled with a dielectric liquid and the subsea circuit breaker comprises a pressure compensating device, the pressure compensating device is adapted to ensure that a pressure inside the circuit breaker enclosure essentially equals a pressure outside the circuit breaker enclosure; and a water tight subsea unit enclosure enclosing said subsea circuit breaker, the circuit breaker enclosure forming a part of the subsea unit enclosure.

13. The subsea power distribution system comprising a subsea circuit breaker and/or a subsea unit according to claim 12.

14. The subsea circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator comprises two end positions, the first end position being one in which the contacts are open and the second end position being one in which the contacts are closed.

15. A subsea circuit breaker for a subsea power distribution system, the circuit breaker being configured for use underwater at depths of at least 1000 m and comprising: a water tight circuit breaker enclosure, first and second contacts arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure, an electro-mechanical actuator arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to open the contacts in response to a fault signal and to selectively open or close the contacts in response to a command signal, a protection element arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to generate said fault signal, a command signal input interface arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure for receiving said command signal, wherein a mechanical transmission means is arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure and adapted to cause the contacts to selectively open or close in response to a mechanical command operation from outside of the circuit breaker enclosure, the mechanical transmission means comprising a shaft, and the circuit breaker enclosure is filled with a dielectric liquid and the subsea circuit breaker comprises a pressure compensating device, the pressure compensating device is adapted to ensure that a pressure inside the circuit breaker enclosure essentially equals a pressure outside the circuit breaker enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

(2) FIGS. 1 and 3 are schematic side views of embodiments of subsea circuit breakers,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a subsea circuit breaker according to prior art, and

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a subsea unit comprising a subsea circuit breaker according to FIG. 1 and an external electrical consumer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 2 discloses a prior art subsea circuit breaker 10. The subsea circuit breaker 10 comprises a water tight circuit breaker enclosure 20 and two contacts 30, 35. The first contact 30 is stationary and is connected to an ingoing power line. The second contact 35 is movable and is connected to an outgoing power line. The ingoing power line is typically connected to a land based power grid (not illustrated), and the outgoing power line supplies one or more subsea electrical power consumers (item 210 in FIG. 4), such as a subsea power converter, with electricity.

(6) The movable contact 35 is maneuvered/actuated by an electro-mechanical actuator 40 positioned within the circuit breaker enclosure 20, as is schematically illustrated by a dashed line between the electro-mechanical actuator 40 and the movable contact 35 arm.

(7) A protection element 50 is arranged to measure the current and/or the voltage on the outgoing power line. The protection element 50 is capable of detecting faults such as short circuits or overload situations on the outgoing power line. As is shown, the protection element 50 is coupled to the electro-mechanical actuator 40.

(8) During operation, i.e. when the contacts 30, 35 are closed and electrical power passes through the subsea circuit breaker 10, the protection element 50 monitors the outgoing power line. In the event of a fault, the protection element 50 generates a fault signal 55 which is sent to the electro-mechanical actuator 40. Upon receipt of a fault signal 55, the electro-mechanical actuator 40 quickly opens the contacts 30, 35 by moving the movable contact 35 to the open position (the position which is illustrated in the figures). In this way, the outgoing electrical power is shut off and the connected electrical equipment, such as subsea electrical power consumers and cables, are protected from damage.

(9) The electro-mechanical actuator 40 is not only capable of maneuvering the movable contact 35 upon receipt of a fault signal 55, but also in response to a command signal 65. Such a command signal 65 is typically generated by a top-side control system (not shown). The command signal 65 is received by a command signal input interface 60 arranged within the circuit breaker enclosure 20. In the present disclosure, the command signal input interface 60 is formed by an input port 60 on the electro-mechanical actuator 40.

(10) Turning now to the present invention, a first embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 which schematically discloses a subsea circuit breaker 10 installed underwater close to the seabed. All that has been explained above with reference to the prior art subsea circuit breaker 10 of FIG. 2 applies to FIG. 1 as well. The same reference numerals have therefore been used for the components of the prior art subsea circuit breaker 10 as for the components of the subsea circuit breaker 10 of the invention.

(11) In FIG. 1, the water is schematically illustrated by short wavy lines on the top left and right sides of the subsea circuit breaker 10, and the seabed is illustrated by a dashed wavy line below the subsea circuit breaker 10. The subsea circuit breaker 10 is submerged underwater and thereby completely surrounded by water and rests on the seabed. Even though not shown in the schematic figures of the present disclosure, the subsea circuit breaker 10 (or the subsea unit 200 of FIG. 4) is typically installed on subsea foundations or support structures.

