Reduction-Reversing Gear Cooling Control for Low-Noise Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reduction and reversing gear units for ships experience excessive noise and power consumption due to continuous operation of hydraulic pumps and electric motors, particularly during low-speed navigation, which is undesirable and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A control unit regulates the discharge amount of a refrigerant pump based on load and temperature detection, optimizing the operation of the electric motor to manage cooling and lubrication needs, reducing unnecessary drive of the refrigerant system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the hydraulic pump and electric motor are operated at full drive continuously to cool the generator motor under maximum load, then the cooling effect is improved, but the drive noise and power consumption increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the refrigerant pump's discharge amount variable rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the discharge amount dynamically based on the generator motor's load and hydraulic oil temperature, allowing the system to adapt cooling capacity to actual needs and avoid continuous full-drive operation that causes noise
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the control unit receives information about generator motor load and hydraulic oil temperature, then adjusts the refrigerant pump's discharge amount accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures cooling is provided only when and to the extent needed, preventing unnecessary noise from continuous full-power operation
2Reliability
If the hydraulic pump and electric motor are operated at full drive continuously to cool the generator motor, then the cooling reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the refrigerant pump's discharge amount based on real-time conditions (generator load and oil temperature). This allows the system to maintain adequate cooling reliability while consuming only the necessary amount of power, rather than operating at full drive continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the refrigerant pump based on system conditions. By adjusting discharge amount according to generator load and hydraulic oil temperature, the system maintains cooling reliability while optimizing power consumption to match actual cooling demands
3Temperature
If the refrigerant pump operates at high discharge amount continuously, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the noise from the refrigerant pump increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant pump's discharge amount is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts it based on generator load and hydraulic oil temperature, providing high cooling capacity only when needed while reducing pump operation and noise during lower demand periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic monitoring and adjustment of the refrigerant pump operation based on changing load and temperature conditions. This allows cooling capacity to be provided in periods when needed rather than continuously, reducing overall noise exposure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses unnecessary drive of the electric motor and refrigerant pump, reducing noise and power consumption while maintaining cooling efficiency, thereby enhancing the operational experience and efficiency of the gear unit.
Implementation Method 1
an oil cooler disposed in a cooling oil passage that supplies hydraulic oil from an oil tank to the generator motor as cooling oil
Implementation Method 2
a refrigerant pump disposed in a refrigerant piping caused to communicate with the oil cooler
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] In a reduction and reversing gear unit in which hydraulic oil is supplied to a generator motor or the like as cooling oil by a hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor, which is separate from the generator motor, a problem of a noise generated by fully driving the hydraulic pump and the electric motor at all time is solved by assuming a high hydraulic oil temperature when a maximum load acts on the generator motor.[Solution] A reduction and reversing gear unit of the present invention includes an oil cooler disposed in a cooling oil passage that supplies hydraulic oil from an oil tank to a generator motor as cooling oil, a refrigerant pump disposed in a refrigerant piping caused to communicate with the oil cooler, an electric motor that drives the refrigerant pump, and a control unit that controls drive of the electric motor such that a discharge amount of the refrigerant pump is changed in accordance with a load detection value It of a load detection unit that detects a load acting on the generator motor.