Hybrid drive system for a ship

1. A method of operating a hybrid drive system of a sailing ship comprising an internal combustion engine ( 103 ), an electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) which operates as a either a generator or a motor, depending on a circuit of an electric controller ( 107 , 207 ), a battery ( 106 ), at least one shift clutch ( 115 , 116 , 215 , 216 ) and a pivotable drive device ( 109 , 209 ) for transferring drive power to at least one propeller ( 108 ), the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) together with a first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) and a second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) form modular a drive unit ( 140 , 240 ) which is enclosed by a common housing ( 227 , 228 , 229 ), the housing has a flange surface ( 219 ) for connecting the internal combustion engine, and the drive unit is modularly disposed between the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) and the drive device ( 109 ), the first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) is disposed between the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) and the internal combustion engine ( 103 ), and the second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) is disposed between the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) and the drive device ( 109 , 209 ), the method comprising the steps of:

operating the hybrid drive system in a first operating mode in which the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) operates as a motor for changing a direction of travel of the ship by reversing a direction of rotation of the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) to reverse a direction of rotation of the propeller ( 108 , 208 ); and

operating the hybrid drive system in a seventh operating mode while the sailing ship being driven by wind power in which the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) is operating as a motor and generates torque which prevents rotation of the propeller ( 108 , 208 ) and rotation of the drive device ( 109 , 209 ), to prevent running noise of the drive device ( 109 , 209 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of the operating the hybrid drive system in the first operating mode in which the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) operates as a motor and disengaging the first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) and engaging the second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) to drive the propeller ( 108 , 208 ) with energy stored in the battery ( 106 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of operating the hybrid drive system in a second operating mode, in which the first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) and the second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) are engaged, and the ship is driven by the internal combustion engine ( 103 ), and the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) is electrically switched off.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of operating the hybrid drive system in a third operating mode, in which the first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) is engaged and the second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) is disengaged, and the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) drives the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) operating as a generator for charging the battery ( 106 ).

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of operating the hybrid drive system in a fourth operating mode in which both of the first and the second clutches ( 115 , 116 , 215 , 216 ) are engaged and the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) drives both the propeller ( 108 , 208 ) and the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) operating as a generator.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of operating the hybrid drive system in a fifth operating mode, in which both of the first and the second clutches ( 115 , 116 , 215 , 216 ) are engaged, the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) operating as a motor, and together with the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) drives the propeller ( 108 , 208 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically setting a first control mode immediately after switching on the hybrid system such that the hybrid system is switched into the first operating mode when several control modes are selectable.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of upwardly limiting a speed of the electric motor by a speed limit value in the first control mode.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of permitting the speed limit value to be exceeded for a limited time in the first control mode.

10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of automatically switching the hybrid system, in a second control mode, between the first operating mode, a second operating mode and a fourth operating mode depending on either a desired speed or a quantity of energy stored in the battery ( 106 ).

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting a third control mode for a sailing operation, in which the hybrid system is switched into a sixth operating mode, and a rudder propeller is automatically pivoted around a control axis in an opposite direction relative to a position the ruder propeller is in with straight travel driven by either the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) or electric machine ( 105 ).

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of switching the hybrid system to the third mode of operation with the selection of a fourth control mode.

13. A method of operating a hybrid drive system of a ship comprising an internal combustion engine ( 103 ), an electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) which operates as a either a generator or a motor, depending on a circuit of an electric controller ( 107 , 207 ), a battery ( 106 ), at least one shift clutch ( 115 , 116 , 215 , 216 ) and a pivotable drive device ( 109 , 209 ) for transferring drive power to at least one propeller ( 108 ), the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) together with a first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) and a second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) form modular a drive unit ( 140 , 240 ) which is enclosed by a common housing ( 227 , 228 , 229 ), the housing has a flange surface ( 219 ) for connecting the internal combustion engine, and the drive unit is modularly disposed between the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) and the drive device ( 109 ), the first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) is disposed between the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) and the internal combustion engine ( 103 ), and the second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) is disposed between the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) and the drive device ( 109 , 209 ), the method comprising the steps of:

operating the hybrid drive system in a first operating mode in which the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) operates as a motor for changing a direction of travel of the ship by reversing a direction of rotation of the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) to reverse a direction of rotation of the propeller ( 108 , 208 );

operating the hybrid drive system in a seventh operating mode while the sailing ship being driven by wind power in which the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) is operating as a motor and generates torque which prevents rotation of the propeller ( 108 , 208 ) and rotation of the drive device ( 109 , 209 ), to prevent running noise of the drive device ( 109 , 209 ); and

operating the hybrid drive system in a sixth operating mode in which the first clutch ( 115 , 215 ) is disengaged and the second clutch ( 116 , 216 ) is engaged such that the propeller ( 108 , 208 ) operates as a turbine, and a flow energy of water flowing around the ship, drives the electric machine ( 105 , 205 ) which operates as a generator for generating electrical energy.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising the step generating electrical energy from the flow energy of the water when the ship is sailing by wind energy with the propeller ( 108 , 208 ) acting as a turbine.