About the projects

This project aims to substantiate feasible technologies for enabling pressure tolerant power electronics converters for operation at 300 bar ambient pressure (3000 m sea depth).

The main focus is on obtaining pressure tolerance for the converter components assumed to be the most vulnerable regarding pressure exposure:

  • IGBT power modules
  • IGBT gate drivers
  • Power capacitors

Methods for approaching the project goals are as follows:

  • Innovative work on methods for accommodating power components to pressurized liquid environment.
  • Experimental work with component and power circuits in pressurized environment up to 300 bar.
  • Exploitation of open results from international work on pressure tolerant electronics.
  • Consultancy with international expertise.
    Component manufacturer
    Universities
  • Cooperation with related research projects.
    The Petromaks KMB project "Power Insulation Material" on material problems.
    The Petromaks KMB project "Power System" on numerical analysis.
    The Petromaks SUP project "Enabling technology for Subsea production of oil and gas using electricity for power Supply and control" on pressure tolerant components and reliability.
  • Guidance of Project, Master and PhD students at NTNU, and exploitation of their results

Extract from the original project application to The Research Council of Norway

This project proposal is one out of three related KMB-project applications on subsea power components and systems submitted within Petromaks. The others are titled "Electric power systems for subsea processing and transportation of oil and gas" and "Electrical insulation materials and insulation systems for subsea high voltage power equipment". (Complete document)