SHIP PROPULSION SYSTEM, SHIP, AND SHIP PROPULSION METHOD
Provided is a ship propulsion system such that an increase in the size of a main engine can be minimized. The ship propulsion system is equipped with: main generators that supplies power to the interior of a ship; a power distribution unit that distributes the power of the main generators; a first electric motor that rotatably drives a first rotary shaft with the power input through the power distribution unit; a main propeller that rotates along with the first rotary shaft; a second electric motor that rotatably drives a second rotary shaft with the power input through the power distribution unit and a stern-side propeller that is disposed on the stern side of the main propeller and rotates along with the second rotary shaft.
1 . A ship propulsion system comprising:
a main generator supplying electric power into a ship;
an electric power distribution unit distributing the electric power from the main generator;
a first electric motor allowing a first rotary shaft to be driven to rotate by the electric power input via the electric power distribution unit;
a main propeller rotating with the first rotary shaft;
a second electric motor allowing a second rotary shaft to be driven to rotate by the electric power input via the electric power distribution unit; and
a stern-side propeller placed on a stern side of the main propeller and rotating with the second rotary shaft.
2 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a main engine allowing the first rotary shaft to be driven to rotate,
wherein the first electric motor compensates for a shortfall in the rotation of the main propeller attributable to the main engine by allowing the first rotary shaft to be driven to rotate.
3 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first electric motor includes a generator generating electric power from the rotation of the first rotary shaft attributable to output of the main engine and supplying the electric power to the electric power distribution unit, and
wherein the electric power distribution unit supplies the second electric motor with the electric power supplied by the first electric motor.
4 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a control unit switching operations of the first electric motor,
wherein the control unit switches between allowing the first rotary shaft to be driven to rotate by the first electric motor in response to thrust required for the ship and supplying electric power to the electric power distribution unit by generating the electric power from the rotation of the main engine.
5 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 2 ,
wherein a plurality of the main engines with regard to the single main propeller, and a decelerator connected to the plurality of main engines are provided.
6 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main propeller is a controllable pitch propeller, and
wherein the first electric motor is driven to rotate at a constant speed of rotation.
7 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main propeller is a fixed pitch propeller.
8 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the single main propeller or a plurality of the main propellers and the single stern-side propeller placed to face each of the main propellers are provided.
9 . The ship propulsion system according to claim 1 ,
wherein two units of the stern-side propeller axisymmetrically placed, about a rotational axis of the main propeller as an axis of symmetry, with respect to the single main propeller are provided.
10 . A ship comprising:
the ship propulsion system according to claim 1 .
11 . A ship propulsion method comprising:
allowing electric power to be supplied from a main generator supplying the electric power into a ship;
allowing the electric power from the main generator to be distributed by an electric power distribution unit;
allowing a first rotary shaft to be driven to rotate by a first electric motor by the electric power input via the electric power distribution unit;
allowing a main propeller to be rotated with the first rotary shaft;
allowing a second rotary shaft to be driven to rotate by a second electric motor by the electric power input via the electric power distribution unit; and
allowing a stern-side propeller placed on a stern side of the main propeller to be rotated with the second rotary shaft.