System for controlling and providing power to at least one electric motor in a vessel
A system for controlling and providing power to at least one electric motor in a vessel, such as a motor in a thruster or a winch. The system includes an electric energy storage, a power controller device connected to the electric energy storage, at least one motor controller device, a first combined power and communication line interconnecting the power controller device and the at least one motor controller device, an electric motor connected to the motor controller device, and at least one operating device connected to the power controller device. The system may further include a second combined power and communication line that interconnects the power controller device and the at least one operating device. The first combined power and communication line operates with a DC voltage level which is at least twice the operational DC voltage level of the second power and communication line.
1. A system for controlling and providing power to a plurality of electric motors in a vessel, the system comprising;
an electric energy storage;
a power controller device, connected to the electric energy storage;
a plurality of motor controller devices;
a first combined power and communication line interconnecting the power controller device and the plurality of motor controller devices;
an electric motor connected to each motor controller device;
at least one operating device connected to the power controller device; and
a second combined power and communication line interconnecting the power controller device and the at least one operating device,
wherein the power controller device is configured to provide a second DC voltage at the second power and communication line and further configured to provide two-way data communication with the at least one operating device via the first combined power and communication line.
2. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first combined power and communication line is configured to operate with an operational voltage level at least two times the operational voltage level of the second power and communication line.
3. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power controller device includes a DC-DC converter and is configured to provide a first DC voltage at the first power and communication line, the first DC voltage corresponding to a voltage of the energy storage multiplied by a multiplying factor larger than 2.
4. The system according to claim 3 ,
wherein the power controller device is further configured to provide two-way data communication with the plurality of motor controller devices via the first combined power and communication line.
5. The system according to claim 4 ,
wherein the power controller device is configured to provide the two-way data communication by modulating a communication signal onto the first DC voltage.
6. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power controller device is configured to provide the two-way data communication with the at least one operating device by modulating a communication signal onto the second DC voltage.
7. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operating device includes a hand-operated operating device which includes a hand-operated multi-function joystick.
8. The system according to one of the claim 1 ,
wherein the power controller device is further connected to at least one device selected from the following set: a wireless network communication device, a mobile network communication device, a GPS device, an input-output device, a display device.
9. The system according to claim 8 ,
wherein the wireless network communication device, the mobile network communication device, the GPS device, the input-output device, or the display device are also connected to the power controller device by means of the second combined power and communication line.
10. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a wireless communication device executing an application program which emulates functions of a hand-operated operating device.
11. The system according to one of the claim 1 ,
wherein the power controller device is configured so as not to establish a voltage on its first combined power and communication line output until connection with the interconnected motor controllers is confirmed.
12. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein each electric motor is a brushless DC motor, and
wherein each motor controller device includes a motor control circuit configured to control the brushless DC motor by means of multiple frequency controlled outputs.
13. The system according to claim 12 ,
wherein the programmable logic device is configured to control the brushless DC motor by generating a 3-phase power output.
14. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein each electric motor is included in a propulsion device or a winch device in the vessel.
15. The system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the power controller device includes a DC-DC converter and is configured to provide a first DC voltage at the first power and communication line, the first DC voltage corresponding to a voltage of the energy storage multiplied by a multiplying factor larger than 2.
16. The system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the power controller device is configured so as not to establish a voltage on its first combined power and communication line output until connection with the interconnected motor controllers is confirmed.