• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    PRESSURE COMPENSATOR FOR A SUBMARINE DEVICE. The present invention relates to a pressure compensator for an underwater device to perform a pressure compensation between an environment surrounding the underwater device and a liquid medium filling a volume of the supplied underwater device. The pressure compensator has at least one external bellows and a first chamber closed by the external bellows. This additionally has at least one internal bellows which is arranged inside the first chamber, and a second chamber closed by the internal bellows. Between the outer bellows and the inner bellows, a volume of compensation is confined, which is provided with a fluid connection to the volume of the subsea device.
    公开号:BR102012031671B1
    申请号:R102012031671-4
    申请日:2012-12-12
    公开日:2020-12-15
    发明作者:Arve Skjetne；Baard Jonas Wingestrand
    申请人:Siemens Aktiengesellschaft；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
    [0001] The invention relates to a pressure compensator for an underwater device to perform pressure compensation between an environment surrounding the underwater device and a liquid medium filling a volume of the underwater device. The invention also relates to an underwater device comprising such a pressure compensator. BACKGROUND
    [0002] Due to rising energy demands, oil and gas production near the beach is moving into deeper waters. To ensure efficient and safe production, processing facilities are being installed on the ocean floor. Such subsea installations can comprise a range of components, including pumps, compressors and others, as well as an electrical network to operate them. The electrical network may comprise, for example, a submarine transformer, submarine exchange and submarine variable speed drives. Submarine installation components need to be protected from the surrounding seawater where pressures of 30 MPa (300 bars) or more may predominate (at installation depths of 3,000 m or more).
    [0003] Two solutions have been proposed to deal with these high pressures. A pressure-resistant enclosure can be provided, which has an internal pressure close to atmospheric, allowing the use of conventional electrical and mechanical components. Such shells need to have relatively thick walls and are therefore large and heavy, since they have to withstand high differential pressures.
    [0004] Another solution is the use of pressurized casings (or pressure compensated), which comprise a volume / pressure compensator that balances the pressure in the casing to the prevailing pressure in the ambient sea water.
    [0005] The pressurized casing is generally filled with a liquid, and components operated inside the pressurized casing are made to be operable under high pressures. The pressure / volume compensator compensates for variations in liquid volume by filling the enclosure, which can occur due to variations in external pressure and / or temperature. Temperature changes can be caused by internal heating, for example, due to electrical losses.
    [0006] Pressure compensators may include metal bellows, rubber bellows, pistons or others. Bellows can have the disadvantage that they are either expensive to produce or their configuration is such that the length of the bellows is limited. In the latter case, a pressure compensator for a large volume of liquid also requires a large volume. For some types of bellows, the bellows need to be more than three times the size of the compensated volume. This results in a low utilization coefficient of the compensator system volume. In addition, the liquid filling such a pressure compensator needs to be compensated itself. Such compensator systems can therefore be relatively large and heavy.
    [0007] In WO2010 / 034880A1, a depression compensator is revealed to have a first bellows chamber which is surrounded by a second bellows chamber, the second bellows chamber forming a closed intermediate space around the first bellows chamber. A double barrier against the ingress of seawater is thus obtained, but the pressure compensation capacity is the same as if the first bellows chamber were supplied by itself.
    [0008] WO2011 / 088840A1 discloses a pressure compensation system that achieves a double barrier against the ingress of seawater.
    [0009] It is desirable to provide a pressure compensator for use with an underwater device that can be easily manufactured and cost efficient. It is also desirable that the pressure compensator provides safety during operation and has a long life. It is desirable to reduce the size of the pressure compensator, and to increase the coefficient of use. SUMMARY
    [00010] Consequently, there is a need to obviate at least some of the drawbacks mentioned above, and to provide an improved pressure compensator for subsea use.
    [00011] One embodiment of the invention provides a pressure compensator for an underwater device to perform a pressure compensation between an environment surrounding the underwater device and a liquid medium filling a volume of the underwater device. The pressure compensator comprises at least one outer bellows, a first chamber closed by the outer bellows, at least one inner bellows, the inner bellows being disposed within the first chamber and a second chamber closed by the inner bellows. Between the outer bellows and the inner bellows, a volume of compensation is confined. The pressure compensator further comprises a first fluid connection from the compensation volume to the volume of the subsea device, the first fluid connection being configured to allow passage of the liquid medium between the volume of compensation and the volume of the subsea device when the compensator pressure switch is installed in the subsea device. A second fluid connection for the second chamber is also provided, the second fluid connection being configured to allow the environment to pass into and out of the second chamber when the pressure compensator is installed in a submarine and submerged underwater device.
