Electric power supply and a method of production thereof
View Patent ↗A power supply system including an element connected to a remote power supply source or power consumer through an electric power supply device. The element is movably arranged in relation the source or consumer in an environment in which at least a part of the power supply device is subjected to water and water vapor and to repeated bending motion due to the movement of the element. The electric power supply device includes an electric cable that includes a conductor and at least one layer of an electrically insulating material applied on the outside of the conductor. The device includes a member for preventing water and vapor intrusion into the layer. The member includes a flexible, watertight, vapor impermeable, fatigue resistant, separate tubing that surrounds the electric cable.
1. A power supply system, comprising:
an electric power supply device comprising
an electric cable comprising a conductor at least one layer of electrically insulating material surrounding the conductor; and
an envelop element comprising a flexible, watertight, vapor impermeable, fatigue resistant tubing surrounding and separate from the electric cable, the element not being integrated with the electric cable and preventing water and water vapor intrusion into the at least one layer of electrically insulating material,
wherein the electric power supply device extends between an element and a remote power supply source or power consumer, the element being movably arranged in relation the power supply source or consumer in an environment in which at least a part of the power supply device is subjected to water and water vapor and to repeated bending motion due to the movement of the element.
2. The electric power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the tubing comprises at least one metal layer.
3. The electric power supply system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a spacing between the outer periphery of the electric cable and the inner periphery of the tubing, and
a pressure compensation medium arranged in the spacing.
4. The electric power supply device according to claim 3 , wherein the pressure compensation medium is a liquid.
5. The electric power supply system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a pressurizing member connected to the pressure compensation medium to pressurize the pressure compensation medium within the spacing.
6. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a floating vessel, and wherein the electric cable of the power supply device extends submerged in open sea in which the power supply device is subjected to sea motion.
7. The power supply system according to claim 6 , wherein a first part of the electric cable is freely movably arranged in open sea, and wherein a second part of the electric cable is fixedly arranged in the sea, and wherein only the first part of the electric cable is surrounded by the tubing.
8. The power supply system according to claim 7 , wherein the first part of the electric cable extends from a top side installation to a fixed sea bottom installation, and wherein the second part of the electric cable extends from the sea bottom installation and along the sea bottom.
9. The power supply system according to claim 7 , wherein the second part of the electric cable comprises an integrated metal sheath to prevent a water and water vapor from penetrating the second part of the electric cable.
10. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the remote power supply source or power consumer is located on shore.
11. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the remote power supply source or power consumer is located off shore on a second vessel.
12. A method of producing a power supply system, the method comprising:
feeding an electric cable comprising a conductor at least one layer of electrically insulating material surrounding the conductor into an envelop element comprising a flexible, watertight, vapor impermeable, fatigue resistant tubing surrounding and separate from the electric cable, the element not being integrated with the electric cable and preventing water and water vapor intrusion into the at least one layer of electrically insulating material.
13. A power supply system, comprising:
a floating vessel;
a remote power supply source or power consumer; and
an electric power supply device extending between the floating vessel and the remote power supply source or power consumer through open water, wherein the element is movably arranged in relation the power supply source or consumer in an environment in which at least a part of the power supply device is subjected to water and water vapor and to repeated bending motion due to the movement of the element, the electric power supply device comprising
an electric cable comprising a conductor at least one layer of electrically insulating material surrounding the conductor; and
an envelop element comprising a flexible, watertight, vapor impermeable, fatigue resistant tubing surrounding and separate from the electric cable, the element not being integrated with the electric cable and preventing water and water vapor intrusion into the at least one layer of electrically insulating material.