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ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTOMATING, CONTROLLING, AND OPTIMIZING THE OPERATION OF ONE OR MORE ENERGY STORAGE UNITS AND A COMBINED SERIAL AND PARALLEL HYBRID MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEM

  • US 20150075167A1
  • Filed: 04/21/2014
  • Published: 03/19/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A marine vessel, comprising:

  • a hull;

    an energy storage unit supported by the hull, the energy storage unit having a corresponding charge level;

    a generator set supported by the hull, the generator selectively supplying at least one of house power, propulsion power and energy storage unit recharge power based at least in part on the selected one of the plurality of operating modes;

    a first electric motor supported by the hull, the electric motor operating in an electric generation mode to generate electric power and as motor in a propulsion mode to turn a first propeller;

    a first prime mover internal combustion engine;

    a gear box supported by the hull and connecting the first prime mover internal combustion engine, the first electric motor and the first propeller such that in at least one mode of operation the first prime mover internal combustion engine can drive the first propeller independent of the first electric motor and in at least a second mode of operation the first electric motor can drive the first propeller independent of the first prime mover internal combustion engine, the first prime mover internal combustion engine controllable to turn the first propeller and to drive the electric motor to generate the electric power when the electric motor is in the electric generation mode;

    a human actuable input device supported by the hull, the human actuable input device selecting one of a plurality of operating modes;

    an energy management control unit, the energy management control unit having a processor controlling the operation of the first prime mover internal combustion engine, the generator and the first electric motor based at least in part on the selected operating mode, the energy storage unit charge level, a house load demand and a propulsion demand;

    a second prime mover internal combustion engine controllable by the energy management control unit to turn a second propeller and a cooling system, wherein the first prime mover internal combustion engine and the second prime mover internal combustion engine are each in fluid communication with the cooling system, and wherein when one of the first and second prime mover internal combustion engines is not operating, the cooling of at least one of the operating first and second prime mover internal combustion engines and generator set maintains an operative temperature of the inoperative one of the first and second prime mover internal combustion engines.

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