DE102009045633A1 - Underwater compressor assembly and underwater process fluid conveyor assembly equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

Underwater compressor arrangement and underwater process fluid conveying arrangement equipped therewith, the underwater compressor arrangement comprising: a housing, a turbo compressor with a compressor rotor and a rotary drive unit with a drive rotor, the turbo compressor and the rotary drive unit being arranged in the housing and the compressor rotor being rotationally connected to the drive rotor is, wherein the housing is hermetically sealed with the exception of operating connections for the turbo compressor and the rotary drive unit, and wherein the compressor rotor is rotatably mounted in the housing by means of a roller bearing.

Description

The invention relates to an underwater compressor assembly and an underwater process fluid delivery assembly equipped with such an underwater compressor assembly.

In the magazine of the MAN Group "MANforum", issue 01/2007, is on pages 24-25 an underwater compressor assembly or subsea compressor assembly in the form of a HOFIM Sealed (High Speed Oil Free Integrated Engine Compressor) offered by MAN Turbo AG.

1 shows such an underwater compressor assembly 1' , which is a high-frequency electric motor 10 ' as a rotary drive unit and two via a common rotor shaft 20 ' each directly with the high-frequency motor 10 ' Rotary drive connected turbocompressors 30 ' having, wherein the high-frequency motor 10 ' , the rotor shaft 20 ' and the two turbo compressors 30 ' in one with the exception of service connections for turbo compressors 30 ' (eg process fluid inlet 31 ' and process fluid outlet 32 ' ) and the high-frequency motor 10 ' (eg power supply 11 ' ) hermetically sealed housing 40 ' united or arranged. The common rotor shaft 20 ' is via a plurality of electrically operated magnetic bearings 21 ' in the case 40 ' stored.

In the 1 shown underwater compressor assembly 1' may serve to process fluids, such. As natural gas, in a process fluid receiver such as a buffer store and outsource. As a buffer can z. As so-called caverns, ie, for example, the cavities exhausted natural gas fields, or serve below or above the sea level tanks arranged. The underwater compressor arrangement 1' can thus z. B. advantageous for natural gas production by means of z. B. platforms or ships used on the high seas.

Thereby opened natural gas fields the pressure in the borehole decreases further and further, until a normal demand becomes impossible, a complete utilization of the gas reserves of such natural gas fields is hardly possible. With the underwater compressor arrangement 1' , which can raise the pressure after the well to a desired value, natural gas fields that are up to 3000 meters below sea level, can be fully utilized. The exterior completely sealed housing 40 ' the underwater compressor assembly 1' predestines them thus for the promotion directly on the well on the seabed, ie for so-called subsec applications. This will be the underwater compressor arrangement 1' sunk and connected to a submarine pipeline and mining robots.

As mentioned above, the rotor shaft is 20 ' the underwater compressor assembly 1' by means of electrically operated magnetic bearings 21 ' rotatable in the housing 40 ' stored, with the magnetic bearings 21 ' one or more electronic control devices (in 1 not shown) must be controlled, such. In WO 97/13986 A1 z. B. with respect to their 1 and 6 or in EP 1 069 313 B1 z. B. with respect to their 4 described.

Further details on magnetic bearing technology and the use of underwater compressor arrangements are also contained in the lecture notes 2009 "Theory and Practice of Magnetic Bearing Technology - A Short Introduction" by R. Schöb of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich described.

A natural gas compressing subsea compressor assembly on the seafloor requires a Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of 5 years. Magnetic bearings with electronic control devices, however, have a digital failure behavior. That is, a standstill or failure of the entire underwater Kampressoranordnung due to the failure of the magnetic bearing takes place without notice. In the case of an underwater compressor arrangement, this means that the underwater compressor arrangement must be hauled unexpectedly by a ship's crane from the seabed, which can take a long time already with regard to the provision of the ship's crane. In addition, by the. sudden failure of the underwater compressor assembly continues to incur costs and damage.

The invention has for its object to provide an underwater compressor assembly in which a sudden failure of storage can be substantially avoided. It is a further object of the invention to provide an underwater process fluid delivery assembly equipped with such an underwater compressor assembly.

