HVDC modular platform design
AssigneeJ. Ray McDermott, S.A.
InventorBrian K. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular HVDC platform and a method for constructing the same are disclosed herein. The modular HVDC platform has a topside disposed on a structural jacket. The topside includes a first rectifier module, a second rectifier module, and a utility module. The first and second rectifier modules have equipment for converting AC power to DC power disposed therein. The utility module contains equipment for supporting the operations of the rectifier modules. Each of the rectifier modules and the utility modules can be fabricated and commissioned onshore prior to installation on the structural jacket at an offshore location.
Claims17
A system for wind energy generation, comprising:
- an offshore platform comprising a structural jacket and a topside, wherein the topside comprises a plurality of modular sections positioned on a module support frame;
- a first plurality of rectifiers disposed in a first module of the plurality of modular sections, the first module disposed in a first housing;
- a second plurality of rectifiers disposed in a second module of the plurality of modular sections, the second module disposed in a second housing positioned laterally from the first housing and horizontally along the module support frame;
- and
- a third module of the plurality of the modular sections, wherein the third module is a utility module configured to support operations of the first module and the second module, the third module disposed in a third housing positioned laterally from the first housing and horizontally along the module support frame, wherein the third module comprises:
- a cable termination comprising a plurality of incoming power cables that provide incoming AC power and a plurality of outgoing power cables that transmit outgoing DC power;
- switchgear coupled to the plurality of incoming power cables to control a flow of the incoming AC power;
- and
- one or more transformers coupled to the switchgear to increase or decrease a voltage of the incoming AC power.
A method of constructing an offshore platform, comprising:
- installing a substructure at an offshore location;
- installing a module support frame on the substructure;
- installing a first module of a topside on the module support frame, the first module comprising pre-installed equipment configured to convert AC power to DC power;
- installing a second module of the topside on the module support frame to position the second module laterally from the first module and horizontally along the module support frame, the second module comprising pre-installed equipment configured to convert AC power to DC power;
- coupling the first module and the second module;
- and
- installing a third module on the module support frame to position the third module laterally from the first module and horizontally along the module support frame, the third module is positioned between the first module and the second module, wherein the pre-installed equipment configured to convert AC power to DC power in the first module and the second module is commissioned at a first onshore location prior to installation on the module support frame at the offshore location, and the third module is commissioned at a second onshore location prior to installation on the module support frame at the offshore location, the third module comprising:
- a cable termination comprising a plurality of incoming power cables that provide incoming AC power and a plurality of outgoing power cables that transmit outgoing DC power;
- switchgear coupled to the plurality of incoming power cables to control a flow of the incoming AC power;
- and
- one or more transformers coupled to the switchgear to increase or decrease a voltage of the incoming AC power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.