Patent ID: 7654328

Claim:
A subsea gas compressor module having a pressure housing ( 3 ) comprising: an electric motor ( 1 ) and a compressor ( 2 ), drivably connected by at least one shaft ( 13 ); said at least one shaft being supported by a plurality of magnetic bearings ( 12 ) controlled by a control unit ( 16 ); said control unit being placed externally of said pressure housing, and connected to said magnetic bearings by means of wire connections or subsea mateable connectors; said compressor and motor being mutually isolated by at least one seal ( 14 ), thereby dividing said pressure housing ( 3 ) into a first and a second compartment comprising the compressor and motor, respectively; said first compartment being connected to an inlet line ( 11 ) and an outlet line for receiving gas and discharging gas, respectively; said inlet and outlet lines comprising respective valves ( 7 , 9 ) for closing said lines; said second compartment comprising at least two of said magnetic bearings for supporting said at least one shaft; said first compartment being subdivided into a third compartment by means of another sealing element ( 15 ), comprising one of said magnetic bearings for supporting said at least one shaft; and a pressure and volume regulator ( 4 ) fluidly connected to said second compartment and to a supply ( 10 ) of gas and comprising means for sensing respective pressures in said inlet and outlet lines; wherein, based on the magnitude of said sensed pressure, the pressure and volume regulator controls the pressure at which gas from said supply is injected into said second compartment.