The o. G. Problems are solved with an underwater compressor assembly according to claim 1 and with an underwater process fluid conveyor assembly according to claim 11, respectively. Further developments of the invention are defined in the respective dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, an underwater compressor assembly for compressing a process fluid comprises: a housing, a turbo compressor having a compressor runner and a rotary drive unit having a housing Driving rotor, wherein the turbo-compressor and the rotary drive unit are arranged in the housing and the compressor rotor is drivingly connected to the drive rotor, wherein the housing except. Operating ports for the turbocompressor and the rotary drive unit is hermetically sealed, and wherein the compressor rotor is rotatably supported by means of a rolling bearing in the housing.

The rotary drive unit is preferably formed by an electric motor, but can also z. B. be formed by a fluid motor or the like.

Due to the roller bearing according to the invention of the compressor rotor - and preferably also of the drive rotor - a digital failure behavior is avoided in a simple and robust way, since a failure of rolling bearings generally announces slowly rising vibrations in the respective bearing. This allows an operator of the subsea compressor assembly due to vibration trends to plan a maintenance window and to replace the subsea compressor assembly on schedule and in good time before a failure.

Preferably, the rolling bearing is formed by at least one and in particular a plurality of ball bearings, roller bearings and / or needle bearings. Such bearings are available as standard parts for a wide load range and thus quickly and inexpensively available.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotary drive unit is set up such that during the rotary drive of the compressor rotor, a maximum speed, which is determined for the fatigue strength of the rolling bearing, is not exceeded.

Turbocompressors are usually operated at speeds that are too high for normal bearings and thus lead to their premature failure. For this reason, inter alia, in the prior art for turbocompressors z. B. non-contact magnetic bearings or hydrodynamic bearings used. However, if the speed of the rotary drive unit is limited to a maximum speed suitable for fatigue strength, fatigue strength can also be ensured for rolling bearings. The speed limitation can z. B. by mechanical and / or electrical precautions are achieved, as are known in the art.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the compressor rotor and the rotary drive unit have a common rotor shaft, via which the compressor rotor and the rotary drive unit are directly connected in rotary drive with each other.

In this way, clutches and transmissions, which can form further sources of failure, can advantageously be saved, and thus costs can be reduced as well.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the underwater compressor assembly further comprises a maintenance device which is adapted to ensure lubrication and / or cooling of the rolling bearing, wherein as operating means (lubricant and / or coolant) for lubrication and / or cooling the rolling bearing a liquid and / or a gas are provided.

Preferably, a methanol-ethanol-glycol mixture is provided as a resource for lubrication and / or cooling of the rolling bearing, which z. B. is injected to prevent hydrate formation on a wellbore in a body of water as a seabed and thus is present at the bottom of the river in large quantities.

For this purpose, the maintenance device is preferably configured to supply the operating means for lubricating and / or cooling the rolling bearing to the rolling bearing via the process fluid to be compressed.

Thus, lubrication and / or cooling of the roller bearing can be ensured in a simple and cost-saving manner and thus their life can be extended additionally.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the turbocompressor is configured to process natural gas as the process fluid to be compressed.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the underwater compressor assembly further includes a vibration monitoring unit configured to monitor vibration in the rolling bearing in terms of its amplitude and / or frequency.

The vibration monitoring unit can have, for example, one or more vibration sensors at one or all bearing points. Preferably, the vibration monitoring unit is further configured to transmit the amplitude and / or the frequency of the vibration reproducing monitoring data to a remote from the underwater compressor assembly overwater position. This can be z. B. be realized via a cable connection or via ultrasonic waves.

Such is located away from the subsea compressor assembly Overwater position may be, for example, a corresponding receiver on a ship, a production platform or even on a bank of the relevant body of water.

In conclusion, according to the invention, an underwater compressor assembly or subsea compressor unit with rolling bearing is provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, the turbocompressor of the subsea compressor assembly operates with the rolling bearing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotor of the turbocompressor is held with rolling bearings. According to embodiments of the invention, the rolling bearings are designed either with balls, rollers (cylindrical or spherical), needles or other rolling elements of suitable materials. According to one embodiment of the invention, the lubrication / cooling of the rolling elements takes place with liquids and / or gases. According to one embodiment of the invention, the monitoring of the bearings takes place.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an underwater process fluid delivery assembly comprising an underwater compressor assembly in any conceivable combination, according to one, several or all of the above-described embodiments, a process fluid source via a supply line to a process fluid inlet of the turbocompressor of the subsea compressor assembly is fluidly connected so that the turbo compressor process fluid from the process fluid source can be supplied, and a process fluid receiver which is fluidly connected via a discharge line with a process fluid outlet of the turbo compressor of the subsea compressor assembly, so that the process fluid receiver compressed process fluid from the turbo compressor can be fed, wherein at least the Process fluid source and the underwater compressor assembly are arranged below a water surface of a body of water.

