Patent · US Active

Underwater substation

US7989984B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
6References
16Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 5, 2008
Grant dateAug 2, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 2, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K7/14337
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An underwater substation pod (USP) adapted to collect and process the electrical outputs of an array of offshore power generating devices includes a voltage boosting transformer for combining and transmitting with increased efficiency an amplified version of the collected electrical outputs to an on shore facility. Combining the outputs and transmitting at a higher voltage reduces transmission losses and the number of cables required to transmit the electrical outputs. The USP is mounted on the seabed but operated at atmospheric pressure to accommodate standard components. The pod may be designed to include remotely controlled operation and to have a long service life since few, if any, moving parts are used. Also, the equipment may be designed to have a high degree of redundancy to provide greater reliability.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.