NO20180493A1

NO20180493A1 - Smart Cable Well

Info

Publication number: NO20180493A1
Application number: NO20180493A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Wilhelm Kjetil Andersen
Original assignee: Sea Electric As
Priority date: 2018-04-11
Filing date: 2018-04-11
Publication date: 2019-10-14
Also published as: WO2019199178A1

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention generally concerns the field of providing electric power from shore to floating vessels. More particular, the present disclosure relates to a cable management system for storing electrical cables without taking up any valuable quay space. The present disclosure has in particular use to applications feeding power from an onshore power grid through flexible cables to a floating vessel. This invention is performing both at surface splash zone and for subsurface and subsea applications.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Shore power is established to achieve a greener, less polluted, and less noisy port environment. It is applied in ports around the world, and has a significant positive effect on local CO2, particular matter SOT and NOX emissions. This environmental benefit happens as the vessels can turn off their onboard diesel power generator, when connected to onshore clean power supply.

[0003] Quay’s are often congested spaces with a lot of activity ongoing both when floating vessels are moored and in cases where vessel is not present. An increased demand for shore power to floating vessels is imposed by governments all around the world. Today this is normally done by installing equipment such as cabinets, cable reels and cable towers on the quay front. This often diminish the quay flexibility and often make standard operation such as craning and forklift operations difficult to perform due to obstacles on the quay. This invention segregates itself from existing reel or tower-based systems with a unique design, that will require no deck space on the quay. Only a quay hatch, where the cables come out from below the quay, in desired lengths. No obstacles for trucks and cranes, carrying goods, as all quay space will be intact for regular port logistics.

[0004] At present there are several systems available on the market that can provide shore power to floating vessels, these systems are normally placed on top of the quay, such as cable reels, cabinets and cable towers and is used for storing cables that shall be lifted onboard the floating vessel. Equipment placed on the quay will often be an obstacle for the ongoing activities on the quay and should be avoided.

[0005] This invention will not appear on the quay, the invention can be built below, or into quay structures and the cable duct system will be hidden away. Whereas the tube/well has an open end, where the cable(s) goes in and out of the tube/well. An opening that can be run through the quay deck and be secured in the quay deck through a bolted flange.

IDENTIFICATION OF OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] One major objective for this embodiment is to manage on or more flexible electric cables, from shore to and from a floating vessel. To vessels moored in the harbour, free floating, or at anchored inshore in a fjord or harbour. This invention is designed for feeding electric power through mentioned flexible cables, from an onshore power grid, to the vessels, without taking up any valuable quay space. Improving greatly existing reel and tower-based cable feed solutions, on the market today. The current invention is designed to achieve a better, no space demanding front-end shore power distribution system.

[0007] Another major objective for this embodiment is to feed power to the vessels without any power derating, as the cables are not spooled onto a reel. This is a clear advantage of this invention compared to a reel-based system that has a significant heat derating and resulting power loss.

[0008] This embodiment consisting of a tube/well system can be applied from 0-90 degrees on the water line, as the local conditions in the port, fjord or open harbour dictates. The invention can be built below, or into quay structures, or in some cases mounted on top of the quay deck.

[0009] The embodiment is using an internal electric powered cable injector system, and a corresponding electric powered cable “zip-lock” system for a controlled feeding sequence of cable, in and out of the tube/well, and for securing the cable in a tailor made ducting system, during cable storage situations.

[0010] The embodiment is electrical operated and have internal control and power drive system, that will operate the cable in and out, and store the cables automatically, with very little or no service demand. All based on existing proven and secure industrial servo drive control solutions

[0011] The current invention segregates itself from existing reel or tower-based systems with a unique and totally different design. It will require no deck space on the quay. Only a quay hatch will be visible, where the cables come out from below the quay structure, in desired cable lengths. No obstacles for trucks and cranes, carrying goods, as all quay space will be intact for regular port logistics.

[0012] The current invention can also be used as an anchored floating version. Typically anchored in the open sea, in open water in a a harbour, or in a fjord. Attached to a floating raft or just a floating power buoy, so a vessel can attach to floating shore power, while at anchor in a fjord, or just waiting for mooring and slot time in a busy harbour.

[0013] A primary object of this invention is to provide a system for feeding electric power through mentioned flexible cables, from an onshore power grid, to the vessels, without taking up any valuable quay space.