    [00012] In such a configuration, the outer bellows and inner bellows are arranged so that an expansion of the outer bellows and a compression of the inner bellows will lead to an increase in volume of the compensation volume. The pressure compensator can thus achieve higher volume changes in the compensation volume when compared to a pressure compensator having only an external bellows of the same size. In addition, the dead volume of the liquid medium is reduced, since the second chamber can be filled from the environment, in particular sea water, through the second fluid connection, so that the pressure compensator utilization coefficient can be increased. Since the bellows are flexible and can expand / contract, the pressure differences between the environment and the liquid medium can be compensated, that is, the pressures of the environment and the liquid medium in the compensation volume can be compensated. balanced.
    [00013] In one embodiment, the second fluid connection is between the second chamber and on the outside of the pressure compensator.
    [00014] In one embodiment, the outer bellows comprises an outer cover plate and a bellows portion having two openings. The bellows portion is impermeable sealed to the outer cover plate in one opening and to a mounting plate in the other opening. The mounting plate can be part of the external bellows, or it can be part of the subsea device. As an example, the waterproof seal can be achieved by welding. The bellows portion can be cylindrical in shape, with openings at the top and bottom.
    [00015] The inner bellows may comprise an inner cover plate and a bellows portion having two openings, wherein the bellows portion of the inner bellows can be sealed impermeably next to the inner cover plate in an opening. In the other opening, it can be sealed next to the mounting plate or the outer cover plate of the external bellows. Again, the bellows portion can be cylindrical and can have openings at the top and bottom, and the liquid impermeable seal can be achieved by welding.
    [00016] The pressure compensator configuration can be such that the outer cover plate and the inner cover plate are free to move in the axial direction of the respective bellows portions, the movement of the outer cover plate being independent of the movement of the inner cover plate. In such a configuration, large variations in the compensation volume can be achieved, while at the same time, the absolute size of the compensation volume can be kept small.
    [00017] In one embodiment, the bellows portion of the inner bellows is sealed next to the mounting plate, and the second fluid connection comprises one or more openings in the mounting plate located within an area of the mounting plate that is surrounded by bellows portion of the inner bellows. The one or more openings may comprise, for example, a single opening having a diameter that is only slightly smaller than the diameter of the bellows portion of the inner bellows. The environment can thus easily enter the second chamber.
    [00018] In another embodiment, the outer bellows comprises an outer cover plate, and the inner bellows comprises a portion of bellows that is sealed close to the outer cover plate, wherein the second fluid connection comprises one or more openings in the outer cover plate located within an area of the outer cover plate that is surrounded by the bellows portion of the inner bellows. In such a configuration, the entry of the environment into the second chamber is facilitated even if the pressure compensator is directly mounted on a submarine device housing, for example, by means of the mounting plate.
    [00019] The external bellows can comprise a bellows portion, the bellows portion being sealed impermeable to liquid next to a mounting plate that is part of the external bellows or subsea device, in which the first fluid connection comprises a passage of fluid through the mounting plate. In this way, the flow of the liquid medium between the volume of the subsea device and the compensation volume can be facilitated, for example, when the mounting plate is part of an enclosure of the subsea device, or is mounted directly on such an enclosure.
    [00020] The fluid passage can comprise or consist of a conduit, a duct, a channel, a pipe, a pipe or others, it comprises a penetration through the mounting plate that allows the flow of liquid to pass through it.
    [00021] Preferably, the at least one outer bellows and / or the at least one inner bellows is a formed metal bellows. Using a formed metal bellows can make the pressure compensator robust and, moreover, cost-effective for manufacturing. By configuring the pressure compensator, the disadvantages that can result from a limited stroke of a formed metal bellows can be mitigated, since the pressure compensator achieves large changes in the compensation volume and a high utilization coefficient even with bellows having limited course.
    [00022] The formed metal bellows may comprise a portion of bellows that is made of a metallic sheet formed in a cylindrical shape and provided with corrugations. The ridges of the corrugations can extend in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape, so that an expansion / compression of the bellows portion in its axial direction becomes possible. The bellows can thus be referred to as a corrugated bellows.
    [00023] In one embodiment, the at least one external bellows comprises a first external bellows and a second external bellows disposed within the first external bellows. The first external bellows and the second external bellows abut a first intermediate volume. The first external bellows provides an impermeable seal between the first intermediate volume and the environment and the second external bellows provides an impermeable seal between the first intermediate volume and the compensation volume. In this configuration, a double barrier against the environment can be provided in the external bellows. Each external bellows can comprise a bellows portion and a cover plate, both bellows portions being mounted on the same mounting plate. Cover plates can be configured to move freely and independently of each other. In this way, the intermediate volume can be filled with a liquid, which is pressure compensated against both the environment and the liquid medium in the compensation volume.