(12) On the left hand side of the subsea circuit breaker 10 in FIG. 1, a so called mechanical override mechanism is illustrated. By means of this mechanism, the contacts 30, 35 can be maneuvered manually from the outside of the subsea circuit breaker 10.

(13) The components of the present exemplifying embodiment of the mechanical override mechanism will now be described in detail. As is shown, a mechanical transmission means 70 in the form of an inner shaft 70 exits the electro-mechanical actuator 40. If this inner shaft 70 is rotated, the electro-mechanical actuator 40 maneuvers the movable contact 35 without using any electrical power. In this connection, it is pointed out that the contacts 30, 35 and the electro-mechanical actuator 40 are illustrated very schematically. The movable contact 35 may engage and disengage the stationary contact 30 while performing a pivoting movement (as illustrated), a rotating movement (not illustrated), or a linear movement (not illustrated). The movable and stationary contacts 30, 35 may also swap place such that the second contact 35 is connected to the ingoing power line.

(14) In the present embodiment, a contact free method of transferring torque from the outside of the circuit breaker enclosure 20 to the inside of the circuit breaker enclosure 20 is put to use. A magnetic force transfer means is arranged to transfer a mechanical force through the circuit breaker enclosure 20. The inner shaft 70 ends at an inner magnetic means 85. On the outside of the circuit breaker enclosure 20, an outer magnetic means 80 is arranged facing the inner magnetic means 85. Even though not shown here, the subsea circuit breaker 10 can comprise a casing or similar which rotatively supports outer magnetic means 80. Alternatively, the outer magnetic means 80 may not be comprised in the subsea circuit breaker 10, but may be an external element. The outer magnetic means 80 may form part of a separate key which can be brought to the subsea circuit breaker 10 in order to open or close the contacts.

(15) A magnetic transfer area 90 is located between the inner and outer magnetic means. The magnetic transfer area 90 is a part of the circuit breaker enclosure 20, and the purpose of the magnetic transfer area 90 is to ensure that the inner and outer magnetic means may cooperate without the circuit breaker enclosure 20 obstructing the magnetic interaction. The circuit breaker enclosure 20, apart from the magnetic transfer area 90, may be of a material which does not allow magnetic interaction through it such as a material which is attracted to permanent magnets.

(16) Suitable materials for the magnetic transfer area are especially aluminium (aluminum in US English), glass, copper, platinum and austenitic stainless steel. These materials have a relative magnetic permeability which is very close to 1 (the relative magnetic permeability of vacuum), which means that the materials have little effect on a magnetic field passing through them. In this disclosure, a relative magnetic permeability lower than 2 is defined as a low relative magnetic permeability.

(17) The outer magnetic means 80 is connected to a mechanical operation input interface 100 which is here illustrated as a handle 100 which is maneuverable for a diver. An optional outer shaft 110 is arranged between the mechanical operation input interface 100 and the outer magnetic means 80. The mechanical operation input interface 100 may be another kind of turning device 100 such as a valve wheel. Alternatively, the mechanical operation input interface 100 may be tool receiving recess. The mechanical operation input interface 100 may be maneuverable for a diver, with or without tools. The mechanical operation input interface 100 may be a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) interface.

(18) Thus, a diver or a ROV may operate the subsea circuit breaker 10 by turning the mechanical operation input interface 100 and thereby open or close the contacts 30, 35. In detail, the turning movement applied to the mechanical operation input interface 100 rotates the outer shaft 110 and the outer magnetic means 80. The magnetic interaction between the outer magnetic means 80 and the inner magnetic means 85 causes the inner magnetic means 85 to rotate in synchronisation with the outer magnetic means 80. Then, the inner shaft 70 brings the turning movement to the electro-mechanical actuator 40 which in turn maneuvers the movable contact 35.

(19) The company Bchi AG Uster provides stirrer drives for use with pressure reactors or stirred autoclaves in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Such stirrer drives must be tight and are therefore provided with magnetic couplings. One product called bmd 1200 is able to transfer a torque of 12 Nm and can withstand a pressure difference of 350 bar.

