Enhancing safety in an electric marine vessel using independent fault detection loops in a power distribution unit

A method of enhancing safety in an electric marine vessel using a PDU (Power Distribution Unit), the method comprising:

• coupling a PDU power bus to a first battery selectively using one or more first contactors;
• coupling the PDU power bus to a second battery selectively using one or more second contactors;
• coupling the PDU power bus to a marine propulsion system selectively using one or more third contactors;
• implementing a first fault detection loop between the PDU and the first battery, wherein the one or more first contactors are placed in an open state in response to a fault in the first fault detection loop;
• implementing a second fault detection loop between the PDU and the second battery, wherein the one or more second contactors are placed in an open state in response to a fault in the second fault detection loop;
• and
• implementing a third fault detection loop between the PDU and the marine propulsion system, wherein the one or more third contactors are placed in an open state in response to a fault in the third fault detection loop, and wherein the first fault detection loop, the second fault detection loop, and the third fault detection loop are independent of one another.

An electric marine vessel comprising:

• a first battery;
• a second battery;
• a marine propulsion system;
• and
• a PDU (Power Distribution Unit) including:
• one or more first contactors configured to electrically couple a PDU power bus to the first battery;
• one or more second contactors configured to electrically couple the PDU power bus to the second battery;
• one or more third contactors configured to electrically couple the PDU power bus to the marine propulsion system;
• a first fault detection loop implemented by the PDU and the first battery, wherein the one or more first contactors are placed in an open state in response to a fault in the first fault detection loop;
• a second fault detection loop implemented by the PDU and the second battery, wherein the one or more second contactors are placed in an open state in response to a fault in the second fault detection loop;
• and
• a third fault detection loop implemented by the PDU and the marine propulsion system, wherein the one or more third contactors are placed in an open state in response to a fault in the third fault detection loop, and wherein the first fault detection loop, the second fault detection loop, and the third fault detection loop are independent of one another.