    [00024] Similarly, the at least one inner bellows can comprise a first inner bellows and a second inner bellows disposed within the first inner bellows. The first inner bellows and the second inner bellows can confine a second intermediate volume. The first inner bellows can provide an impermeable seal between the second intermediate volume and the compensation volume, and the second inner bellows can provide an impermeable seal between the second intermediate volume and the environment. Each of the first and second inner bellows may comprise a cover plate and a bellows portion, both bellows portions being mounted on the same outer bellows mounting plate, or on the outer bellows cover plate (in particular, the second external bellows). The cover plates of both internal bellows can again be configured to move freely and independently of each other. A double barrier against ingress of the environment that can fill the second chamber when the pressure compensator is installed underwater is thus provided. The second intermediate volume can be filled with a liquid that is compensated in pressure against the environment and against the liquid medium in the compensation volume.
    [00025] By implementing both of the above configurations, a full double barrier seal of the compensation volume against the environment can be achieved. The environment will only enter the intermediate volume if one of the bellows in contact with the environment fails.
    [00026] In one embodiment, the pressure compensator may comprise at least two internal bellows arranged inside the first chamber, each of the two internal bellows enclosing a chamber and comprising a fluid connection to allow the passage of the environment to the respective chamber , the at least two internal bellows being arranged adjacent to each other. In some applications, such a configuration can also increase the usage coefficient.
    [00027] The pressure compensator can comprise at least a third bellows, the third bellows being arranged in the second chamber and enclosing a third chamber. A third fluid connection can be provided between the compensation volume and the third chamber, the third fluid connection being configured to allow passage of the liquid medium between the compensation volume and the third chamber. Volume changes to the compensation volume that can be achieved with the pressure compensator can be made even greater in such a configuration. This is particularly advantageous when using formed metal bellows having a limited stroke.
    [00028] The environment can be sea water, and the external bellows can on its external side come into contact with sea water when the pressure compensator is installed underwater. The second fluid passage can be configured to allow the passage of sea water to the second chamber so that the second chamber is filled with sea water when the pressure compensator is installed underwater. The compensation volume can be filled with a liquid, in particular with a dielectric liquid, such as oil.
    [00029] Another modality provides an underwater device that comprises an enclosure enclosing a volume, the volume being filled with a liquid medium and a pressure compensator in any of the configurations described above. The first fluid connection of the pressure compensator allows the liquid medium to flow between the volume enclosed by the casing and the compensation volume of the pressure compensator. In particular, when using a pressure compensator configuration having formed metal bellows, the pressure compensation of the volume of the subsea device can be achieved in a cost efficient manner, while the size of the dead volume of the pressure compensator can be reduced.
    [00030] The bellows portion of the external bellows of the pressure compensator may have a cylindrical shape having a diameter in a range between about 0.5 m and about 2.5 m. In a decompressed / non-stretched state, the bellows portion can, in addition, have a height between about 0.5 m and about 2.5 m. The internal bellows can be of a size such that the ratio of the volume closed by the internal bellows and the volume closed by the external bellows is within a range of about 0.3 to about 0.9.
    [00031] The characteristics of the modalities of the invention mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be combined with each other unless otherwise noted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [00032] The foregoing and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident from reading the following detailed description together with the attached drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
    [00033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a prior art pressure compensator coupled to a volume of an underwater device.
    [00034] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a pressure compensator according to an embodiment of the invention.
    [00035] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram that illustrates a pressure compensator according to another modality.
    [00036] Figures 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating the pressure compensator according to the modalities of the invention in which two internal bellows arranged adjacent to each other are provided.
    [00037] Figures 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating the pressure compensator according to the modalities of the invention in which a third bellows is provided inside the inner bellows.
    [00038] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a pressure compensator according to a modality that is provided with a double barrier against the environment.
    [00039] Figures 7A, 7B and 7C are schematic diagrams that illustrate different states of a pressure compensator during pressure compensation according to a modality.
    [00040] Figure 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams showing a perspective view and a sectional perspective view of a pressure compensator in a particular implementation of the embodiment of figure 2.
    [00041] Figure 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams showing a perspective view and a sectional perspective view, respectively, of a specific implementation of the pressure compensator of the modality of figure 3.
    [00042] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an underwater device comprising a pressure compensator according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
    [00043] In the following, the modalities illustrated in the attached drawings are described in more detail. It should be clear that the following description is only illustrative and not restrictive. The drawings are only schematic representations, and elements in the drawings are not necessarily scalar one in relation to the other.
