Electrical power distribution system, method for powering a corresponding task, propulsion system and method for a ship

• US 10,450,044 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leclere, Loic, Frizon, Jean-Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Viet P
• Application Number:
  US15/475,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20170283023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/22 without intermediate conversion to DC
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/205 the second power unit being of the internal combustion engine type, or the like, e.g. a Diesel engine
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/06 relating to steam turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/20 the vessels being powered by combinations of different types of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/002 by using electric power
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/008 by using steam
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/02 from propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 15/04 the vehicles being waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/165 Controlling means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/31 in steam turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/50 : Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 : Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

This electrical energy distribution system comprises assembly of electrical energy generators each driven by a heat engine and supplying a distribution network; means for recovering the heat energy generated during the operation of the heat engines and for vaporizing a working fluid; steam turbine driven by the working fluid and associated with a generator connected to the distribution network for converting the recovered heat energy into electrical energy and at least one frequency converter arranged between the distribution network and an electrical load.

It comprises means for controlling the frequency of the distribution network, where the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid is regulated to a maximum value.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:

an assembly of electrical power generators, each driven by an auxiliary heat engine and supplying a distribution network;

wherein, the distribution network provides an auxiliary electrical motor being operably connected to a motor shaft driven by a principal heat engine and having a propeller;

a heat exchanger configured for recovering heat energy generated during the operation of the principal heat engine and the auxiliary heat engines and for vaporizing a working fluid;

a steam turbine (i) configured to receive steam from the heat exchanger, (ii) driven by the working fluid and (iii) associated with a generator connected to the distribution network for converting the recovered heat energy into electrical energy;

a controller configured for regulating the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid to a maximum value; and

at least one frequency converter arranged between the distribution network and an auxiliary electrical motor, the at least one frequency converter being in operable connection with the controller;

wherein the at least one frequency converter is configured to switch between a fixed frequency of the distribution network and a variable frequency; and

wherein, when pressure at an input of the steam turbine exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure value, the controller facilitates the switch of the at least one frequency converter from the fixed frequency of the distribution network to the variable frequency for supplying energy to the auxiliary electrical motor.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a regulator for regulating the frequency of the distribution network between minimum and maximum frequency values.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the regulator comprises at least one phase-locked loop associated with proportional integral corrector.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one frequency converter is a bidirectional converter capable of providing bidirectional power transfer.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one frequency converter comprises filter input stage, active rectifier circuit, smoothing circuit and inverter circuit.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one frequency converter further comprises output filtering inductor.

7. A method of supplying a charge via a system for distributing electrical energy, comprising:

providing a distribution network, the distribution network including an auxiliary electrical motor being operably connected to a motor shaft driven by a principle heat engine and having a propeller;

driving, by a plurality of auxiliary heat engines, an assembly of electrical energy generators that supply the distribution network;

recovering the heat energy generated during the operation of the principle heat engine and the plurality of auxiliary heat engines and vaporizing a working fluid;

driving, by the working fluid, a steam turbine associated with a generator connected to the distribution network for converting the recovered heat energy into electrical energy and at least one frequency converter arranged between the distribution network and an auxiliary electrical motor, the frequency converter being configured to switch between a fixed frequency of the distribution network and a variable frequency; and

regulating the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid at maximum steam

such that when pressure at an input of the steam turbine exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure value, a controller facilitates the switch of the frequency converter from the fixed frequency of the distribution network to the variable frequency for supplying energy to the auxiliary electrical motor.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the regulating of the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid is regulated by opening a valve to the maximum for controlling the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the controlling of the frequency of the distribution network is regulated between the minimum and maximum frequency values.

10. Propulsion system for a ship, comprising:

a principal heat engine driving a line shafting;

an auxiliary electrical motor coupled to the line shafting and supplied by an electrical power distribution network, the electrical power distribution network being supplied by a plurality of auxiliary heat engines associated with electrical energy generators;

a heat exchanger configured for recovering the heat energy generated by the propulsion system and for vaporizing a working fluid;

a steam turbine (i) configured to receive steam from the heat exchanger, (ii) driven by the working fluid and (iii) associated with a generator connected to the electrical power distribution network for converting the recovered heat energy into electrical energy, and

a controller configured for regulating the flow rate of the vaporized working fluid to a maximum value; and

at least one frequency converter arranged between the electrical power distribution network and an auxiliary electrical motor, the frequency converter being in operable connection with the controller;

wherein the frequency converter is configured to switch between a fixed frequency of the electrical power distribution network and a variable frequency; and

wherein, when pressure at an input of the steam turbine exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure value, the controller facilitates the switch of the frequency converter from the fixed frequency of the electrical power distribution network to the variable frequency for supplying energy to the auxiliary electrical motor.

11. A propulsion system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one bow thruster comprising an electrical motor supplied by the electrical power distribution network via the frequency converter, the electrical power distribution network being powered by the principal heat engine and the plurality of auxiliary heat engines when the bow thrusters are supplied by the electrical power distribution network.