[0014] Another primary objective is to provide a, invention intended for this shore power market. It is designed to store and administrate on or more flexible electric cables, from shore, to and from floating vessels. Vessels moored in the harbour, free floating, or at anchor in the sea. This multiple power cable feed device is unique among existing cable management systems known in the market.

[0015] Another primary objective is to provide a, cable feed system below or integrated in the quay, submerged or partly submerged, that store and manage the cable lengths inside a cable tube, or cable well. One or more cables can be applied in the tube, as dictated by the harbour application power demand, based again on the vessel(s) power demand.

[0016] Another primary objective is to provide a sea water tight unit, that can withstand outside water pressure, provided the other open-end reach above the water line. This make the design very flexible, and an ideal solution for shore power feed to free floating cruise vessels in fjords.

[0017] Another primary objective is to provide a tube/well that has an open duct, where the cable(s) goes in and out of the tube/well. An opening that can be run through the quay deck and be secured in the quay deck through a bolted flange. This flange can be applied with a top hatch, to cap and secure the device from unintended incidents, and act as a weather seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and referring to the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the description herein and appended drawings, being of example embodiments, are not intended to limit the claims of this patent application, any patent granted hereon or any patent or patent application claiming priority hereto. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims. Many changes may be made to the embodiments and details disclosed herein without departing from such spirit and scope. The objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the drawings which are appended hereto and wherein like numerals indicate like parts and wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown, of which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of the invention, a shore power cable management device installed under a quay and according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an orthogonal illustration of a flexible shore power cable management device showing an example of the internal arrangement inside the cable well main structure for the shore power cable management device and also referring to section (A) cable injector system and section (B) cable sheave wheel according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a section view illustration of the cable well arrangement of the shore power cable management device seen from the quay front and quay side according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows the illustration of the cable injector device, used to move cable in and out of the cable well main structure, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 5 shows the illustration of the cable sheave wheel device used to control the cable inside the cable well device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the shore power cable management installed under a concrete quay (20), whereas the quay (20) consists of a concrete deck structure and quay pillar system (21). The sea level (22) will vary with tide water and the shore power cable management system (1) may in some cases be fully submerged. The shore power cable management system (1) is to be water tight to avoid seawater ingress.

[0025] Exemplary embodiment of the invention FIG. 3, shows a typical layout of the cable management device, with its cable injector system (A) and cable sheave wheel system (B).

The cable well is in some cases installed and secured at the underside of a quay (20), the cable well may then be secured with one or more quay mounting brackets (5) and quay attachment supports (6), the cable well may also be equipped with one or more ducts (2) used for entrance into the cable well from the quay, the cable ducts (2) is also functioning as attachment structure to the quay (20). Section C-C in FIG. 3, shows the cable well device (1) front with its cable injector device (11) and cable duct (2) penetrating the quay (20).

[0026] Exemplary embodiment of the invention FIG. 3, illustrates the cable feeder utility junction box (4) that is feeding power from an inshore power grid, whereas the cables penetrate from the junction box (4) through a duct (2) into the cable well main structure (1). The cable feeder box (4) is in this case fixed in position. From the cable feeder box (4) the cable is captured in the upper cable storage duct (18) and runs to the cable sheave wheel (16) and further from the cable sheave wheel through the lower cable duct (15), and into the cable injector device (11). From the cable injector device (11) the cable enters the cable tower (8) and ends in an electrical connector (9). The cable plug will be the interface to the floating vessel.

[0027] Exemplary embodiment of the invention FIG. 4 shows in more details the front end of the shore power cable management device, whereas the cable inlet from junction box (4) is seen entering into a cable bend restrictor system before entering the upper cable duct zip lock system (18). Illustration C-C is also outlining the cable injector device (11) containing the injector rollers with integrated motors (12) and the injector tension rollers (13) used to feed the cable in and out of the cable well. The injector (11) roller system is formed in a way to prevent damage to the cable (10) and may have friction type of coating or materials attached. The injector device (11) also include a utility power box (19) for feeding power and communication to the cable injector device (11). The power and control cable are connected to the power junction box (4).