    [00044] Figure 1 illustrates a subsea system 100 comprising a conventional pressure compensator 101. The prior art pressure compensator 101 consists of a simple bellows that confines a volume of compensation that is connected by means of pipe 103 to the internal volume of a submarine enclosure 102. In particular when using a metal bellows formed in the pressure compensator 101, the travel of the bellows is quite limited, resulting in a large absolute volume of the pressure compensator 101 for a volume variation that will be achieved by the pressure compensator . The pressure compensator 101 thus requires a lot of space and, due to its size, is relatively heavy. This needs to be filled with a large volume of liquid that needs to be compensated for variations in volume. In particular, the pressure compensator bellows 101 may be required to have a size of more than three times the compensated volume in housing 102, due to the low utilization factor of the compensator. The utilization coefficient for the total volume of the pressure compensator can be defined as the ratio of the realizable volume variation.
    [00045] Figure 2 shows a sectional side view of a pressure compensator 50 according to an embodiment of the invention. The pressure compensator 50 comprises a first bellows 10 including a bellows portion 11, the upper part of which is sealed next to the cover plate 12 and the lower part of it is sealed next to the mounting plate 13. An impermeable seal can be provided by welding the bellows portion 11 to the respective plate. On the mounting plate 13, a first fluid connection 15 is provided. The fluid connection 15 provides a fluid communication between the volume enclosed by the outer bellows 10 and a volume enclosed by an enclosure of an underwater device, for which the pressure compensator 50 provides volume / pressure compensation. The first fluid connection 15 can be a single-pass connection, i.e., a penetration of the mounting plate 13, or it can comprise a pipe, tube, duct, channel, conduit or the like.
    [00046] The pressure compensator 50 further comprises an inner bellows 20 which is arranged in a chamber enclosed by the outer bellows 10. The inner bellows 20 comprises a portion of bellows 21 which is sealed next to the inner cover plate 22 of the inner bellows 20 and next to the outer cover plate 12 of the outer bellows 10. An impermeable seal between the portion of bellows 21 and the respective cover plate can be obtained again by welding.
    [00047] A second fluid connection 25 is provided between a second chamber 24 closed by the internal bellows 20 and the outside of the pressure compensator 50. The second fluid connection 25 is configured so that an environment surrounding the compensator pressure 50, such as sea water, can enter through the second connection 25 into the second chamber 24. Due to the liquid impermeable seals provided at the periphery of the bellows portion 21, sea water cannot enter the compensation volume 14 which is confined between the inner bellows 20 and the outer bellows 10.
    [00048] The outer bellows 10 includes a first chamber into which the inner bellows 20 is disposed. Due to the liquid impervious seals provided to the periphery of the outer bellows portion 11 and the inner bellows portion 21, a volume is confined between the respective bellows portions, the outer cover plate 12, the inner cover plate 22 and the mounting plate 13. This compensation volume 14 is available for pressure compensation, it can be varied considerably by extension and compression of the external bellows and internal. The compensation volume 14 is filled with a liquid, in particular, a dielectric liquid, which can enter and flow out of the compensation volume 14 via the first fluid connection 15. The environment, such as sea water, cannot enter compensation volume 14.
    [00049] A submarine device enclosure includes a volume in which, for example, an electrical component can be arranged. The volume is in flow communication with the compensation volume 14 via the first fluid connection 15. If the liquid in this volume of the subsea shell expands, for example, due to a temperature rise, the liquid can enter the volume of the subsea compensation 14. By an expansion of the external bellows 10 and / or a compression of the internal bellows 20, the compensation volume 14 is increased, so that the additional liquid can be drawn out by the pressure compensator 50 without causing a drastic increase in pressure. In another example, if the ambient pressure around the pressure compensator 50 increases, for example, when installing an underwater device in which the pressure compensator 50 is mounted at great depths of water, the volume of the liquid will decrease due to the increasing pressure and / or due to the decreasing temperature. The decreasing volume of the liquid can be compensated by a compression of the external bellows 10 and an extension of the internal bellows 20, leading to a decrease in the compensation volume 14. By the flexible bellows portions 11,21, any pressure changes in the environment are directly translated into the liquid by filling the compensation volume 14, so that the pressure of the liquid is balanced to the pressure of the environment. Note that a slight overpressure can be maintained at compensation volume 14, for example by boosting (preloading) the bellows or others. Boosting can occur, for example, by the weight of the cover plates, by a spring that applies force to a bellows, using the bellows as a spring, or by any other means. A slight overpressure will prevent the environment from entering the volume of the subsea device, since a slight overpressure of the liquid will result in the liquid being pushed out through any leak. This also makes it easier to detect a leak.
