SUBSEA PIPELINE POWER TRANSMISSION

Abstract: A subsea pipeline power transmission system comprasing a pipeline (1), an electoral power supply (4) connected to the pipeline at a first location, and connection means provided on the pipeline at a second location for connection of a load (5) to the pipeline. Once connected the load 5 can receive electoral power from the power supply (4) via the pipeline (1). The pipeline has a plurality of cathodic protection anodes (2), each of which is electrically connected via respective impedance means to the pipeline.

Description: Subsea pipeline power transmission This invention relates to subsea pipeline power transmission systems, methods and apparatus. The term subsea is used in this application as this is conventional terminology, however, it will be understood that this covers any underwater situation. In many circumstances where subsea pipeline systems are used, there is a desire to operate equipment at locations which, in the general sense, are remote. That is to say, although the equipment is situated adjacent to the pipeline itself it is not near any other facility or infrastructure. Such pieces of equipment might, for example, be sensors which monitor the integrity or operation of the pipeline system. One of the problems with such remote pieces of equipment is providing a suitable power source. Whilst batteries can be used these are unattractive for various reasons including their limited life, their expense and environmental concerns. It is an object of the present invention to provide methods, systems and apparatus which allow the supply of power to remote equipment in subsea pipeline systems. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a subsea pipeline power transmission system comprising a pipeline, an electrical power supply connected to the pipeline at a first location, and connection means provided on the pipeline at a second location for connection of a load to the pipeline to allow the load to receive electrical power from the power supply via the pipeline wherein the pipeline has a plurality of cathodic protection anodes, each of which is electrically connected via respective impedance means to the pipeline. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of subsea pipeline power transmission along a pipeline having a plurality of cathodic protection anodes comprising the steps of: applying electrical power to the pipeline at a first location; and electrically connecting a load to be supplied to the pipeline at a second location; wherein each anode is electrically connected via respective impedance means to the pipeline. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in a subsea pipeline power transmission system or method comprising: an anode arrangement comprising, a sacrificial anode arranged for mounting on a pipeline and impedance means having one terminal connected to the anode and another terminal arranged for connection to said pipeline; and an electrical power supply arranged for electrical connection to a pipeline. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an anode arrangement for use in a subsea pipeline power transmission system, the arrangement comprising, a sacrificial anode arranged for mounting on a pipeline and impedance means having one terminal connected to the anode and another terminal arranged for connection to said pipeline. The anode arrangement may include further terminals allowing the connection of a load across the impedance means. The impedance means may comprise inductance means. Preferably the impedance means comprises filter means. The impedance means, especially when comprising filter means, may be arranged to give a high impedance to time varying signals within one or more selected ranges of frequencies and a low impedance to signals outside the selected range or ranges. The impedance means can be arranged so that the real part of the impedance is substantially zero. This means that there is little or no attenuation of the dc components of signals passing through the impedance means. The use of inductance means and particularly filter means has advantages when the metallic structure is used to carry power currents because these means can be chosen to offer high impedance to the time varying signals used for power supply thereby reducing losses, whilst offering low impedance to the currents used for cathodic protection. Minimising losses is particularly important when transmitting power rather than merely trying to detect a signal. Limiting loss to a realistic level is necessary to give a practical system. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which schematically shows a pipeline system embodying the invention. The drawing shows a subsea pipeline system which comprises a pipeline 1 provided with a plurality of anodes 2 which are electrically connected to the pipeline 1 via respective filter means 3. A power supply 4 is electrically connected to the pipeline 1 towards one end. This location will typically be at a main facility or some other place provided with good infrastructure such that the provision of a power supply 4 is not problematic. Although not shown in detail, as is common practice in this field, the pipeline system is provided with a cathodic protection system of which the anodes 2 form an essential part. Cathodic protection currents flowing in the pipeline 1 to improve corrosion resistance will be dc currents. Thus, the filter means 3 provided at each anode are arranged to have substantially zero impedance to dc currents. On the other hand, the filter means 3 are arranged to have a very