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BR-112023018395-B1 - Energy Harvesting System for Submarine Energy Transfer from Offshore Power Generation Units and Energy Extender Module

BR112023018395B1BR 112023018395 B1BR112023018395 B1BR 112023018395B1BR-112023018395-B1

Abstract

SUBMARINE ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER OF ENERGY FROM OFFSHORE POWER GENERATION UNITS. The present invention relates to an energy harvesting system (100; 300) for submarine energy harvesting from offshore power generation units (102; 502), the system comprising: a set of energy extender modules (104; 504) capable of being independently deployed on the seabed in a local network and each being connectable to a respective unit of a set of offshore power generation units to collect electrical energy from the respective offshore power generation units, the set of energy extender modules being configured to be electrically connected in series in the local network (106) being connectable to a power consumer.

Inventors

  • Oistein Martinsen
  • Harald Fretheim
  • Vitor Moritsugu
  • Stian Ingebrigtsen
  • Tor-Eivind Moen

Assignees

  • ABB SCHWEIZ AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20220325
Priority Date
20210325

Claims (12)

  1. 1. Energy harvesting system (100, 300) for underwater energy harvesting from offshore power generation units (102, 502), the system CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: a set of energy extender modules (104, 504), each comprising a set of switching circuits (108a-d) and a waterproof enclosure to house the switching circuits for underwater operation, such that surrounding seawater cannot reach the switching circuits inside the enclosure when the energy extender modules are independently arranged on the seabed in a seabed completely submerged in water in a local grid during operation, and each being connectable to a respective unit of a set of offshore power generation units to harvest electrical energy from the respective offshore power generation unit, the switching circuits (108a-d) being configured to controllably connect the associated power generation unit to the local grid, and the set of modules power extenders being configured to be electrically connected in series by at least one submarine cable (112) in the local network (106) being connectable to a power consumer.
  2. 2. Energy harvesting system, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the enclosures comprise electrical connections on a wet side (118) of the enclosures for electrical connection between the energy extender modules via a submarine cable (112) that may be laid on a seabed.
  3. 3. Energy harvesting system, according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the cabinets are filled with oil, or adapted to retain a fixed pressure, or adapted to retain a pressure of 1 atm, or adapted to retain a vacuum, or filled with nitrogen, filled with oil and pressure compensated, or not pressure compensated, or any combination thereof.
  4. 4. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy extender module comprises an input connection (122a-c) for connection to the associated energy generation unit, wherein the energy extender module comprises a T-type bus connection (126) configured to connect the input connection to the local grid.
  5. 5. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy extender modules comprise a communication and control circuit (200) to control the set of switching circuits to connect the associated energy generation unit to the local grid, and to control the set of switching circuits to disconnect the associated energy generation unit from the local grid.
  6. 6. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises an energy core that can be disposed of on the seabed and configured to be connected to at least one local network of submarine energy extender modules to harvest energy from at least one local network for the energy consumer.
  7. 7. Energy harvesting system, according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy core comprises an energy transformer (304, 514) to convert the energy received from the energy generation units and supply converted energy to the energy consumer.
  8. 8. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy extenders comprise an additional switch (124a-c) to interrupt the series connection with neighboring energy extenders.
  9. 9. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy extenders are connectable in a radial topology or in a ring topology.
  10. 10. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy extender modules comprise dry-coupled electrical connections for connection to a power generation unit, or a wet-coupled cable connection for connection to a power generation unit.
  11. 11. Energy harvesting system, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, CHARACTERIZED in that the energy extender modules are configured to be disposed on the seabed (110).
  12. 12. Electrically connectable power extender module to a single offshore power generation unit to collect electrical energy from the power generation unit, the power extender module CHARACTERIZED by being configured to be independently disposed on the seabed during operation to be electrically connected in series in a local network of multiple power extender modules connectable to a power consumer, the power extender module additionally comprises a set of switching circuits to connect the power generation unit to the local network in a controlled manner, and a waterproof enclosure to house the set of switching circuits, the enclosure being adapted to allow underwater operation of the power extender module on a seabed completely submerged in water, so that surrounding seawater cannot reach the set of switching circuits inside the enclosure during operation.

Description

Field of Invention [001] The present invention relates to an energy harvesting system for subsea energy transfer from offshore power generation units. The present invention further relates to an electrically connectable power extender module to an offshore power generation unit for harvesting electrical energy. BACKGROUND [002] Offshore power generation installations, such as those made up of, for example, windmills, solar power devices, and wave power, have increased in recent years in both size and nominal power. The continuous increase in size and power with associated developments leads to logistical challenges with regard to installation and maintenance topics, in addition to challenges related to energy harvesting from the respective power generation installations. [003] In some systems, power generation installations, such as wind turbines, are “fixed to the seabed,” meaning the turbine tower is fixed to the seabed, for example, by a single-pile configuration or a jacket foundation. However, this limits the use of wind turbines to relatively shallow waters. To utilize the area in deeper waters, floating wind turbines have been developed. [004] With floating wind turbines, or other floating power generation installations, such as floating solar power, the logistics of installation and energy collection and, where relevant, distribution, is a challenge. Switchgear and other electrical equipment are often installed on surface towers, which can limit switchgear design. In addition, the expansion of a conventional wind farm requires the connection of submarine cables, which leads to relatively complicated installation processes. SUMMARY [005] In view of the aforementioned and other drawbacks of the prior art, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an energy harvesting system that at least partially alleviates the shortcomings of the prior art. The suggested embodiments provide an energy harvesting system for subsea energy transfer from offshore power generation units that facilitates easier and more efficient installation of power generation unit farms. [006] According to a first aspect of the invention, an energy harvesting system is provided for subsea energy transfer from offshore power generation units. [007] The system comprises a set of power extender modules that can be independently deployed on the seabed in a local network and each being connectable to a respective unit of a set of offshore power generation units to collect electrical energy from the respective offshore power generation unit, the set of power extender modules being configured to be electrically connected in series in the local network being connectable with one or more energy consumers. [008] The present invention is based, at least partially, on adapting the power extender module for underwater operation. The power extenders are thus operable underwater, for example, located on the seabed. Furthermore, it has been conceived to provide individual power extender modules for each of the power generation units. In other words, a single power extender module can be placed on the seabed and connected to its power generation unit independently of the other extender modules of additional power generation units of the present farm. For example, if one more power generation unit is added to the power generation unit farm, then an additional power extender module is placed, submerged, on the seabed and connected to the local grid on the seabed. Thus, the additional power extender module is connected to a cable already on the seabed. The additional power generation unit is connected to its associated power extender module. [009] With the proposed energy harvesting system, only a single cable needs to be added between the surface energy generation unit and the energy harvesting cable (i.e., an “array cable”) via the additional energy extender module as a “T-connector”. The proposed energy harvesting system provides a modular system. [010] In the embodiments, each subsea power extender may comprise a set of switching circuits for controllable connection of the associated power generation unit to the local grid. When the power extender modules deployed on the seabed comprise the set of switching circuits, the design of such a set of circuits is not limited by the tower or other surface core constraints. [011] Preferably, the power extender modules are connected as a T-connector to the local power extender module network. [012] Each power extender module may comprise a T-connection and may comprise at least one set of communication circuits, or set of supervisory circuits, or set of monitoring circuits, or set of relay circuits or set of switching circuits for controlled connection of the associated power generation unit to the local grid. [013] The power extender module is configured to receive electrical energy captured by the power generation unit and to supply electrical energy to the local grid. The power extender module al