    [00050] In the arrangement of figure 2, the pressure compensator 50 has the capacity to compensate the internal bellows and the external bellows, without requiring more space than the external bellows 10. Also, the volume of liquid required in the compensation volume 14 is relatively small, while relatively large volume changes are allowed. The pressure compensator 50 of figure 2 can, therefore, make use of formed metal bellows, which are easy and cost efficient for manufacturing, while the total size of the pressure compensator that is required for a particular volume of the subsea device can be comparatively small.
    [00051] In the modalities described here, the outer bellows 10 and inner bellows 20 are formed metal bellows, although it should be appreciated that the described configurations can also be used with other types of bellows.
    [00052] The metal bellows formed 10, 20 can be manufactured using a metal sheet, the peripheral edges of which are welded to form a cylinder. The corresponding bellows portion can be obtained by hydroforming the foil or cylinder, for example, using templates for the desired shape of the bellows portion. Another possibility is the use of a rolling technique in which the metal cylinder is mechanically deformed to form the corrugations in the bellows portion. Whether the corrugations are supplied by hydroforming or rolling may depend on the diameter of the metal cylinder. For larger diameters, for example above 1200 mm in diameter, corrugations can be formed by rolling while below this diameter, they can be hydroformed.
    [00053] The formed bellows can thus be also called corrugated bellows. Compared to welded bellows where corrugations are formed by welding, corrugated bellows can be safer in subsea applications, they are less prone to corrosion and have a higher life expectancy in repeated compression / extension cycles.
    [00054] The formed metal bellows can have a stroke length of between about 10% and about 20% of its length in each mode, giving a total stroke length of between about 20 to about 40%. As an example, of its operational opposition, the bellows can be stretched or compressed 15% each way. The intrinsic spring constant of the formed metal bellows can be used to generate the aforementioned light overpressure within the compensation volume 14.
    [00055] The external bellows of the pressure compensator 50 can have, for example, a diameter between about 0.5 m and about 2.5 m. Note that these are just examples, and that pressure compensators having other bellows in diameter can be provided.
    [00056] The remaining figures show modifications of the pressure compensator 50, which are explained in more detail hereinafter. Consequently, the above observations and explanations also apply to the modalities described hereinafter.
    [00057] In the embodiment of figure 3, the inner bellows 20 is not sealed to the cover plate 12, but to the mounting plate 13. Correspondingly, the second fluid connection 25 is provided on the mounting plate 13. The second fluid connection 25 is now on the underside of the pressure compensator 50, which may have advantages for certain configurations of the subsea device to which the pressure compensator 50 is to be connected.
    [00058] Figures 4A and 4B show modalities of the pressure compensator 50 in which two internal bellows 20.30 are supplied and arranged adjacent to each other. In figure 4A, the two inner bellows 20, 30 are sealed next to the outer cover plate 12 of the outer bellows 10. For each inner bellows 20, 30, a second fluid connection 25, 35 is provided. Each inner bellows further comprises its own inner cover plate 22, 32, which can move independently of one another. It should be clear that more than two, for example three, four, five, ... internal bellows can be provided in other configurations.
    [00059] In figure 4b, the two internal bellows 20, 30 are sealed next to the mounting plate 13. The configuration is thus similar to that of figure 3, but with two internal bellows. It should be clear that this configuration can also have more than two internal bellows, and that the configurations in figures 4a and 4b can be mixed, for example by having one or more bellows sealed together to the cover plate 12 and having one or more bellows sealed together to the mounting plate 13.
    [00060] In the configurations of figures 5a and 5b, the pressure compensator 50 still comprises a third bellows 40 that is disposed within the chamber 24 closed by the inner bellows 20. In addition, a third fluid connection 45 is provided between the chamber 44 closed by the third bellows 40 and the compensation volume 14. In both modalities of figures 5a and 5b, the third bellows 40 is sealed next to the inner cover plate 22 of the inner bellows 20, with the third fluid connection 45 being supplied in shape of an opening in the cover plate 22. The configuration in figure 5a corresponds to that in figure 2, while the configuration in figure 5b corresponds to one in figure 3. In both configurations, the third bellows 40 still increases the variations in volume that are possible by means of pressure compensator 50. This is due to the possibility of compressing or extending the third bellows 40, thus increasing or decreasing the volume of the chamber closed by the third bellows. Since this chamber is in fluid communication with the compensation volume 14, it allows for greater volume variations of the liquid filling the compensation volume 14 and the volume of the subsea device.