(20) The product bmd 1200 may be put to use as the magnetic force transfer means of the present disclosure. Alternatively, a similar product, bmd 5400 which is able to transfer a higher torque of 54 Nm but withstands a lower pressure difference of 200 bar, may be put to use.

(21) It is pointed out that the suggested stirrer drives are optimised to transfer great rotary speeds, exceeding 1000 rpm. Bering in mind that the present invention does not require transfer of torque at such great speeds, the stirrer drives could be modified to be able to transfer greater torques, but at lower rotational speeds. The modification or optimisation of the stirrer drives, enabling them to transfer higher torques which may be desired when used as magnetic force transfer means driving a circuit breaker in a subsea unit, is not the subject of the present disclosure.

(22) A second embodiment of the subsea circuit breaker 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. This differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that a purely mechanical actuator 45 has been added. Thus, subsea circuit breaker 10 comprises both an electro-mechanical actuator 40 and a mechanical actuator 45. As can be seen, the mechanical override mechanism is here realised without affecting the electro-mechanical actuator 40. The inner shaft 70 is connected to the mechanical actuator 45 and not to the electro-mechanical actuator 40. The movable contact 35 can be controlled by both the electro-mechanical actuator 40 and the mechanical actuator 45, as is illustrated by dashed lines between the movable contact 35 arm and both the electro-mechanical actuator 40 and the mechanical actuator 45, respectively.

(23) The mechanical override mechanism of FIG. 3 functions in the same manner as the one described with reference to FIG. 1. The difference is only that the inner shaft 70 brings the turning movement to the mechanical actuator 45 (and not to the electro-mechanical actuator 40) which in turn maneuvers the movable contact 35. The same reference numerals have therefore been used in FIGS. 1 and 3, apart from the reference numeral of the added mechanical actuator 45.

(24) In the embodiments shown here, the magnetic force transfer means is adapted to transfer a rotative force. In other words the magnetic force transfer means is able to transfer a rotational movement or a torque. However, the magnetic force transfer means may alternatively be adapted to transfer a translative force, e.g. a linear force, in this connection a straight movement. In order to accomplish the latter, the mechanical operation input interface may be a slider or a sliding mechanism (not shown) which is connected to the outer magnetic means 80. The inner magnetic means 85 would be adapted to travel along a straight line inside the subsea circuit breaker 10 and be arranged to open or close the contacts 30, 35 in response to a linear mechanical command operation from the outside of the circuit breaker enclosure 20.

(25) U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,662 B2 relates to a hermetically sealed electrical switch which is not suitable for subsea use. However, the document does disclose an example of a magnetic force transfer means (items 140 and 160) which may transfer a translative force (FIG. 1), or a rotative force (items 230 and 250 in FIG. 5).

(26) The subsea circuit breakers 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are stand-alone or self-contained devices. The subsea circuit breakers 10 may be pressure proof or pressure compensated. More in detail, the circuit breaker enclosure 20 may be pressure resistant in order to ensure that the pressure inside the circuit breaker enclosure 20 essentially equals atmospheric pressure, even when the subsea circuit breakers 10 is installed at a great depth. Alternatively, the circuit breaker enclosure 20 may be filled with a dielectric liquid and the subsea circuit breaker 10 may comprise or be connected to a pressure compensating device (not shown). Pressure compensating devices are known to the skilled person and therefore not described further here.

(27) It is to be appreciated that a subsea circuit breaker 10 of the invention may also be incorporated as a part of a subsea unit 200. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a subsea circuit breaker 10 as the one of FIG. 1 as a part of a subsea unit 200. In this example, the subsea circuit breaker 10 is not a stand-alone or self-contained device and does not have an enclosure of its own. Thus, the circuit breaker enclosure forms a part of the subsea unit enclosure 220. The subsea unit 200 may be pressure proof or pressure compensated.

(28) The subsea unit 200 of FIG. 4 may comprise a plurality of subsea circuit breakers and also other internal equipment. Some of the subsea circuit breakers may comprise mechanical override mechanisms are described herein, and others not. The subsea unit 200 may be a subsea switchgear. The subsea unit 200 of FIG. 4 is connected to a subsea electrical power consumer 210. The subsea electrical power consumer 210 may be retrievable. Even in the event that the subsea unit 200 if not being supplied with electrical power, the mechanical override mechanism of the subsea circuit breaker 10 may be used to open or close the path of current to the subsea electrical power consumer 210.