SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING HYBRID ENERGY ON A MARINE VESSEL

• US 20090284228A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair
• Granted Patent: US 8,278,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/20 the vessels being powered by combinations of different types of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/24 electric dynamo-electric machines H02K
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel, the system including an energy storage device aboard a marine vessel, an interface device connected to the energy storage device configured to provide power to charge the energy storage device and/or provide power from the energy storage device to the marine vessel, a converter device connected to the interface device configured to convert power to alternating current and/or direct current, depending on an intended purpose of the system, and a conditioning device connected to the converter device, interface device, and/or energy storage device, and configured to establish an acceptable power level and/or an acceptable power waveform. The energy storage device is configured to provide power to the marine vessel to reduce fuel used, emission output, and/or mechanical noise output. A method for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel, the system comprising:

an energy storage device aboard a marine vessel;

an interface device connected to the energy storage device and configured to provide power to charge the energy storage device and/or provide power from the energy storage device to the marine vessel;

a converter device connected to the interface device and configured to convert power to alternating current and/or direct current, depending on an intended purpose of the system;

a conditioning device connected to at the converter device, interface device, and/or energy storage device, and configured to establish an acceptable power level and/or an acceptable power waveform; and

wherein the energy storage device is configured to provide power to the marine vessel to reduce fuel used, emission output, and/or mechanical noise output.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an alternating current bus distribution unit to provide power received from the energy storage device to other subsystems onboard the marine vessel and/or provide power to the energy storage device to recharge the energy storage device.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control subsystem configured to provide for distribution of power on the marine vessel.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface device is configured to provide for charging of the energy storage device and/or discharging of the energy storage device.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a switching device configured to engage and/or disengage the converter device and/or the conditioning device.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a charging system located remote of the marine vessel and configured to recharge the energy storage device when in communication with the energy storage device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one battery, a capacitor, and/or a flywheel.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one battery is a high temperature battery.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a peak power capability of the marine vessel is increased by utilizing an existing peak power capacity with power provided by the energy storage device.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device, the interface device, the converter, and/or the conditioning device are provided as a retrofit assembly for installation on the marine vessel.

11. A system for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel, the system comprising:

an alternating current bus distribution unit configured to provide power to a plurality of subsystems aboard the marine vessel;

an energy storage device aboard the marine vessel in communication with the alternating current bus distribution unit to provide power to the alternating current bus distribution unit and/or receive power from the alternating current bus distribution unit; and

an intermediate subsystem connected between the alternating bus distribution unit and the energy storage device, wherein the intermediate subsystem is configured to convert the power and/or condition the power for receipt by the alternating current bus distribution unit and/or the energy storage device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate subsystem comprises a converter device and/or a conditioning device.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a charging system located remote from the marine vessel for charging the energy storage device, wherein once charged by the charging system the marine vessel is operateable with power provided by the energy storage device.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a control subsystem configured to control power flow within the marine vessel to provide power to the alternating current bus distribution unit to operate the marine vessel and/or the energy storage device to recharge the energy storage device.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the energy storage device is configured to provide power to the marine vessel to reduce fuel used, emission output, and/or mechanical noise output.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a switching device configured to engage and/or disengage the intermediate subsystem from between the alternating current bus distribution unit and the energy storage device.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the alternating current bus distribution unit, the energy storage device, and/or the intermediate subsystem are provided as a retrofit assembly for installation on the marine vessel.

18. A method for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel, the method comprising:

operating a marine vessel with power provided from an energy storage device while at least one engine on the marine vessel is not operating and/or is operating at a reduced power output to reduce fuel used, emission output, and/or mechanical noise output; and

recharging the energy storage device when power available from the energy storage device is not at a peak level.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising converting power to alternating current and/or direct current, depending on a power requirement.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein converting power to alternating current further comprises converting direct current power provided from the energy storage device to alternating current.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein converting power to direct current further comprises converting alternating current provided from the marine vessel and/or a remote charger to direct current to recharge the energy storage device.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising conditioning the power to establish an acceptable power level and/or an acceptable power waveform.