SUBSEA SENSOR ASSEMBLIES

摘要

Sensor assemblies are provided for monitoring operational characteristics of subsea rotating devices such as motors and pumps. Pressure-compensated proximity sensors (100, 110, 112) are disposed adjacent a subsea rotating shaft (14) for directly monitoring a position of the rotating shaft. A sensor tip assembly (120, 122, 130, 132, 138) includes a sensor cap (200) and a sensing element (250) therein configured to produce a signal indicative of a distance between the sensor cap and the rotating shaft. A substantially incompressible fluid (236) is disposed within a fluid reservoir (238) within a sensor housing (232), and fluidly communicates with the sensor cap (200) such that at least a portion of an internal pressure within the sensor housing is applied to interior portions of the sensor cap. The sensor housing is configured such that the internal pressure increases in response to an increase in an external pressure of the sensor housing.