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Using Torque Converters to Reduce Cost in Subsea Applications Houston, 2016-Feb-04, Gas/Electric Partnership

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Trends in Subsea Technology

Progress in technologies, growing experiences, new ideas and developments have been creating smart concepts.

• Increase lifetime of O&G platforms by additional supplies from near or far wells.

• Exploit small and mid-sized fields as well as fields that are far away from existing infrastructure.

• Equipment growth by power and diversification of processing.

• Focus on cost, focus on subsea systems, standardization, etc.

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Overall System Design Topside VFDs VSDs short stepouts Voith VSDs long stepouts

11kV, 60hz 11kV, 60hz

topside

subsea

topside

subsea

topside

subsea

Pump 2.5 MW

Pump 2.5 MW Voith vsd

Pump 2.5 MW Voith vsd

transformer 11kV/6.6kV

transformer 32kV/6.6kV

switch gear module

transformer 11kv/32kV

topside vsd

-100 t - 60 m²

transformer 22kV6.6kV

transformer 3.3kV/24kV

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Topside VFD Module for Subsea Pump Drive

including

- Switchgear

- VFD

- Step-up transformer

plus

- Subsea step down transformer

Photo Oyvind Hagen 2013-Jun-26 / Courtesy of Statoil

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Topside Power Equipment

• Significant Power system CAPEX saving by up to 40% - 50%

• Reduced top side space and weight by up to 75%

• Significant reduction of complexity

Switch Gear (topside) Dimension 2400x2200x1000 (WxHxD) weight 1.3t

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Subsea Pump Drive

Fully integrated torque converter

• converter replaces the connecting coupling.

• rotating parts are mounted on motor and pump shaft.

• very compact design.

• no additional bearings.

• Simple design, small number of components.

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Subsea Pump Drive

Input power 2795 kW

Input speed 3600 rpm

Output speed max. 4300 rpm

Type EL 8 subsea

Outer diameter 731 mm

Profile diameter 562 mm

Length 506 mm

Additional length 350 mm

Weight kg 500 kg

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Hydrodynamic torque converter Operating characteristic

torq

ue

speed 0

driven machine

T ~ n²

T ~ const

torque converter

outp

ut-to

rque

speed-ratio @ constant input speed 0

Inpu

t-Pow

er

outp

ut-to

rque

speed-ratio @ constant input speed 0 motor-speed

parabolic load due to characteristic of centrifugal pump

torq

ue

0

~n²

motor-load

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Miscellaneous advantages:

• overload protection of motor & lower cable costs & (TC output shaft from input shaft un-coupled, motor speed const.)

• high start-up torque & nearly unloaded motor start

• precise operation of working machine (TC reacts fast on input signal to guide vane actuator)

• easy to control (e.g. 4-20 mA signal)

Advantages of the Torque Converter

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Miscellaneous advantages:

• various working machines with variable speed need (e.g. SPP, MPP, compressors, generator for all kind of pumps)

• high reliability (thousand TC’s running on-/offshore)

• robust design (“only steel and oil” with no/little electronics)

• high flexibility (large speed range, various TC types)

• size / power scaling possible with same principle (be prepared for future needs)

Advantages of the Torque Converter

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

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Concepts with Torque Converter

Ongoing actions:

• pre-JIP- / project phases

• design simulations

• tests

• studies

Torque Converters In Subsea Applications | Houston, C. Meyenberg | 2016-Feb-04

12 Subsea applications | Voith torque converter | G/E P Conf Houston - 2016-Feb-04 | Mr. Christoph Meyenberg