POWER SYSTEM FOR OFFSHORE APPLICATIONS

• US 20170133858A1
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pan, Yan, Butcher, Martin Samuel, Dong, Dong, Ingles, Martin Richard, Panosyan, Ara, Sihler, Christof Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,008,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 11/00 Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/36 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks via a high-tension dc link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/60 Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks or generators via a high voltage DC link [HVCD]

Abstract

A power system for offshore application includes a plurality of power circuits. Each of the power circuit includes an alternating current (AC) bus which supplies power to an auxiliary load and is connected to a generator. The power circuit further includes a first direct current (DC) bus having a first DC voltage supplying power to a first load and a second DC bus having a second DC voltage supplying power to a second load. The power circuit also includes a first DC to DC converter coupled between the first DC bus and the second DC bus, wherein the first DC to DC converter is configured for bidirectional power flow and an AC to DC converter coupled between the AC bus and the first DC bus. The first DC bus of at least one power circuit is coupled to the second DC bus of at least another power circuit with a second DC to DC converter. The system also includes a controller configured to control the operation of the first DC to DC converter, second DC to DC converter and the AC to DC converter for regulating the first and second DC voltages. The controller is further configured to provide power to the second DC bus from the at least one AC to DC converter during a first operating state and from the first DC to DC converter during a second operating state.

Claims

1. A power system for offshore application, comprising:

a plurality of power circuits, each comprising;

an alternating current (AC) bus connected to a generator and supplying power to an auxiliary load;

a first direct current (DC) bus having a first DC voltage supplying power to a first load;

a second DC bus having a second DC voltage supplying power to a second load;

a first DC to DC converter coupled between the first DC bus and the second DC bus, wherein the first DC to DC converter is configured for bidirectional power flow;

an AC to DC converter coupled between the AC bus and the first DC bus;

wherein the first DC bus of at least one power circuit is coupled to the second DC bus of at least another power circuit with a second DC to DC converter; and

a controller configured to control the operation of the first DC to DC converter, second DC to DC converter and the AC to DC converter for regulating the first and second DC voltages;

wherein the controller is further configured to provide power to the second DC bus from the at least one AC to DC converter during a first operating state and from the first DC to DC converter during a second operating state.

2. The power system of claim 1 further comprising a second AC to DC converter coupled between the second DC bus and the AC bus of the same power circuit or another power circuit.

3. The power system of claim 2, wherein the first load includes Thruster load and the second load includes drilling load.

4. The power system of claim 3 further comprising a first electrical drive connected between the first DC bus and the Thruster load to control a Thruster load motor.

5. The power system of claim 4 further comprising a second electrical drive connected between the second DC bus and the drilling load to control a drilling load motor.

6. The power system of claim 2, wherein the second operating condition is initiated when a fault is detected on the second AC to DC converter or a feeder and a transformer that feed power to the second AC to DC converter.

7. The power system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to provide power to the first DC bus from the second DC bus when a fault on first AC to DC converter is detected.

8. The power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one DC to DC converter comprises a high frequency DC to DC converter or medium frequency DC to DC converter.

9. The power system of claim 8, wherein the high frequency DC to DC or medium frequency DC to DC converter includes a first bus converter coupled to a second bus converter via a high frequency transformer or a medium frequency converter.

10. The power system of claim 9, wherein the each of the first and the second bus converter include a single DC to DC converter or a plurality of DC to DC converters connected in series or in parallel or any combination therein.

11. The power system of claim 9, wherein the first bus converter and the second bus converter include full bridge IGBT converters.

12. The power system of claim 1, wherein the AC buses of plurality of power circuits are coupled to each other via circuit breakers.

13. The power system of claim 1, wherein the first DC voltage is higher than the second DC voltage.

14. The power system of claim 1 further comprising at least one energy storage device coupled to one of the first DC bus or second DC bus via a power electronic converter.

15. The power system of claim 1, wherein the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are part of a third DC to DC converter having a high frequency transformer connected between a DC to high frequency AC converter and two high frequency AC to DC converters.

16. A method of providing power to offshore application comprising:

providing power to a plurality of power circuits, wherein providing power to each power circuit includes;

supplying power to an auxiliary load from an alternating current (AC) bus connected to a generator;

supplying power to a first load from a first direct current (DC) bus having a first DC voltage;

providing power to a second load from a second DC bus having a second DC voltage;

connecting a first DC to DC converter coupled between the first DC bus and the second DC bus, wherein the first DC to DC converter is configured for bidirectional power flow;

connecting an AC to DC converter between the AC bus and the first DC bus;

coupling the first DC bus of at least one power circuit to the second DC bus of at least another power circuit with a second DC to DC converter;

regulating the first and second DC voltages by controlling the operation of the first DC to DC converter, the second DC to DC converter and the AC to DC converter; and

providing power to the second DC bus from the at least one AC to DC converter during a first operating state and from the first DC to DC converter during a second operating state.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising coupling a second AC to DC converter between the second DC bus and the AC bus of the same power circuit or another power circuit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second operating condition is initiated when a fault is detected on the second AC to DC converter or a feeder and a transformer that feed power to the second AC to DC converter.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing power to the first DC bus from the second DC bus when a fault on first AC to DC converter is detected.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one DC to DC converter comprises a high frequency DC to DC converter or medium frequency DC to DC converter.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the high frequency DC to DC or medium frequency DC to DC converter includes a first bus converter coupled to a second bus converter via a high frequency transformer or a medium frequency converter.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the each of the first and the second bus converter include a single DC to DC converter or a plurality of DC to DC converters connected in series or in parallel or any combination therein.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are part of a third DC to DC converter having a high frequency transformer connected between a DC to high frequency AC converter and two high frequency AC to DC converters.