Power supply system and method with remote variable frequency drive (VFD)
View Patent ↗In at least some embodiments, a system includes a first remote tool. The system also includes a variable frequency drive (VFD) coupled to the first remote tool, wherein the output of the VFD powers the first tool and wherein at least part of the VFD is in situ with the first remote tool.
1. A system, comprising:
a first remote tool located subsea; and
a variable frequency drive (VFD) coupled to the first remote tool, wherein the VFD output powers the first remote tool and wherein at least part of the VFD is in situ subsea with the first remote tool.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a tool power converter remote from the first remote tool, wherein the tool power converter converts AC power to DC power for transmission to a power regulator and tool controls in situ with a second remote tool.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a step-up transformer and a step-down transformer remote from the first remote tool, wherein the step-up transformer receives AC power, the step-down transformer receives the step-up transformer output, and the VFD receives the step-down transformer output.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein AC power from the VFD powers the first remote tool and wherein DC power drawn from the VFD powers a second remote tool.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the DC power drawn from the VFD is provided to a power regulator and tool controls associated with the second remote tool.
6. The system of claim 2 wherein the VFD comprises a split VFD having a first part remote from the first remote tool and having a second part in situ with the first remote tool.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first part comprises a rectifier portion and a filter and DC bus portion and wherein the second part comprises an inverter portion.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the VFD comprises a split VFD having a rectifier portion and a filter and DC bus portion remote from the first remote tool and having an inverter portion in situ with the first tool, and wherein the output of the filter and DC bus portion is provided to the inverter portion for powering the first remote tool and to a power regulator for powering a second remote tool.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an AC power supply that outputs 3-phase power at approximately 6-7 kV and 50-60 Hz to the VFD, and wherein the VFD outputs 3-phase power at approximately 6-7 kV and 0-70 Hz.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first remote tool comprises an AC-powered motor and wherein the second remote tool comprises a DC-powered subsea tree actuator.
11. A variable frequency drive (VFD) power supply, comprising:
a VFD rectifier that receives AC power and rectifies the received AC power;
a VFD filter that filters the VFD rectifier output; and
a VFD inverter that receives the VFD filter output and provides variable AC power to a first subsea tool,
wherein the VFD inverter is in situ with the first subsea tool.
12. The VFD power supply of claim 11 wherein the received AC power is 3-phase power at approximately 6-7 kV and 50-60 Hz and wherein the variable AC power is 3-phase power at approximately 6-7 kV and 0-70 Hz.
13. The VFD power supply of claim 11 wherein the VFD filter is in situ with the first tool and wherein DC power is drawn from the VFD filter output to power a second subsea tool.
14. The VFD power supply of claim 11 wherein the VFD rectifier and the VFD filter are remote from the VFD inverter.
15. The VFD power supply of claim 14 wherein some of the VFD filter output is re-directed to a power regulator that provides DC power to a second remote tool and tool controls for the second remote tool.
16. The VFD power supply of claim 15 wherein the first remote tool comprises an AC-powered motor and wherein the second remote tool comprises a DC-powered subsea tree actuator.
17. A power supply method, comprising:
rectifying, by a variable frequency drive (VFD) rectifier, AC power;
filtering, by a VFD filter, the VFD rectifier output;
transmitting, by a VFD DC bus, the VFD filter output to a VFD inverter; and
providing, by the VFD inverter, an AC output for powering a first tool located subsea,
wherein the first tool is remotely located and wherein the VFD inverter is in situ subsea with the first tool.
18. The power supply method of claim 17 further comprising re-directing some of the VFD filter output to a power regulator, wherein the power regulator output powers a second tool.
19. The power supply method of claim 17 further comprising positioning the VFD rectifier and the VFD filter in situ with the first tool.
20. The power supply method of claim 17 further comprising positioning the VFD rectifier and the VFD filter in situ with a source of the AC power.