Systems and methods for utilizing excess electric power from a marine transportation vessel

• US 6,329,725 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Grossweiler, Philip J., Woodall, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/499,986
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 307/18, 307/19, 307/43, 307/44, 307/52, 307/64, 307/65
• US Class Current: 307/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/043 using shore connectors for electric power supply from shore-borne mains, or other electric energy sources external to the vessel, e.g. for docked, or moored vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for delivering excess electric power to an electric power grid from a marine transportation vessel while said marine transportation vessel is at port.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) electrical distribution switchgear on board a marine transportation vessel and connected to at least one generator on board said marine transportation vessel;

(b) at least one ship-side power cable connected to said electrical distribution switchgear; and

(c) equipment connected to at least one electric power grid and adapted for delivering power into said at least one electric power grid, wherein a shore-side power cable is connected to said equipment and to said ship-side power cable, thus, completing a circuit from said at least one generator to said at least one electric power grid to facilitate delivery of excess electric power from said at least one generator to said at least one electric power grid while said marine transportation vessel is at port.

2. A system comprising:

(a) electrical distribution switchgear on board a marine transportation vessel for transporting a fluid fuel and connected to at least one generator on board said marine transportation vessel;

(b) at least one ship-side power cable connected to said electrical distribution switchgear; and

(c) equipment connected to at least one electric power grid and adapted for delivering power into said at least one electric power grid, wherein a shore-side power cable is connected to said equipment and to said ship-side power cable, thus, completing a circuit from said at least one generator to said at least one electric power grid to facilitate delivery of excess electric power from said at least one generator to said at least one electric power grid while said marine transportation vessel is at port.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said fluid fuel is liquefied natural gas.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said fluid fuel is pressurized liquefied natural gas.

5. A method comprising the steps:

(a) connecting electrical distribution switchgear on board a marine transportation vessel to at least one generator on board said marine transportation vessel, wherein said electrical distribution switchgear has at least one ship-side power cable connected thereto;

(b) connecting equipment to at least one electric power grid, wherein said equipment is adapted for delivering power into said at least one electric power grid and includes at least one shore-side power cable;

(c) connecting said shore-side power cable to said ship-side power cable, thus completing a circuit from said at least one generator to said at least one electric power grid; and

(d) delivering excess electric power from said vessel to said electric power grid via said circuit.

6. A method comprising the steps:

(a) connecting electrical distribution switchgear on board a marine transportation vessel to at least one generator on board said marine transportation vessel, wherein said electrical distribution switchgear has at least one ship-side power cable connected thereto and said marine transportation vessel is adapted for transporting a fluid fuel;

(b) connecting equipment to at least one electric power grid, wherein said equipment is adapted for delivering power into said at least one electric power grid and includes at least one shore-side power cable;

(c) connecting said shore-side power cable to said ship-side power cable, thus completing a circuit from said at least one generator to said at least one electric power grid; and

(d) delivering excess electric power from said vessel to said electric power grid via said circuit.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said fluid fuel is liquefied natural gas.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said fluid fuel is pressurized liquefied natural gas.