    [00061] Figure 6 shows a configuration modality that corresponds to one in figure 3. In the modality of figure 6, a double barrier design is implemented. The outer bellows 10 comprises a first outer bellows 61 and a second outer bellows 62, each having a bellows portion and an outer cover plate. Between these bellows portions, the outer cover plates and the mounting plate 13, an external intermediate volume 63 is confined. It is sealed next to the compensation volume 14 and close to the environment surrounding the pressure compensator 50.Similarly, the bellows inner 20 comprises a first inner bellows 71 and a second inner bellows 72. The second inner bellows 72 is disposed within the first inner bellows 71, each bellows comprising an inner cover plate. Between the inner cover plates and the bellows portions of the first and second inner bellows 71, 72 and the mounting plate 13, an internal intermediate volume 73 is confined.
    [00062] The liquid in the compensation volume 14 is now protected from the environment surrounding the pressure compensator 50 or which can enter the second chamber 24 of the internal bellows 20 by a double barrier. Environment that leaks through the first outer bellows 61 or the second inner bellows 72 will thus be confined to the outer intermediate volume 63 or the inner intermediate volume 73, respectively, and will not enter compensation volume 14. It should be clear that such a configuration of double barrier can also be provided in any of the other modalities described above or below.
    [00063] Figures 7a to 7c illustrate with respect to the configuration of figure 3 the operation of the pressure compensator 50. Figure 7a shows the operational state of equilibrium that can be reached, for example, when the subsea device comprising the pressure compensator 50 is submarine installed at a nominal operating depth. The inner bellows 20 and the outer bellows 10 have the ability to be compressed or stretched, and the liquid within the compensation volume 14 can have a slight overpressure when compared to the seawater pressure (SW) surrounding the compensator 50 and entering the second chamber 24. From the state as illustrated in figure 7a, a situation is now described in figure 7b in which the ambient pressure is decreased or the temperature is increased, resulting in an increase in the volume of the liquid in the subsea device. Due to the expansion of the volume, the liquid enters the compensation volume 14 through the first fluid connection 15 which leads to an elongation of the external bellows 10 and a compression of the internal bellows 20, as illustrated by the arrows. As the volume of the second chamber 24 is decreased, seawater is pushed out through the second fluid connection 25.
    [00064] The pressure of the liquid within the compensation volume 14 applies a force in the direction of the arrows to the outer cover plate and the inner cover plate, which is balanced by the force applied to these plates by the pressure of the environment. Therefore, the pressure compensator 50 provides a pressure balance between the pressure of the environment and the pressure within the compensation volume 14 (with the exception of the pressure mentioned above driving the loading, if provided). Since the pressure balance is achieved by compensating for differences in liquid volume, pressure compensator 50 can also be called a "volume compensator".
    [00065] In figure 7c, a situation is illustrated in which the volume of the liquid in the subsea device is decreased, for example, due to an increase in ambient pressure or due to a decrease in the temperature of the liquid. Therefore, liquid flows from the compensation volume 14 through the first fluid connection 15 to the volume of the subsea device. The compensation volume is correspondingly decreased by compression of the outer bellows 10 and an expansion of the inner bellows 20 as indicated by the arrows. The internal bellows expansion 20 causes seawater to enter the second chamber 24 through the second fluid connection 25. Again, by changing the compensation volume 14, the pressure of the liquid is equal to the ambient pressure.
    [00066] Figures 8a and 8b show a particular implementation of pressure compensator 50 in the configuration of figure 2. In the perspective view of figure 8a, it can be seen that the second fluid connection 25 comprises several openings in the outer cover plate 12. In addition, the first fluid connection 15 is provided in the form of a pipe or hose from the mounting plate 13. This can also be seen from the sectional perspective view of figure 8b, showing the bellows portions 11 and 21 of the bellows outer 10 and inner bellows 20, respectively, in more detail. Providing several openings in the cover plate 12 facilitates the entry of the environment into the second chamber 24 of the inner bellows 20.
    [00067] Figures 9a and 9b show a particular implementation of pressure compensator 50 in the configuration of figure 3. As can be seen from the perspective view of figure 9a, the outer cover plate 12 is not provided with openings, which can, for example, example, to prevent debris from entering the second chamber 24. The sectional perspective view of figure 9b shows that the mounting plate is provided with an opening that provides the second fluid connection 25.The opening is surrounded by the bellows portion 21 of the bellows inner 20, it has a size that essentially corresponds to the diameter of the inner bellows portion 21. The flow of environment into the second chamber surrounded by the second bellows 20 is thus essentially unrestricted. The first fluid connection 15 is supplied again through the mounting plate 13, implemented as a pipe or a hose in the example of figure 9.
