SUBSEA CONNECTOR WITH DATA COLLECTION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A subsea data collection and communication system is installed at a subsea interconnect point or subsea connector used for communication between subsea electrical, optical or hybrid electro-optical cables. The data collection and communication system is configured to collect system performance data such as voltage, current, optical pressure and the like from signals carried by the wires or fibers in cables connected to the connector unit, and may also collect data on environmental conditions from sensors installed in or on the connector unit, such as temperature, pressure, or sea water salinity sensors, and the like. The collected data is transmitted to a remote monitoring station or local hub for further processing to detect potential faults or performance degradation either at periodic intervals or on demand, using bi-directional Ethernet, CANBUS, a carrier frequency system over the cable power lines, optical signal over optical fiber, or wireless communication links over short distances.

主权项

1. A subsea connector, comprising:
a single or multi-part housing having a first cable inlet port configured for selected connection to the end of a first, subsea cable and a second port configured for connection to a second cable; first signal carrying media extending from the first cable inlet port into the housing for communication with second signal carrying media in the second cable via the second port; and a data collection and communication system located in the housing and configured to collect and store one or more predetermined performance parameters of the signals carried by said first and second signal carrying media, the system having a first input/output port communicating with at least some of the signal carrying media extending from the first cable inlet port, a second input/output port communicating with at least some of the signal carrying media in the second cable, and a microprocessor connected to said first and second input/output ports, the microprocessor comprising a data collection module configured for detecting and collecting predetermined parameters of the signals, a data storage module configured for storing said predetermined performance parameters, and a data communication module configured for communicating said stored performance parameters to a monitoring station.