Electric drive-train for ships

• US 9,764,727 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Benavides, Nicholas D., Smith, Nicholas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US13/234,583
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 19
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/14 using DC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/24 electric dynamo-electric machines H02K
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An electric drive-train for a ship includes a first generator having a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a first prime mover and an output providing a voltage; a second generator having a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a second prime mover and an output providing a voltage; an electric machine including a rotatable shaft structured to drive a propeller; a first power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of the first generator and structured to power the electric machine; and a second power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of the second generator and structured to power the electric machine. A support structure replaces a reduction gear box and supports the first generator, the second generator, the electric machine, the first power electronic converter, and the second power electronic converter.

Claims

1. An electric drive-train for a ship, said electric drive-train comprising:

a first generator including a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a first prime mover and an output providing a voltage;

a second generator including a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a second prime mover and an output providing a voltage;

an electric machine comprising a rotatable shaft structured to drive a propeller;

a first power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of said first generator and structured to power said electric machine;

a second power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of said second generator and structured to power said electric machine; and

a support structure structured to replace a reduction gear box, said support structure supporting said first generator, said second generator, said electric machine, said first power electronic converter and said second power electronic converter;

wherein said first and second generators are structured to rotate at a first rounds per minute; and

wherein said electric machine is structured to rotate at a second rounds per minute which is substantially less than said first rounds per minute.

2. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein said first generator is a first alternating current generator;

wherein said second generator is a second alternating current generator;

wherein said support structure also supports a first rectifier including an input electrically interconnected with the output of said first alternating current generator and an output providing a direct current voltage, and a second rectifier including an input electrically interconnected with the output of said second alternating current generator and an output providing a direct current voltage;

wherein the first power electronic converter is electrically interconnected with the output of said first rectifier; and

wherein the second power electronic converter is electrically interconnected with the output of said second rectifier.

3. The electric drive-train of claim 2 wherein the first power electronic converter is electrically interconnected with the output of said first rectifier by a medium voltage direct current bus;

and wherein the second power electronic converter is electrically interconnected with the output of said second rectifier by a medium voltage direct current bus.

4. The electric drive-train of claim 2 wherein said support structure includes a first port side and an opposite starboard side;

wherein the first port side of said support structure includes a first access panel for the first rectifier; and

wherein the second starboard side of said support structure includes a second access panel for the second rectifier.

5. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein said first generator is a first direct current generator;

and wherein said second generator is a second direct current generator.

6. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein a first grid interface converter is coupled to said support structure and includes an input electrically interconnected with the output of said first generator and an output structured to power a ship service function;

and wherein a second grid interface converter is coupled to said support structure and includes an input electrically interconnected with the output of said second generator and an output structured to power a ship service function.

7. The electric drive-train of claim 6 wherein said support structure includes a first port side and an opposite starboard side;

wherein said first grid interface converter is coupled to said support structure at the first port side; and

wherein said second grid interface converter is coupled to said support structure at the second starboard side.

8. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a first port side and an opposite starboard side;

wherein a first liquid cooling system is supported by said support structure proximate the first port side;

wherein a second liquid cooling system is supported by said support structure proximate the second starboard side; and

wherein said electric machine is supported by said support structure between said first liquid cooling system and said second liquid cooling system.

9. The electric drive-train of claim 8 wherein the first port side of said support structure includes a first access panel for the first liquid cooling system;

and wherein the second starboard side of said support structure includes a second access panel for the second liquid cooling system.

10. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a first port side and an opposite starboard side;

wherein the first port side of said support structure includes a first access panel for the first power electronic converter; and

wherein the second starboard side of said support structure includes a second access panel for the second power electronic converter.

11. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein a first liquid cooling system and a second liquid cooling system are supported by said support structure;

wherein said first liquid cooling system is structured to cool said first power electronic converter; and

wherein said second liquid cooling system is structured to cool said second power electronic converter.

12. The electric drive-train of claim 11 wherein said first and second liquid cooling systems employ mineral oil or deionized water as a liquid coolant.

13. The electric drive-train of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the rotatable shaft of said first generator, the rotatable shaft of said second generator and the rotatable shaft of said electric machine are external to said support structure.

14. An electric drive-train for a ship, said electric drive-train comprising:

a generator including a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a prime mover and an output providing a voltage;

an electric machine comprising a rotatable shaft structured to drive a propeller;

a power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of said generator and structured to power said electric machine; and

a support structure structured to replace a reduction gear box, said support structure supporting said generator, said electric machine and said power electronic converter;

wherein said generator is structured to rotate at a first rounds per minute; and

wherein said electric machine is structured to rotate at a second rounds per minute which is substantially less than said first rounds per minute.

15. The electric drive-train of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the rotatable shaft of said generator and the rotatable shaft of said electric machine are external to said support structure.

16. An electric drive-train for a ship, said electric drive-train comprising:

a generator including a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a prime mover and an output providing a voltage;

an electric machine comprising a rotatable shaft structured to drive a propeller;

a power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of said generator and structured to power said electric machine; and

a support structure structured to replace a reduction gear box, said support structure supporting said generator, said electric machine and said power electronic converter;

wherein at least a portion of the rotatable shaft of said generator and the rotatable shaft of said electric machine are external to said support structure.

17. An electric drive-train for a ship, said electric drive-train comprising:

a first generator including a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a first prime mover and an output providing a voltage;

a second generator including a rotatable shaft structured to be driven by a second prime mover and an output providing a voltage;

an electric machine comprising a rotatable shaft structured to drive a propeller;

a first power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of said first generator and structured to power said electric machine;

a second power electronic converter electrically interconnected with the output of said second generator and structured to power said electric machine; and

a support structure structured to replace a reduction gear box, said support structure supporting said first generator, said second generator, said electric machine, said first power electronic converter and said second power electronic converter;

wherein at least a portion of the rotatable shaft of said first generator, the rotatable shaft of said second generator and the rotatable shaft of said electric machine are external to said support structure.