A waters within the meaning of the invention may be, for example, a sea or ocean, a lake, a river or even a canal. If the water is a sea or ocean, the water surface forms the sea level.

The underwater compressor arrangement is preferably arranged on a body of water, such as a seabed.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the process fluid receiver has a storage space for receiving compressed process fluid.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the process fluid receiver is disposed below the water surface of the body of water.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the process fluid receiver is formed by a cavern.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the process fluid receiver is arranged above the water surface of the water body.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the process fluid receiver is formed by a ship or a production platform.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the source of process fluid is formed by a wellbore in the watercourse, such as a seabed. Of course, the process fluid source could e.g. B. from any other suitable storage such. B. a tank arranged on the bottom of the water, be formed.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the process fluid is formed from natural gas.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the means for lubricating and / or cooling the rolling bearing of the turbocompressor of the subsea compressor assembly is formed by methanol-ethanol-glycol mixture injected into the process fluid at the process fluid source.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the attached figures.

1 shows a perspective partially sectional view of an underwater compressor assembly according to the prior art.

2 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an underwater compressor assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an underwater compressor assembly according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

4 shows a schematic view of an underwater process fluid conveyor assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an underwater compressor assembly 10 for compressing a process fluid, such as natural gas here, according to an embodiment of the invention.

How out 2 can be seen, the underwater compressor assembly 10 a housing 100 , two turbo compressors 200 radial design, each with a compressor rotor 210 and a rotary drive unit configured in the form of an electric motor 300 with a drive rotor 310 and a drive stator 320 on.

The two turbo compressors 200 . 200 and the rotary drive unit 300 are in the case 100 arranged, with the two compressor runners 210 . 210 and the drive rotor 310 over a common rotor shaft 400 directly connected with each other.

Depending on the desired compression or compression or also provided compression task by a user, the two turbo compressors 200 . 200 the underwater compressor assembly 10 Process technology can be connected in series or in series or process technology parallel or operated individually.

The housing 100 is with the exception of service connections (in 2 not shown, but see analogously thereto 1 Process fluid inlet 31 ' , Process fluid outlet 32 ' and power supply 11 ' ) for the turbocompressors 200 . 200 and the rotary drive unit 300 hermetically sealed.

The common, preferably one-piece rotor shaft 400 is rotatable about a rolling bearing in the housing 100 stored, so that both on the rotor shaft 400 arranged compressor rotor 200 . 200 as well as on the rotor shaft 400 arranged drive rotor 310 rotatable in the housing by means of the rolling bearing 100 are stored.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the rolling bearing has four cylindrical roller bearings 410 on which of the rotor shaft 400 both the necessary radial and the necessary axial support in the housing 100 provide. Naturally. could according to not shown embodiments of the invention, one or more radial rolling bearings (such as radial ball bearings) and in addition one or more axial roller bearings (such as axial ball bearings) may be provided.

The underwater compressor arrangement 10 also indicates the rotary drive unit 300 a speed control device 330 configured so that the compressor runner is rotationally driven 210 . 210 a maximum speed, which is intended for the fatigue strength of the rolling bearing is not exceeded.

In 2 is the speed control device 330 shown only schematically, as these in various forms, such. B. a frequency converter, a corresponding winding design (eg., Polzahl) of drive rotor 310 and drive stator 320 or a mechanical speed limiter, may be formed.

The underwater compressor arrangement 10 further comprises a maintenance device, which is adapted to ensure lubrication and cooling of the roller bearing, wherein as a means for lubricating and cooling the rolling bearing a methanol-ethanol-glycol mixture is provided which via the process fluid to be compressed, as here z. B. natural gas, the rolling bearing is supplied. In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, the maintenance unit is realized by that in the underwater compressor assembly 10 Sealing systems has been dispensed with, so that the process fluid containing the operating medium can flow around the rolling bearing and thus lubricate and cool it.

