SUBSEA COOLING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A subsea cooling assembly has a block module for the accommodation of electronics or power components and a cover element. The block module is arranged with at least one recess, with the electronics or power components being arranged in the at least one recess of the block module for the transfer heat between the electronics or power components and the surrounding sea through the block module. The cover element has outer rim portions arranged to fit with outer rim portions of the at least one recess for closing off the interior of the at least one recess. The block module has at least one strength supporting structure arranged to provide load support to at least a portion of the cover element which is distanced away from the outer rim portions of the cover element.

Claims

1. A subsea cooling assembly comprising: a block module which is configured to accommodate a number electronics or power components, the block module comprising at least one recess in which the electronics or power components are arranged for the transfer heat between the electronics or power components and the surrounding sea through the block module; and a cover element comprising outer rim portions which are configured to fit with outer rim portions of the at least one recess for closing off the interior of the at least one recess; wherein the block module comprises at least one strength supporting structure which is configured to provide load support to at least a portion of the cover element which is distanced away from the outer rim portions of the cover element.

2. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one strength supporting structure is extends in a transverse direction across the block module from one side portion of the block module to an opposite side portion of the block module.

3. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one strength supporting structure is defined by at least an inner wall of the at least one recess.

4. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronics or power components are positioned on a mounting surface which is located in the at least one recess.

5. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the exterior of the block module is provided with at least one cooling rib.

6. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the at least one cooling rib extends in a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the strength supporting structure.

7. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the block module includes a cooling arrangement comprising at least one cooling pipe element.

8. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the strength supporting structure comprises a load bearing surface which is configured to contact the cover element when the cover element is in a position to close off the the at least one recess.

9. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the block module and the at least one strength supporting structure comprises separate parts of a single structure.

10. The subsea cooling assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cover element and the block module are shaped as plate structures comprising squared cross sections which are configured to fit together.

11. The subsea cooling assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover element comprises a second block module.

12. The subsea cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a second such cooling assembly, wherein the cooling assemblies are connected together.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0030] In the following description, an example of one embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an example of a subsea cooling assembly 1 in accordance with the invention, wherein a block module 2 has a recessed surface 6 arranged with a number of recesses 3 for accommodating electronics or power components 4. The electronics or power components 4 are placed in the recesses 3 in direct or indirect contact with a component mounting surface of the recess, for instance the bottom surface of the recess. In FIG. 1, the recesses 3 are shown having essentially equal size and are spaced side by side in a parallel relationship with essentially an equal distance between the recesses. However, the configuration and dimensions of the recesses may vary according to the kind of electronics or power components 4 to be accommodated in the recesses.

[0032] Each recess 3 may have an oblong shape as illustrated in FIG. 1 with a length extending from one side portion 9 to an oppositely arranged side portion 10, and each recess may be arranged with a varying or uniform depth. The size and shape of the opening of the recess 3 into the recessed surface 6 may vary. When the recessed surface 6 is provided with plural recesses 3 as shown in FIG. 1, the size, configuration and orientation of the recesses may vary from one recess to the other or may be the same.

[0033] A cover element/cover plate 5 is provided to be arranged onto the block module 2 to close off the interior of the recesses 3 from the surrounding water. The cover plate may be welded onto the block module 2 or otherwise joined to the block module in order to seal off the interior of the recesses 3 of the block module. As seen in the figure, the block module 2 is arranged with an outer rim portion 12 which is arranged to fit with an outer rim portion 11 of the cover element 5.

[0034] The cooling of the electronics or power components 4 located in the recesses 3 occurs by passive cooling by the transfer of heat through the material of the block module 2 as the exterior of the block assembly is exposed to sea water. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the block module 2 is shown as a machined block which may be manufactured in a material of high thermal conductivity to enhance the transfer of heat through the block module 2 and arrange for an efficient cooling of the electronics or power components 4. The recesses 3 are provided to facilitate the installment of the electronics or power components 4 into the block module 2 and to ensure efficient cooling through the block module 2.

