Power module targets subsea industrial apps

Article By : EE Times Asia

The PRBX VB410-380 is designed to offer maximum level of isolation between the high-voltage input and the low-voltage output, according to Powerbox.

European power supply company Powerbox latest power industrial platform, the PRBX VB410-380, is designed to power subsea equipment such as gas and oil monitoring and control systems on the seafloor.

Industrial applications such as gas and oil situated on the seafloor, or long distance transmission cables require very specific power solutions to supply a subset of electronic equipment operating 24/7 with no downtime, and where maintenance is either very expensive or simply not an option. These applications are usually powered from the shore or from a technical platform generator via a high voltage line, which depending on the power station could be AC or DC voltage within the range of 300 to 900VAC, or 400 to 1500VDC, ultimately requiring a 48V DC intermediate bus voltage to power electronic equipment.

Equipment deployed in extreme environments such as the seafloor must be designed for very high reliability and resilience and able to operate within a temperature range of -25°C to 80°C without derating, using conduction cooling only. Subsea electronic equipment is often contained within a very tight tubular container fixed to the cable.

Powerbox’s PRBX VB410-380 is designed to offer maximum level of isolation between the high-voltage input and the low-voltage output, but with sufficient physical isolation between the different components to allow for tight integration. The unit comprises a pre-stage converter and a secondary stage with redundant power modules and for monitoring and control, a full set of communications and interfaces, according to the company.

Using an advanced switching topology the complete system (high voltage input to low voltage output) energy efficiency is over 85%, which compared to earlier generation, similar products is some 10% higher. The PRBX VB410-380 layout is designed and optimised to conduct heat from the dissipative elements to the cold plate, reducing the possibility of internal hot spots and contributing to higher reliability.

The VB410 primary module converts the line voltage to an internal voltage of 380VDC. It includes an active Power Factor Corrector (PFC) and an RS-232 communication bus for the network manager to supervise the power unit. The module is designed with an ‘inrush current free topology’ to reduce peaks on the main line and reducing component stress.

The secondary stage of the PRBX VB380 includes four independent output modules each delivering 95W (48V / 2A). Each output has its own current limiting capability, and an integrated digital controller, used to monitor voltage and current that is readable through a CAN-Bus. Each output can be ON/OFF controlled or made redundant. The CAN-Bus is also used for diagnostic and predictive actions, according to Powerbox.