The underwater compressor arrangement 10 also has a vibration monitoring unit 500 which is set up to monitor vibration in the rolling bearing in terms of their amplitude and their frequency. More specifically, the vibration monitoring unit has 500 for every cylindrical roller bearing 410 a vibration sensor 510 on, with the vibration sensors 510 each with an evaluation and transmission unit 520 are signal coupled.

The evaluation and transmission unit 520 is set up, the amplitude and the frequency of the vibration reproducing monitoring data via an ultrasonic transmitter 521 to a remote from the underwater compressor assembly 10 overwater position (see eg 4 ) transferred to.

3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an underwater compressor assembly 10A for compressing a process fluid, such as, for example, natural gas, according to another embodiment of the invention.

In the 3 shown embodiment of the underwater compressor assembly 10A is apart from a few differences described below with the in 2 shown embodiment of the underwater Kampressoranordnung 10 identical. Therefore, only the differences will be described below, wherein like reference numerals designate the same or similar components.

In contrast to 2 indicates the underwater compressor arrangement 10A according to 3 only a single turbo compressor 200 on. Furthermore, the rolling bearing has only three cylindrical roller bearings 410 on. As a result, the underwater compressor assembly builds 10A according to 3 in their length a bit shorter than the underwater compressor arrangement 10 according to 2 ,

4 shows a schematic view of an underwater process fluid conveyor assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The underwater process fluid conveyor assembly 1 has an underwater compressor assembly 10 . 10A according to 2 or according to 3 and a process fluid source 20 on, over a supply line 30 with a process fluid inlet 220 the underwater compressor assembly 10 . 10A or of the first turbocompressor in the process 200 fluidly connected, so that the turbocompressor 200 Process fluid from the process fluid source 20 can be fed.

The underwater process fluid conveyor assembly 1 further includes a process fluid receiver 50 up, over a drainage pipe 40 with a process fluid outlet 230 the underwater compressor assembly 10 . 10A or the last in the process turbo compressor 200 fluidly connected, so that the process fluid receiver 50 compressed process fluid from the turbo compressor 200 can be fed.

As 4 shows are at least the process fluid source 20 and the underwater compressor assembly 10 . 10A below a water surface 71 a body of water 70 arranged.

The process fluid receiver 50 has a memory space 52 . 54 . 56 for receiving compressed process fluid.

According to a first in 4 variant shown is the process fluid receiver 50 below the water surface 71 of the water 70 arranged, wherein the process fluid receiver 50 from one in the riverbed 72 trained cavern 51 or a storage tank located on the water's bottom 53 is formed.

According to a second in 4 variant shown is the process fluid receiver 50 above the water surface 71 of the water 70 arranged, wherein the process fluid receiver 50 from a ship 55 (or a conveyor platform, not shown) is formed.

When the process fluid receiver 50 from a ship 55 This can be like in 4 shown via an ultrasonic receiver 57 which is that of the ultrasonic transmitter 521 the underwater compressor assembly 10 . 10A Received transmitted monitoring data and transmitted to an on-board evaluation device (not shown). Of course, even if the process fluid receiver 50 not from a ship 55 is formed, for. B. on a separate surveillance ship a corresponding ultrasonic receiver 57 be provided.

The process fluid source 20 is from a borehole in the riverbed 72 formed, as a process fluid natural gas is conveyed from the well.

As a resource for lubrication and cooling of rolling bearings on the river bottom 72 arranged underwater compressor assembly 10 . 10A serving methanol-ethanol-glycol mixture is in the conveying operation of the process fluid source 20 injected into the process fluid.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1'

Underwater compressor assembly

10 '

High frequency motor

11 '

power

20 '

rotor shaft

21 '

magnetic bearings

30 '

Turbo compressor

31 '

Process fluid inlet

32 '

process fluid

40 '

casing

1

Underwater process fluid conveying assembly

10

Underwater compressor assembly

10A

Underwater compressor assembly

20

Process fluid source

30

feed

40

discharge

50

Process fluid receiver

51

cavern

52

storage space

53

storage tank

54

storage space

55

ship

56

storage space

70

waters

71

water surface

72

body of water

100

casing

200

Turbo compressor

210

compressor rotor

220

Process fluid inlet

230

process fluid

300

Rotary drive unit

310

driving slide

320

drive stator

330

Speed control device

400

rotor shaft

410

Cylindrical roller bearings

500

Vibration Monitoring Unit

510

vibration sensor

520

Evaluation and transmission unit

521

ultrasonic transmitter

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 97/13986 A1 [0006]
• EP 1069313 B1 [0006]