[0035] As the subsea cooling assembly 1 is to be used at considerable sea depths, the subsea cooling assembly 1 is arranged to endure hyperbaric pressures working on the block module 2 and the cover plate 5 at these sea depths. In order to provide the subsea cooling assembly with a stiffness for withstanding the pressures on the block module 2 and the cover plate 5, the block module 2 has at least one strength supporting structure 7 which in FIG. 1 is shown as a rib structure. The strength supporting structure 7 has a load bearing surface 8 and is arranged to extend transversely across the block module 2 from the side portion 9 to the oppositely arranged side portion 10. As the block module 2 in this embodiment is shown as a plate structure, the oppositely arranged side portions are here constituted by the side surfaces of the plate. When the cover plate 5 is arranged onto the block module 2 so that the outer rim 11 of the cover plate is arranged to fit onto the outer rim 12 of the block module 2, at least one portion of the cover plate 5 distanced away from the outer rim portions of the cover element is supported by a load bearing surface 8 of the strength supporting structure 7.

[0036] In the embodiment of the block module as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of strength supporting structures 7 are provided side by side to ensure an evenly distributed support over the surface of the cover element 5 facing the block module 2. The spacing between the strength supporting structures 7 determines the stiffness of the base module, and the maximum allowed spacing is determined by the deflection of the component mounting surface (not shown) in the recess 3. The strength supporting structures 7 may constitute the inner walls of the recess extending from one side surface of the block module 2 to the other side surface. As explained above when describing the recesses, the configuration, dimension and orientation of the individual strength supporting structures 7 may vary, and the strength supporting structures 7 may be uniform or non uniform in the direction transversely across the block module 2. The load bearing surfaces 8 of the strength supporting structures 7 may be arranged so that contact is established with corresponding portions of the cover element 5 when the cover element is brought into the closed position, or the load bearing surfaces 8 may be distanced from the corresponding portions of the cover element 5 but dimensioned so that contact is established at specific ambient pressure conditions.

[0037] The strength supporting structure(s) 7 may be provided as an integrated part of the block module 2, wherein the strength supporting structure(s) 7 and the block module 2 are made in one piece, ensuring an efficient heat transfer between the components located in the recesses 3 and the sea water surrounding the block module 2. Alternatively, the strength supporting structure(s) 7 may be provided separately from the block module 2 and arranged to be connected to the block module 2. The strength supporting structure(s) 7 may then be provided in the same or different material as the block module 2.

[0038] The sea water surrounding the block module 2 serves as the cooling medium for cooling the components located in the recesses 3. To optimize the heat exchange between the sea water and the block module 2, the exterior of the block module may be provided with a structure allowing efficient interface contact between the block module and the sea water. In this respect the block module may be provided with cooling ribs or cooling fins 13 extending in a direction which is perpendicular to the transversally arranged strength supporting structures 7. The orientation of the cooling ribs 13 perpendicular to the strength supporting structures 7 increases the overall stiffness of the block module 2. The combination of the strength supporting structures 7 and cooling fins 13 being arranged perpendicular to each other, and the increase of the thickness of the base module 2 and the cover plate, provides the subsea cooling assembly with a possibility of three axis stiffness control. If needed, the thickness of the cover plate 5 and the plate shaped block module 2 may also be increased.

[0039] The cooling fins 13 are shown as integral parts of the block module 2, but the cooling fins 13 may of course also be provided as addition equipment to be attached to the block module 2. In addition or as an alternative to the cooling ribs 13, a cooling arrangement such as a cooling pipe element may be provided.

[0040] In FIG. 1 the cover element 5 and the block module 2 are shown as plate structures, with squared cross sections arranged to fit the cover element onto the block, but the cover element 5 and the block module 2 may as the skilled person will realize also have other configurations. Even if the cooling assembly may be given various configurations, it will be advantageous to the cooling effect that the cooling assembly is shaped so that the exterior has a large surface and a large ratio between the exterior surface and the volume of the cooling assembly.

[0041] Installation holes 17 are shown for the insert of penetrators such as high pressure feed-through penetrators (not shown).

[0042] In an embodiment the cover element 7 may be substituted with another block module arranged onto the block module 2 to close off the interior of the recess(es).

[0043] The subsea cooling assembly 1 may be connected with other cooling assemblies to produce a modularized cooling system.

[0044] In the preceding description, various aspects of the apparatus according to the invention have been described with reference to the illustrative embodiment. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and configurations were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the apparatus and its workings. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the apparatus, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject matter pertains, are deemed to lie within the scope of the present invention as defined in the in the attached claims.