    [00068] Note that although in all the configurations described above, the first fluid connection 15 is implemented by means of a penetration of the mounting plate 13, it is certainly also conceivable to provide the first fluid connection in another position, for example through cover plate 12. Since the cover plate 12 moves during pressure compensation, it is beneficial to provide the first fluid connection on the mounting plate 13.
    [00069] Figure 10 illustrates an underwater device 80 according to an embodiment of the invention. Submarine device 80 comprises a housing 81 enclosing a volume 82 which is filled with liquid, in particular dielectric liquid. An electrical component 83 is submerged in the liquid filling volume 82. Submarine device 80 still comprises a pressure compensator 50. Note that although in figure 10, pressure compensator 50 has the configuration as shown in figure 2, any of the compensator configurations pressure 50 described here can be used in subsea device 80. The liquid in volume 82 can enter compensation volume 14 of pressure compensator 50 through the first fluid connection 15. The environment 90 surrounding the subsea device 80 when installed submarine, in particular sea water, can enter the second chamber 24 of the inner bellows 20 through the second fluid connection 25.
    [00070] The mounting plate 13 can be a metal plate that is part of the pressure compensator 50, in particular, the part of the external bellows 10. In other configurations, the mounting plate 13 can be part of the housing 81 of the subsea device 80, it can in particular be a wall of the enclosure 81. In some configurations, the mounting plate 13 can thus be mounted on a wall of the enclosure 81, for example by means of screws or welding of the mounting plate 13 on the wall , while in other configurations, the bellows portion 11 can be welded directly to a wall of the enclosure 81.
    [00071] The first fluid connection 15 can be a simple opening in the mounting plate 13 and the respective wall of the housing 81, that is, a penetration through the layers of material separating the compensation volume 14 from the volume 82. As further described above, other embodiments can use a pipe or tubing to connect the compensation volume 14 to volume 82.
    [00072] In operation, the mounting plate 13 is generally stationary, as it is mounted in the housing of the subsea device, while the cover plate is mobile during volume compensation. The outer cover plate 12 and the inner cover plate 22 move independently of each other, and generally in the opposite direction during operation, as outlined with respect to figures 7a to 7c.
    [00073] The above modalities provide a pressure compensator that is cost effective for manufacturing, while at the same time providing a high utilization coefficient and having only a limited size and weight. The coefficient of use of the pressure compensator can be increased to about 60%, or even more. The volume of unused liquid can be reduced at the same time. Since the formed metal bellows can be used in the pressure compensator, corrosion resistivity and an extended life are other benefits that can be achieved.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [0001]
    1. Pressure compensator for an underwater device to perform a pressure compensation between an environment surrounding the underwater device (80) and a liquid medium filling a volume (82) of the underwater device, the pressure compensator (50) characterized by fact that it comprises, at least one external bellows (10); -a first chamber closed by said external bellows (10); -at least one internal bellows (20), the internal bellows being disposed within the first chamber; -a second chamber (24) closed by the internal bellows (20); -a compensation volume (14) confined between the outer bellows (10) and the inner bellows (20); -a first fluid connection (15) from the compensation volume (14) to the volume (82) of the subsea device (80), the first fluid connection (15) being configured to allow the passage of the liquid medium between the volume of compensation (14) and volume (80) of the subsea device; and -a second fluid connection (25) to the second chamber (24), the second fluid connection (25) being configured to allow the environment to pass in and out of the second chamber (24).
    [0002]
    2. Pressure compensator according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer bellows (10) comprises an outer cover plate (12) and a bellows portion (11) having two openings, the bellows portion (11 ) being sealed impermeable to liquid next to the external cover plate (12) in one opening and next to a mounting plate (13) that is part of the external bellows or underwater device in the other opening.
    [0003]
    Pressure compensator according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner bellows (20) comprises an inner cover plate (22) and a bellows portion (21) having two openings, in which the bellows portion (21) of the inner bellows (20) is sealed impermeable to the liquid close to the inner cover plate (22) in one opening and, in the other opening, it is sealed impermeable to liquid next to one of the mounting plate (13) or to the plate outer cover (12) of the outer bellows (10).
    [0004]
    4. Pressure compensator according to claim 3, characterized in that the bellows portion of the internal bellows is sealed next to the mounting plate (13), and in which the second fluid connection (25) comprises one or more openings in the mounting plate (13) located within an area of the mounting plate that is surrounded by the bellows portion (21) of the inner bellows (20).