Cited non-patent literature

• "MANforum", issue 01/2007, is on pages 24-25 [0002]
• 2009 "Theory and Practice of Magnetic Bearing Technology - A Brief Introduction" by R. Schöb of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich [0007]

Claims (19)

Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) for compressing a process fluid, comprising: a housing ( 100 ), a turbocompressor ( 200 ) with a compressor rotor ( 210 ) and a rotary drive unit ( 300 ) with a drive rotor ( 310 ), wherein the turbocompressor ( 200 ) and the rotary drive unit ( 300 ) in the housing ( 100 ) and the compressor runner ( 210 ) with the drive rotor ( 310 ) is rotationally drivingly connected, wherein the housing ( 100 ) is hermetically sealed, and wherein the compressor runner ( 210 ) by means of a rolling bearing rotatably in the housing ( 100 ) is stored. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to claim 1, wherein the rolling bearing of at least one and in particular a plurality of ball bearings, roller bearings ( 410 ) and / or needle bearings is formed. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotary drive unit ( 300 ) is set up such that during the rotary drive of the compressor rotor ( 210 ) a maximum speed, which is intended for the fatigue strength of the rolling bearing, is not exceeded. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compressor rotor ( 210 ) and the rotary drive unit ( 300 ) a common rotor shaft ( 400 ), over which the compressor runner ( 210 ) and the drive rotor ( 310 ) are directly connected to each other in a rotary drive. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a maintenance device which is adapted to ensure lubrication and / or cooling of the roller bearing, wherein as a means for lubricating and / or cooling the roller bearing a liquid and / or a gas are provided , Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to claim 5, wherein a methanol-ethanol-glycol mixture is provided as operating means for lubricating and / or cooling the roller bearing. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the maintenance device is adapted to supply the operating means for lubricating and / or cooling the roller bearing on the process fluid to be compressed of the rolling bearing. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the turbocompressor ( 200 ) is arranged to process natural gas as the process fluid to be compressed. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a vibration monitoring unit ( 500 ), which is designed to monitor vibration in the rolling bearing with respect to their amplitude and / or their frequency. Underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to claim 9, wherein the vibration monitoring unit ( 500 ) is further configured to monitor data representative of the amplitude and / or the frequency of the vibrations to a remote from the underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) to transfer overwater position located. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) comprising: an underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, a process fluid source ( 20 ), which via a supply line ( 30 ) with a process fluid inlet ( 220 ) of the turbo-compressor ( 200 ) of the underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) is fluidly connected, so that the turbocompressor ( 200 ) Process fluid from the process fluid source ( 20 ), and a process fluid receiver ( 50 ), which via a discharge line ( 40 ) with a process fluid outlet ( 230 ) of the turbo-compressor ( 200 ) of the underwater compressor arrangement ( 10 . 10A ) is fluidly connected so that the process fluid receiver ( 50 ) compressed process fluid from the turbo compressor ( 200 ), wherein at least the process fluid source ( 20 ) and the underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) below a water surface ( 71 ) of a body of water ( 70 ) are arranged. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 11, wherein the process fluid receiver ( 50 ) a memory space ( 52 . 54 . 56 ) for receiving compressed process fluid. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the process fluid receiver ( 50 ) below the water surface ( 71 ) of the water body ( 70 ) is arranged. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 13, wherein the process fluid receiver ( 50 ) from a cavern ( 51 ) is formed. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the process fluid receiver ( 50 ) above the water surface ( 71 ) of the water body ( 70 ) is arranged. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 15, wherein the process fluid receiver ( 50 ) from a ship ( 55 ) or a conveyor platform is formed. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the process fluid source ( 20 ) from a borehole in the riverbed ( 72 ) is formed. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the process fluid is formed by natural gas. Underwater Process Fluid Delivery Assembly ( 1 ) according to one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the operating means for lubricating and / or cooling the roller bearing of the turbocompressor ( 200 ) of the underwater compressor assembly ( 10 . 10A ) from at the process fluid source ( 20 ) is formed in the process fluid injected methanol-ethanol-glycol mixture.

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