IP Library › Granted Patent US 12706456
Granted Patent B2
US 12706456 · App. 17/926,498 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

DC grid

Inventors: Oliver Reimann (Erlangen, DE); Wolfgang Voss (Oberreichenbach, DE)
Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
H02J1/102H02J1/084H02J2105/31
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12706456
App. No.
17/926,498
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power generation grid for a vessel, rig or platform includes a primary energy source located above the waterline and a plurality of DC sub-assemblies, located below the waterline. Each DC sub-assembly has a DC bus, a DC/DC converter adapted to couple the DC bus to a DC energy source; an AC/DC converter adapted to couple the DC bus to an AC energy source; a DC/AC converter adapted to couple the DC bus to a corresponding load, and a first switch adapted to couple the DC bus to a DC bus of another DC sub-assembly.

Claims (52)

1 . A power generation grid for a vessel, rig, or platform, the grid comprising:

a primary energy source located above a waterline,

a plurality of DC sub-assemblies, located below the waterline;

wherein each DC sub-assembly comprises a DC bus, a DC/DC converter adapted to couple the DC bus to a DC energy source; an AC/DC converter adapted to couple the DC bus to an AC energy source; a DC/AC converter adapted to couple the DC bus to a corresponding load, and a first switch adapted to couple the DC bus to a DC bus of another DC sub-assembly;

wherein each DC sub-assembly further comprises a second switch adapted to couple the DC bus to a DC bus of one other of the plurality of DC sub-assemblies; and

wherein each DC sub-assembly further comprises a third switch, adapted to be coupled to a DC bus of another of the plurality of DC sub-assemblies.

2 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein each DC sub-assembly is adapted to be installed in a watertight housing below the waterline of a rig or platform having topside elements and elements below the waterline.

3 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein a plurality of DC sub-assemblies are mounted in the same watertight housing.

4 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the DC sub-assemblies further comprises an AC/DC converter adapted to couple an AC generator to the DC bus.

5 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein the primary energy source comprises a plurality of AC generators, or a plurality of DC generators, or a combination thereof.

6 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein the DC energy source is disposed above the waterline and comprises a plurality of DC energy storage units.

7 . The grid according to claim 6 ,

wherein each DC energy storage unit comprises a plurality of energy storage modules each connected to a different DC bus.

8 . The grid according to claim 6 ,

wherein each DC energy storage unit is coupled via a bus section of a DC ring to the DC bus of the DC sub-assembly; and

wherein the bus section of the DC ring is coupled at each end, via switches in the DC ring, to another bus section of the DC ring.

9 . The grid according to claim 8 ,

wherein each DC energy storage unit comprises a plurality of energy storage modules, each DC energy storage unit being coupled to a different section of the DC ring.

10 . The grid according to claim 9 ,

wherein the sections of the DC ring are separated by switches.

11 . The grid according to claim 9 ,

wherein the number of sections is greater than the number of energy storage modules connected to a section.

12 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein the switches comprise solid state breakers, or comprise one of a semiconductor switch, or intelligent load controller.

13 . The grid according to claim 5 ,

wherein the AC generators are coupled to at least one DC sub-assembly; or

wherein at least one of the AC generators is coupled to at least two DC sub-assemblies.

14 . The grid according to claim 5 , comprising:

wherein the AC generator comprises a two-winding system with two rectifiers, one rectifier for each DC sub-assembly.

15 . The grid according to claim 14 ,

wherein the two rectifiers are connected in parallel to an output of the AC generator.

16 . The grid according to claim 5 ,

wherein the AC generator comprises a variable frequency generator.

17 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein the grid operates at up to 1500 V DC.

18 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein the grid operates at up to 35000 V DC.

19 . The grid according to claim 17 ,

wherein the grid operates between 1000V to 1500V DC.

20 . The grid according to claim 18 ,

wherein the grid operates between 6000V DC and 18000V DC.

21 . The grid according to claim 18 ,

wherein the grid operates between 6000V DC and 35000V DC.

22 . The grid according to claim 1 ,

wherein for each DC sub-assembly the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch directly connect the DC sub-assembly to respective different DC sub-assemblies of the plurality of DC sub-assemblies.

23 . The grid according to claim 22 ,

wherein each DC sub-assembly is disposed within a respective pontoon of a rig or platform.