| 摘要 |
A system and method is provided for communicating electrical power or data signals along a pipe extending underwater, such as a subsea riser or umbilical. The pipe includes an inner, electrically-insulating sheath defining a conduit 31 and an outer, electrically-insulating layer 33 surrounding the inner sheath so as to define a conducting annulus 32 in-between. An electric current generator (47, fig 4) is positioned on the pipe and generates a current 34 in the annulus. A device 37, such as a pressure sensor, is positioned outside the outer layer of the pipe at a first location remote from the generator. The annulus is in electrical communication with the water 36 at a second location (50, fig 5) on the pipe distant from the generator such that an electrical return path 35 extends through the water between the second location and the position of the generator, optionally via a surface vessel (62, fig 6). The device is operable to draw power or data from the annulus in a contactless manner, preferably by an inductive coupling. |