high impedance to the power supply currents delivered by the power supply means 4. In this system the power supply means applies a current typically having a frequency in the order of 30 to 100 Hz. The filter means 3 are arranged to have a high impedance to signals having the appropriate frequencies in this range. The filter means 3 may be designed so that at the transmission frequency it gives an impedance of at least two orders of magnitude greater than the characteristic impedance of the pipeline (with anodes removed) when acting as a transmission system. This means that whilst the cathodic protection currents can flow to the anode substantially unimpeded, the losses from the pipeline 1 as far as the power supply current is concerned are greatly reduced. The frequency of current used to transmit power is chosen with regard to two main factors. Lower frequencies call for more bulky and expensive components in the filter means whereas as frequency is increased, skin effect in the pipeline becomes problematic. The frequency at which skin effect begins to compromise performance may be determined empirically on a test length of pipe but can be expected to be in the range of 50 to 100 Hz for most typical pipes. The above arrangement means that loads 5, i.e., pieces of equipment which need electrical power, can be connected to the pipeline 1 at locations which are remote from the power supply 4. As shown in the drawing, a load 5 may, for example, be connected directly to the pipeline 1 and provided with a separate earth terminal E, or may be connected directly across one of the filter means 3 associated with a particular anode 2 where the equipment to be driven is located at or near an anode 2. The provision of suitable impedance means, preferably as in this embodiment filter means 3, between the pipeline 1 and the anode 2 makes a power supply system of this type feasible. For example, if no impedance means 3 are provided, then power supply in this manner might be possible in a subsea pipeline over a distance of say only 300 to 400 metres. However, with the filter means included, it can be possible to transmit power over a distance of say 10 kilometres. In the present system the loss of power might typically be in the order of 0.5 to IdB per kilometre and as such, if the power supply 4 applies 150 watts to the pipeline 1 then a load at a 10 kilometre distance from the power supply 4 should be able to draw a power in the order of 50 to 15watts. It has been determined that effectively stopping leakage from the anodes gives a 10 4 improvement in power transmission capabilities over 10 kilometre subsea pipelines. It will be appreciated that although an ac current is applied to the pipeline 1 for transmission, this signal may be locally converted into a dc signal using known techniques if this is required.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A subsea pipeline power transmission system comprising a pipeline, an electrical power supply connected to the pipeline at a first location, and connection means provided on the pipeline at a second location for connection of a load to the pipeline to allow the load to receive electrical power from the power supply via the pipeline wherein the pipeline has a plurality of cathodic protection anodes, each of which is electrically connected via respective impedance means to the pipeline. 2. A power transmission system according to claim 1 in which the impedance means is arranged to give a high impedance to time varying signals within at least one selected range of frequencies and a low impedance to signals outside the selected range. 3. A power transmission system according to claim 2 in which the impedance means is arranged so that the real part of the impedance is substantially zero, such that there is little or no attenuation of dc components of signals passing through the impedance means. 4. A power transmission system according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the impedance means comprises inductance means. 5. A power transmission system according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the impedance means comprises filter means. 6. A method of subsea pipeline power transmission along a pipeline having a plurality of cathodic protection anodes comprising the steps of: applying electrical power to the pipeline at a first location; and electrically connecting a load to be supplied to the pipeline at a second location; wherein each anode is electrically connected via respective impedance means to the pipeline. 7. Apparatus for use in a subsea pipeline power transmission system or method comprising: an anode arrangement comprising, a cathode protection anode arranged for mounting on a pipeline and impedance means having one terminal connected to the anode and another terminal arranged for connection to said pipeline; and an electrical power supply arranged for electrical connection to a pipeline. 8. An anode arrangement for use in a subsea pipeline power transmission system, the arrangement comprising, a cathode protection anode arranged for mounting on a pipeline and impedance means having one terminal connected to the anode and another terminal arranged for connection to said pipeline. 9. An anode arrangement according to claim 8 including terminals allowing the connection of a load across the impedance means.

Inventors: HUDSON STEVEN MARTIN, HUDSON, STEVEN, MARTIN
Applicants: FLIGHT REFUELING LTD, HUDSON STEVEN MARTIN, FLIGHT REFUELLING LIMITED, HUDSON, STEVEN, MARTIN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: C23F13
IPC codes: C23F13, H02G9