    [0005]
    5. Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer bellows (10) comprises an outer cover plate (12), and the inner bellows (20) comprises a portion of bellows ( 21) which is sealed close to the outer cover plate (12), where the second fluid connection (24) comprises one or more openings in the outer cover plate (12) located within an area of the outer cover plate that is surrounded by the bellows portion (21) of the inner bellows (20).
    [0006]
    6. Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external bellows comprises a bellows portion, the bellows portion being sealed impermeable to liquid next to a mounting plate (13) forming part of the bellows external or subsea device, wherein the first fluid connection (15) comprises a fluid passage through the mounting plate (13).
    [0007]
    7. Pressure compensator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one external bellows (10) is a formed metal bellows.
    [0008]
    Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one internal bellows (20) is a formed metal bellows.
    [0009]
    Pressure compensator according to either of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the formed metal bellows (10, 20) comprises a portion of bellows (11, 21) which is made of a metal sheet formed in one cylindrical shape and provided with corrugations having ridges that extend in circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape.
    [0010]
    Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one outer bellows (10) comprises a first outer bellows (61) and a second outer bellows (62) disposed within the first outer bellows , in which the first external bellows (61) and the second external bellows (62) abut a first intermediate volume (63), in which the first external bellows (61) provides an impermeable seal between the first intermediate volume (63) and the environment, and in which the second external bellows (62) provides an impermeable seal between the first intermediate volume (63) and the compensating volume (14).
    [0011]
    Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one inner bellows (20) comprises a first inner bellows (71) and a second inner bellows (72) disposed within the first inner bellows , wherein the first inner bellows and the second inner bellows abut a second intermediate volume (73), where the first internal bellows (71) provides an impermeable seal between the second intermediate volume (73) and the compensating volume (14) , and wherein the second inner bellows (72) provides an impermeable seal between the second intermediate volume (73) and the environment.
    [0012]
    Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two internal bellows (20, 30) arranged inside the first chamber, each of the two internal bellows enclosing a chamber and comprising a connection of fluid (25,35) to allow the passage of the environment to the respective chamber, the at least two internal bellows being arranged adjacent to each other.
    [0013]
    13. Pressure compensator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally comprises, at least a third bellows (40), the third bellows being disposed in the second chamber (24) and enclosing a third chamber (44 ), and -a third fluid connection (45) between the compensation volume (14) and the third chamber (44), the third fluid connection being configured to allow passage of the liquid medium between the compensation volume (14) and the third chamber (44).
    [0014]
    14. Pressure compensator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the environment is sea water, in which the outer bellows (10) enters its outer side in contact with sea water when the compensator pressure valve is installed submarine, and in which the second fluid connection (25) is configured to allow the passage of sea water into the second chamber (24) so that the second chamber is filled with sea water when the compensator pressure is installed submarine.
    [0015]
    15. Submarine device, comprising a housing (81) enclosing a volume (82), the volume (82) being filled with a liquid medium; characterized by the fact that it further comprises a pressure compensator (50), as defined in any of claims 1 to 14, the first fluid connection (15) allowing the liquid medium to flow between the volume (82) enclosed by the enclosure and the compensation volume (14) of the pressure compensator (50).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CN103188904A|2013-07-03|
    EP2610881B1|2014-04-30|
    US9038433B2|2015-05-26|
    US20130167962A1|2013-07-04|
    BR102012031671A2|2015-01-13|
    RU2519106C1|2014-06-10|
    EP2610881A1|2013-07-03|
    CN103188904B|2016-01-27|
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    法律状态:
    2015-01-13| B03A| Publication of a patent application or of a certificate of addition of invention [chapter 3.1 patent gazette]|
    2015-03-03| B03H| Publication of an application: rectification [chapter 3.8 patent gazette]|Free format text: REFERENTE A RPI 2297 DE 13/01/2015, QUANTO AO ITEM (30). |
    2018-12-04| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2020-04-22| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2020-09-24| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-12-15| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 12/12/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    2021-07-13| B25A| Requested transfer of rights approved|Owner name: SIEMENS ENERGY AS (NO) |
    2022-02-08| B25L| Entry of change of name and/or headquarter and transfer of application, patent and certificate of addition of invention: publication cancelled|Owner name: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (DE) Free format text: ANULADA A PUBLICACAO CODIGO 25.1 NA RPI NO 2636 DE 13/07/2021 POR TER SIDO INDEVIDA. |
    2022-02-22| B25A| Requested transfer of rights approved|Owner name: SIEMENS ENERGY AS (NO) |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    EP11195885.6A|EP2610881B1|2011-12-28|2011-12-28|Pressure compensator for a subsea device|
    EP111958885-6|2011-12-28|
    EP11195885-6|2011-12-28|
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