IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,241,192
Granted Patent B2
US 7,241,192 · App. 10/492,796 · Granted Jul 10, 2007

Hybrid ship propulsion system

Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,241,192
App. No.
10/492,796
Granted
Jul 10, 2007
Kind
B2
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 (34)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2005
From: ANDERSEN, PETER; RZADKI, WOLFGANG
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 016157/0379 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 100 61 578 · Dec 11, 2000 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050106953A1 · May 19, 2005