US 6,188,139 B1Granted

Integrated marine power distribution arrangement

AssigneeElectric Boat Corporation

InventorsEdgar S. Thaxton, Robert M. Adair, Gene Castles, Peter M. Rinaldi

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Abstract

A marine power distribution arrangement includes a turbine-driven AC generator which supplies AC power at a frequency of 240 Hz through a switchgear unit to a transformer and a first power converter by which the power is converted to a variable frequency, variable voltage AC output for ship propulsion and to a second power converter by which the AC power is converted to a fixed voltage, fixed AC frequency or DC power to supply the ship service loads. A battery backup power supply may be switched in an emergency. In another embodiment four turbine-driven AC generators and two emergency power supplies are provided to drive two propulsion shafts as well as to supply the ship service loads.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A marine power distribution arrangement comprising:

a prime mover for providing rotational shaft horsepower;
an AC generator connected directly to the prime mover and designed to operate at the prime mover rated speed to generate voltage at an operating frequency higher than 60 Hz;
a propulsion modular PWM multi-level, multi-circuit power converter connected to receive power from the generator and to provide variable voltage and frequency power;
an AC propulsion motor connected to receive variable voltage and frequency power from the propulsion modular power converter, the AC propulsion motor having a shaft connected directly to a propulsor shaft so that the propulsor shaft RPM is controlled by the power converter output voltage and frequency;
and
a ship service modular PWM multi-level, multi-circuit power converter connected to receive power from the AC generator and providing power at a fixed voltage and frequency to a ship service power distribution system.

3 more elements

A marine power distribution arrangement for driving a plurality of ship propulsion shafts comprising:

a plurality of prime movers connected to drive a corresponding plurality of AC generators, the generators being arranged to be connected in parallel as required to provide driving power to drive motors for a plurality of propulsion shafts;
the total power ratings of the AC generators being equal to the required total propulsion shaft power plus the power required for ship service and auxiliary loads;
the prime movers and corresponding AC generators being operated at increased speed or having an increased number of poles to produce a maximum power density at an operating frequency greater than 60 Hz;
a plurality of propulsion modular PWM multi-level, multi-circuit power converters connected to receive power from the AC generators and providing variable voltage and frequency power;
a plurality of AC propulsion motors connected to receive variable voltage and frequency power from the propulsion modular power converters;
a plurality of propulsion shafts connected to the AC propulsion motors so that the propulsion shaft RPM is controlled by the power converter output voltage and frequency;
and
a plurality of ship service modular PWM multi-level, multi-circuit power converters connected to receive power from the AC generators and to supply power to a ship service power distribution system at a voltage or frequency different from that of the propulsion modular power converters.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.