Floating Vessel Power System Ring Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating vessels, particularly dynamically positioned offshore vessels, face challenges with power system redundancy and cabling requirements, leading to increased weight, space, and cost due to the need for extensive segregation and cabling to maintain thruster operability during faults like flooding or fire.
Innovation Solution
A power system with a ring configuration of indirectly powered main switchboards connected in series between directly powered switchboards, reducing the number of thrusters lost in case of a fault and minimizing cabling requirements by allowing power distribution from alternative switchboards, thus reducing weight and space needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power system is segregated into multiple separate sections with open bus ties to ensure redundancy during DP3 operations, then the reliability of thruster operation is improved, but the device complexity and cabling requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the bus ties to change state between open and closed configurations based on operational requirements. During DP3 operations, bus ties can be closed to reduce complexity, while protection mechanisms dynamically isolate sections only when faults occur, maintaining reliability without permanent segregation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of bus ties from statically open to dynamically controllable. The protection mechanism monitors system parameters and adjusts bus tie states accordingly, allowing the power system to transition between different operational modes (normal operation with closed bus ties vs. fault isolation with open bus ties)
2Weight of moving object
If the power system is segregated into multiple separate sections with physical separation to reduce over-capacity requirements, then the weight and space requirements are reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional cable routing and piping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate power system sections by enabling closed bus ties during normal operation. This allows multiple thruster drives to share common power distribution infrastructure, reducing the need for completely separate cable routes while maintaining the ability to isolate sections when needed for safety
3Reliability
If traditional protection mechanisms are used that require open bus ties during DP3 operations to avoid loss of power and position, then the reliability is improved, but the fuel consumption increases due to fewer generators operating in parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The protection mechanism uses feedback from monitoring systems to detect faults and automatically adjust bus tie configurations. During normal operation, the system maintains closed bus ties for efficiency, and only opens them when fault conditions are detected, ensuring position keeping reliability while minimizing fuel consumption
Data Source
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AI summary
A power system of a floating vessel, such as a dynamically positioned offshore vessel is provided. The power system includes at least two segregated power system sections (31, 32), each comprising at least one electrical power source (50), such as a generator. A directly powered main switchboard (11, 12), which is supplied with electrical power from the electrical power source (50), is configured to distribute electrical power to one or more thruster drives (60) of the floating vessels for operating the thruster drives. The power system further includes at least two indirectly powered main switchboards (21, 22) to each of which a thruster drive (60) of the floating vessel is connected. The at least two directly powered main switchboards (11, 12) and the at least two indirectly powered main switchboards (21, 22) are connected in a ring configuration such that two or more indirectly powered main switchboards are connected in series between a first directly powered main switchboard (11) and a second directly powered main switchboard (12). Each segregated power system section (31, 32) comprises an engine room in which the electrical power source (50) is located and a switchboard room in which the directly powered main switchboard (11, 12) is located. The indirectly powered main switchboards (21, 22) are arranged in further rooms, in particular thruster rooms or switchboard rooms. The engine rooms and the switchboard rooms are located in the same section (210) of the floating vessel, and thruster rooms or switchboard rooms are located in a different section (220, 230) of the floating vessel.