Master Slave Shore Power Containers for Ship Retrofitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for connecting a ship's electrical power distribution system to a shore side electrical power supply are complex and inefficient, requiring extensive equipment and technical interventions, especially when retrofitting existing ships or handling multiple power supply containers.
Innovation Solution
The system integrates a master shore power supply container with a switch panel that can connect to either its own shore power transfer cable or a slave container, eliminating the need for a switch panel in the ship's power inlet unit and allowing for simplified installation and maintenance, with the master container housing critical safety and control equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a switch panel is installed in the ship's power inlet unit for each shore power supply container, then the ship can selectively connect multiple containers to the power distribution system, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the switch panel into a single master shore power supply container rather than distributing it across multiple containers or the ship's power inlet unit. This merging of control functions into one centralized location reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to selectively connect multiple containers to the power distribution system.
Solution Approach 2:
The master container's switch panel serves multiple functions: it controls connection for itself, controls connection for slave containers, and manages the selective switching between multiple power supply sources. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate switch panels in each container or at the ship's power inlet unit.
2Reliability
If switch panels and circuit breakers are distributed across multiple locations (ship's power inlet unit and each container), then selective connection and protection are provided, but the ease of manufacture and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the switch panel and critical control equipment from the ship's power inlet unit and concentrates them in the master shore power supply container. This extraction simplifies the ship's power inlet unit to basic connection points while maintaining protection and control functions in the master container, thereby improving ease of manufacture and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The master container is pre-configured in the factory with the switch panel and control equipment already installed and tested. This preliminary preparation allows for simpler on-site installation where the pre-assembled master container is simply connected to the ship's power distribution system, reducing installation complexity while maintaining reliable protection and control.
3Reliability
If multiple identical containers each have their own switch panel and protection equipment, then each container can operate independently, but the loss of time for maintenance and the complexity of retrofitting increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control and protection functions into the master container, which can then service multiple slave containers. This consolidation reduces the total number of switch panels and control systems that need to be maintained, thereby reducing maintenance time while preserving the ability of slave containers to operate independently when connected to the master.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the ship's power inlet unit includes switch panels for multiple containers, then selective connection is enabled, but the ease of operation and retrofitting simplicity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex switch panel assembly from the ship's power inlet unit and relocates it to the master shore power supply container. This leaves the ship's power inlet unit with simple connection points, making retrofitting much easier while the master container's switch panel provides the selective connection capability for multiple containers.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for connecting an electrical power distribution system on a ship to a shore side electrical power supply (82), comprises two stackable shore power supply containers (14, 14') to be arranged on the ship. Each of them includes a shore power transfer cable (16, 16'). A switch panel (30) is contained in the shore power supply container (14), which forms a master shore power supply container (14). The other shore power supply container (14') forms a slave shore power supply container (14') that is connected to the switch panel (30) of the master shore power supply container (14). The master shore power supply container (14) is consequently capable of selectively receiving shore power either through its own shore power transfer cable (16) or through the slave shore power supply container (14') connected to its switch panel (30).