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AssigneesFoss Maritime Company, Aspin Kemp & Associates, Xeropoint Energy
InventorsJohn BARRETT, Elizabeth BOYD (nee Reynolds), Tim STEWART, Rick McKENNA, Jason ASPIN, John ELDRIDGE, Paul JAMER, John STRATTON, Chris WRIGHT
Estimating the term…
A hybrid propulsion and energy management system for use in marine vessels and other variable demand propulsion applications monitors and draws energy from various energy sources dynamically to implement multiple operating modes and provide efficient system operation across a range of propulsive demands, altering the operation and output of various energy sources in response to propulsive load demands, hotel loads and auxiliary energy demands. The propulsion system incorporates at least two propulsive sources, including at least one main propulsive engine and at least one motor-generator unit arranged to drive a common output shaft, and the energy management system dynamically shifts operation of each of the two sources to satisfy propulsive demands. The main propulsive engine and the motor-generator unit are capable of driving the common output shaft both independently and simultaneously. The motor-generator unit(s) are available to operate either as a motor driving the output shaft or as a generator supplying energy to the energy distribution system.
A propulsion system comprising:
A hybrid power system for use on a marine vessel comprising at least two independently operable drive sources arranged on a common driveline providing energy for propulsion, an energy distribution bus, an energy storage system, and an energy management system (EMS) controlling operation of the at least two sources and controlling energy flow between the at least two sources, the energy distribution bus and the energy storage system, wherein the EMS dynamically operates the two independently operable drive sources and dynamically controls energy flow to satisfy propulsive demands and to maintain a substantially constant voltage on the energy distribution bus.
A method for operating a propulsion system to satisfy variable propulsive demands, wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one main engine and at least one motor-generator unit, and the main engine and the motor-generator unit are configured to drive a common output shaft both independently and simultaneously, the method comprising limiting the torque output of the main engine to a selected level and operating the motor-generator unit as a motor providing additional drive energy to the common output shaft when propulsive demands exceed the selected level of torque output of the main engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.