Hybrid ship propulsion system

• US 7,241,192 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rzadki, Wolfgang, Andersen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/492,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20050106953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 114/40, 440/1, 440/3, 440/6, 440/50
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/202 of hybrid electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/20 the vessels being powered by combinations of different types of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

A hybrid propulsion system includes a main diesel engine for driving the marine turbine and an electric motor. The electric motor has a nominal output that constitutes at least 20% of the nominal output of the main diesel engine. The electric motor remains continuously switched on and maintains, together with a variable-pitch propeller, the main diesel engine at a favorable operating point. The combination of the main diesel engine and the electric motor also allows for a more economical design or operation of the propulsion system.

Claims

1. A ship propulsion system, comprising:

at least one ship propeller, driven via a propeller shaft;

a slow-running main diesel engine of a rated power, coupled to the propeller shaft in order to supply power to the ship propeller;

an electric motor of a rated power, coupled to the propeller shaft in order to supply power to the ship propeller;

an electricity generator system for producing electrical power for the electric motor; and

a fast-running diesel system for driving the electricity generator system,

wherein a pitch of propeller blades of the ship propeller is variable by a control drive, and

wherein the ship propulsion system includes a control device for controlling torque to be emitted from the electric motor and the ship propeller, such that the slow-running main diesel engine is operable at a nearly optimum operating point.

2. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control device in order to control torque emitted from the electric motor such that the slow-running main diesel engine is operated at the nearly optimum operating point.

3. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric motor is torque-controlled.

4. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rated power of the electric motor is at least 20% of the rated power of the main diesel engine.

6. A method for upgrading a seagoing ship, the method comprising:

upgrading a ship propulsion system of the ship with a ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1; and

reinforcing the ship'"'"'s hull in order to make the seagoing ship capable of passing through ice.

7. A method for upgrading a seagoing ship, the method comprising:

upgrading a ship propulsion system of the ship with a ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1; and

replacing the ship propeller by a ship propeller whose propeller blades are controllable, wherein a control drive is installed for the propeller blades.

8. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rated power of the slow-running main diesel engine and of the electric motor are predeterminable.

9. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optimum operating point is predeterminable.

5. A method for increasing propulsion power of a ship including at least one electric motor, including at least one shaft system with a propeller shaft for driving a ship propeller, and at least one slow-running main diesel engine for driving the propeller shaft, the method comprising:

providing an electric motor;

installing a diesel generating system;

matching the shaft system to the total power of the electric motor and of the slow-running main diesel engine; and

installing an electrical control and regulation device, to control the torque which is to be emitted from the electric motor and the ship propeller, such that the slow-running main diesel engine is operable at a nearly optimum operating point.

10. A ship propulsion system, comprising:

at least one ship propeller, adapted to be driven via a propeller shaft;

a diesel engine of a rated power, coupled to the propeller shaft and adapted to supply power to the ship propeller;

an electric motor of a rated power, coupled to the propeller shaft and adapted to supply power to the ship propeller;

an electricity generator system, adapted to produce electrical power for the electric motor; and

a diesel system, adapted to drive the electricity generator system, wherein a pitch of propeller blades of the ship propeller is variable by a control drive, and wherein the ship propulsion system includes a control device, adapted to control torque of the electric motor and the ship propeller, such that the diesel engine is operable at a nearly optimum operating point.

11. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the diesel engine is relatively slow running in comparison with the diesel system.

12. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electric motor is torque-controlled.

13. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rated power of the electric motor is at least 20% of the rated power of the diesel engine.

14. The ship propulsion system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the diesel engine is relatively slow running in comparison with the diesel system.