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US 2015/0307173 A1Published application
Remotely operated vehicle power management system and method of use
AssigneeOceaneering International, Inc.
InventorsPeter Andrew Robert MOLES, Kevin Frances KERINS, Scott BEGGS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power management system comprises a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), a tether management system (TMS), and an umbilical operatively in communication with the TMS external electrical power interface and the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface. The system can be configured to provide electrical power management that moves some or all of the electrical power required for ROV propulsion and tooling to the ROV and/or TMS, and maximizes available power and manages loads across all systems as necessary and by priority. Power management may also be required that features intelligent routing of power to subsystems and integration of variable frequency drives (VFDs).
Claims20
A power management system, comprising:
- a. a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:
- i. a TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface configured to receive electrical power;
- ii. an ROV power distributor operatively in communication with the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface and configured to distribute electrical power;
- iii. an ROV electrical power supply operatively in communication with the ROV power distributor;
- iv. an ROV telemetry controller;
- v. an ROV external electrical power interface;
- vi. an ROV electrical switch operatively in communication with the ROV power distributor, the ROV electrical power supply, and the ROV external electrical power interface, the ROV electrical switch configured to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface to the ROV electrical power supply or to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface to the ROV external electrical power interface;
- b. a tether management system (TMS), comprising:
- i. a TMS telemetry controller;
- ii. a TMS-to-surface umbilical interface configured to receive electrical power from a remote electrical power source;
- iii. a TMS power distributor operatively in communication with the TMS-to-surface umbilical interface and configured to distribute the electrical power;
- iv. a TMS external electrical power interface operatively in communication with the TMS power distributor;
- v. a TMS electrical power supply;
- vi. a TMS electrical switch operatively in communication with the TMS power distributor, the TMS electrical power supply, and the TMS external electrical power interface, the TMS electrical switch configured to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS power distributor to the TMS electrical power supply and/or to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS power distributor to the TMS external electrical power interface;
- and
- vii. a first TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface operatively in communication with the TMS power distributor;
- and
- c. an umbilical operatively in communication with the TMS external electrical power interface and the first TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface.
15 more elements
A method of providing signaling to a subsea system from a remotely operated vehicle subsea, comprising:
- a. maneuvering a power management system proximate a subsea system, the subsea system comprising a subsea system interface and a power connector, the power management system comprising:
- i. a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), comprising:
- 1. a TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface configured to receive electrical power;
- 2. an ROV power distributor operatively in communication with the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface and configured to distribute electrical power;
- 3. an ROV electrical power supply operatively in communication with the ROV power distributor;
- 4. an ROV telemetry controller;
- 5. an ROV external electrical power interface;
- and
- 6. an ROV electrical switch operatively in communication with the ROV power distributor, the ROV electrical power supply, and the ROV external electrical power interface, the ROV electrical switch configured to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface to the ROV electrical power supply or to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface to the ROV external electrical power interface;
- ii. a tether management system (TMS), comprising:
- 1. a TMS telemetry controller;
- 2. a TMS-to-surface umbilical interface configured to receive electrical power from a remote electrical power source;
- 3. a TMS power distributor operatively in communication with the TMS-to-surface umbilical interface and configured to distribute the electrical power;
- 4. a TMS external electrical power interface operatively in communication with the TMS power distributor;
- 5. a TMS electrical power supply;
- 6. a TMS electrical switch operatively in communication with the TMS power distributor, the TMS electrical power supply, and the TMS external electrical power interface, the TMS electrical switch configured to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS power distributor to the TMS electrical power supply and/or to selectively allow electrical power to flow from the TMS power distributor to the TMS external electrical power interface;
- and
- 7. a first TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface operatively in communication with the TMS power distributor;
- iii. a first umbilical operatively in communication with the TMS external electrical power interface and the TMS-to-ROV umbilical interface;
- and
- iv. a second umbilical operatively in communication with the ROV external electrical power interface, the second umbilical configured to handle power sufficient to power the subsea system;
- b. using the ROV to interconnect the second umbilical to the subsea system interface and the power connector of the subsea system;
- and
- c. using the ROV power distributor to divert a predetermined portion of power available in the ROV to the subsea system sufficient to power the subsea system without using power supplied from a source external to the ROV.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.