Power supply system for an electrical drive of a marine vessel

1. A power supply system for compensation for heave of a marine drilling vessel, the power supply system comprising:

a main power source;

an electric energy storage device coupled to the main power source via a DC bus; and

an electric motor/generator electrically coupled via the DC bus to the main power source and the electric energy storage device,

wherein the electric motor/generator is configured to receive electric energy from one or more of the main power source and the electric energy storage device to operate the electric motor/generator as a motor in a first operating state when the marine vessel lowers to a wave trough,

wherein the electric motor/generator is configured to charge the electric energy storage device to operate as a generator in a second operating state when the marine vessel rises to a wave crest; and

wherein the electric motor/generator is an electrical drive of at least one or more of a marine active heave compensating draw works, a draw works of a marine drilling rig, a marine anchor winch drive, and a top drive of a marine drilling rig.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric energy storage device comprises at least one or more of a battery and a capacitor bank.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric energy storage device comprises a lithium polymer battery.

4. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor/generator of the electrical drive comprises an AC motor, wherein the bus comprises an AC bus and a DC bus, wherein the electric energy storage device is connected to the DC bus, and a variable frequency drive is connected between the power source and the AC motor of the electrical drive.

5. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a generator coupled to one or more of a gas turbine and a diesel engine.

6. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling of the electric energy storage device to the electrical drive comprises a bi-directional step up or step down converter.

7. The power supply system according to claim 6 , wherein the converter is a bi-directional step-up or step-down chopper.

8. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply system comprises an AC bus, wherein the electric energy storage device is coupled to the AC bus, the coupling comprising an inverter and rectifier for converting between an AC voltage on the AC bus and a DC voltage required by the electric energy storage device.

9. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the system further comprises a frequency converter that is coupled between the power source and the electric motor/generator of the electrical drive, the frequency converter having a DC bus,

the electric energy storage device is coupled to the DC bus, and

the power supply system further comprises at least one of a second electric energy storage device coupled to the DC bus, a second power source coupled to the DC bus and a second electrical drive coupled to the DC bus.

10. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the system further comprises a frequency converter that is coupled between the power source and the electric motor/generator of the electrical drive, the frequency converter having a DC bus,

the electric energy storage device is coupled to a first section of a DC bus, and

the power supply system further comprises at least a second electric energy storage device coupled to a second section of the DC bus, the second section of the DC bus further being coupled to a second power source and at least one second electrical drive,

wherein the first and second DC bus sections are connectable by a bus-tie breaker.

11. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the electric energy storage device is coupled to a DC bus of a frequency converter that is coupled between the power source and the electric motor/generator of the electrical drive,

the DC bus is adapted to be operated in a voltage range of about 300V to about 2000V, and

the electrical drives has a power rating in the range of about 100 kW to about 30 MW.

12. A method of operating a power supply system for compensation for heave of a marine drilling vessel, the method comprising:

compensating for heave of the marine vessel by an electric motor/generator, wherein the electric motor/generator is an electric drive of at least one or more of a marine active heave compensating draw works, a draw works of a marine drilling rig, a marine anchor winch drive, and a top drive of a marine drilling rig;

supplying power to the electric motor/generator from one or more of a main power source and an electric energy storage device, wherein the electric motor/generator is coupled via a DC bus to the main power source and the electric energy storage device, wherein the electric motor/generator is configured to receive electric energy to operate the electric motor/generator as a motor in a first operating state when the marine vessel lowers to a wave trough;

storing power to the electric energy storage device from the electric motor/generator; wherein the electric motor/generator is configured to charge the energy storage device to operate as a generator in a second operating state when the marine vessel rises to a wave crest.

13. A marine vessel comprising:

An electric drive of one or more of a marine active heave compensating draw works, a draw works of a marine drilling rig, a marine anchor winch drive, and a top drive of a marine drilling rig, wherein the electrical drive comprises an electric motor/generator;

a main power source comprising a generator coupled to one or more of a gas turbine and a diesel engine; and

an electric energy storage device comprising at least one or more of a battery and a capacitor bank;

wherein the electric motor/generator is electrically coupled via a DC bus to the main power source and the electric energy storage device,

wherein the electric motor/generator is configured to receive electric energy from one or more of the main power source and the electric energy storage device to operate the electric motor/generator as a motor in a first operating state when the marine vessel lowers to a wave trough, and

wherein the electric motor/generator is configured to charge the electric energy storage device to operate as a generator in a second operating state when the marine vessel rises to a wave crest.