[0028] Exemplary embodiment of the invention FIG. 5 shows in more details the cable sheave wheel (16) and components. Cable sheave wheel (16) is secured inside the cable well (1) by a rail system rolling on top of the upper cable storage duct (18). The rolling system contains a plurality of guide wheels (17) that will enable the cable sheave wheel (16) to move in forward and reverse directions inside the cable well (1). The shore power cable is laid around the cable sheave wheel (16) in a 180-degree circle, enabling the cable to enter into the lower cable duct system (14) and (15). To secure the cable around the cable sheave wheel a plurality of roller (23) is attached to the cable sheave wheel (16).

[0029] From a preferred embodiment of the illustration FIG. 3 it may be understood that when operating the cable injector device (11) and at the same time lifting the electrical connector (9) as an example onto a floating vessel for feeding of shore power, that the cable sheave wheel (16) will move towards the cable injector (11). Whereas the cable sheave wheel (11) will rotate due to the fixed length of the cable between the cable junction box (4) and cable sheave wheel (16). Dependent on length of cable feed to the floating vessel the sheave wheel may in some cases move all the way to the cable injector, or if less cable is required the cable sheave wheel is moved to a random position between the parking position illustrated in (D) and the cable injector (11). Description above reflects the movement of one sheave wheel and one cable, this system may include several cables and sheave wheels in the same cable well (1) all independently operated by separate cable injector, sheave wheel (16) and upper and lower cable ducts (15) & (18). Shore power systems for large floating vessels such as cruise ships may require several shore power cables to, typically 4 or more to give sufficient power supply.

[0030] From second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the illustration of an upper cable storage duct (18) is shown. The upper cable storage duct (18) have a zip lock system for retaining the cable inside the duct. This may be done by using spring activated mechanism. The release mechanism for the zip lock system and to remove the cable in and out of the upper cable storage duct is managed by the moving sheave wheel (16). When the sheave wheel is moving towards the cable injector (11) the sheave wheel trolley (17) will release the cable from the upper cable storage duct as it travels towards the cable injector (11). Opposite when the sheave wheel (16) is moving away from the cable injector (11) the sheave wheel trolley (11) will open the cable securing device inside the upper cable storage duct (17) and the sheave wheel will during horizontal moving away from the cable injector (11) push the cable into the upper duct cable storage duct (18).

[0031] From a third preferred embodiment shown illustrated in FIG. 3, a lower cable duct device (14) & (15) is shown. The lower cable duct includes duct sidewalls (14) held together by a plurality of cable duct rollers (15). The lower cable duct controls the cable between the cable injector (11) and the sheave wheel (16) as the injector push or pull the cable in and out of the cable well device (1).

[0032] Example of the invention shown in Fig. 3 also includes access for maintenance.

Illustration of separate maintenance (7) ducts with manhole covers are shown.

[0033] The invention will not be deemed limited to the illustrative embodiments described above, but rather a number of further variants and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the subsequent patent claims. The cable duct can be used, for example, not only to conduct electric cabling, but also for other components, for example optic fibers and water hoses. The invention may also be used in other application where quays are not available, such as in a variant as to provide shore power to a vessel in a fjord. The shore power cable management device may be installed on a floating raft device on the sea in mid water or put at the seabed whereas the access ducts (7) & (8) is extended through the water column to free air.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for providing shore power or/and utilities whereas at least one of the utilities consist of telemetric cable, water, liquid chemicals, or gass provided throug cable or hose or combination og both from shore to a floating vessel whereas the apparatus comprising:

- A cable well main structure (1)

- At least one access points (7) & (2) between the cable well main structure (1) and the infrastructure providing the shore utility

- At least one cable injector (11) with purpose to feed the cable in and out of the cable well main structure (1)

- At least one cable sheave wheel (16) used to control the cable inside the cable well main structure (1)

- At least one cable duct (14) (15) and (18) used to control the cable between the cable feeding device (11) and the cable sheave wheel (16)

Characterized by;

- At least one electrical connector (9) available to provide shore power to a floating vessel

- At least one utility junction box (4) providing electrical power and utility to the apparatus

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereas the infrastructure is a quay

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereas the infrastructure is a seabed or a floating device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and 2, whereas at least one of the cable ducts (14), (15) or (18) can secure the cable in a duct zip lock system.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 and 2, whereas at least one cable sheave wheel (16) moving along with the cable as it travels in and out of the cable well main structure (1).

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 to 4, characterized by a flush infrastructure where the apparatus is installed out of the way for the material handling on the infrastructure, such as a quay.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 and 2 further comprising electronic limit control that senses motor current and provides end-of-stroke shut off for the electrical motors in the cable injector (11).