Ship Power System Remote Diagnostics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy supply and operating systems for ships and offshore units require significant maintenance and repair efforts, leading to operational failures and increased economic costs, as faults often necessitate on-site inspections and shutdowns for diagnosis and repair.
Innovation Solution
A remote-access diagnostic system that allows specialists to monitor and control energy supply data and signals from a central location, enabling real-time data collection and analysis to optimize engine operation, reduce maintenance needs, and minimize operational disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If on-site inspection and shutdown measures are taken for diagnosis and repair, then accurate problem identification can be achieved, but operational failures and economic costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the power supply and operating system by digitally mapping all physical components, connections, and operational parameters into a virtual model. This virtual copy can be inspected, diagnosed, and analyzed remotely without affecting the actual system operation, thereby achieving accurate problem identification while maintaining operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital twin as an intermediary between the physical system and the diagnostic process. All measurements, sensor data, and system states are transmitted to the virtual model, allowing specialists to perform intensive testing and analysis on the virtual copy rather than the physical system, eliminating the need for shutdowns while preserving diagnosis accuracy.
2Reliability
If intensive testing measures and shutdowns are implemented for repair, then system reliability can be improved, but productivity and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary diagnosis and testing to be performed continuously on the virtual copy while the physical system operates normally. Problems can be identified and repair procedures can be planned in advance during non-critical periods, allowing maintenance to be scheduled during planned downtime rather than causing unexpected shutdowns, thus improving both reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing all intensive testing and analysis on the virtual copy rather than the physical system, the patent eliminates productivity losses associated with shutdowns. The virtual model can undergo unlimited testing without impacting operational efficiency, while reliability is improved through continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance planning.
3Ease of repair
If remote diagnostic access is implemented, then maintenance costs can be reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual copy serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a diagnostic model, a training platform, a predictive maintenance tool, and a system optimization interface. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single virtual environment, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive remote diagnostic capabilities that lower maintenance costs.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy supply and operating system (1) for ships and offshore units includes at least one internal combustion engine (2, 3, 4), at least one electric generator (5, 6, 7), each internal combustion engine (2, 3, 4) being connected to an electric generator (5, 6, 7), at least one electric motor (10, 11, 12, 18) which can be supplied with electrical energy by the at least one electric generator (5, 6, 7), and/or at least one internal combustion engine, at least one ship's propeller (13, 14, 15, 19) being drivable by means of the at least one electric motor (10, 11, 12, 18) and/or the at least one internal combustion engine, a ship's network (17) which can be supplied with electrical energy by means of the at least one electric generator (5, 6, 7), at least one energy distribution unit (8, 9) which is connected between the at least one electric generator (5, 6, 7) on the one hand and, if necessary,the at least one electric motor (10, 11, 12, 18) and the input-side units of the ship's network (17) on the other hand, and a control device (23, 24) by means of which, depending on operating data of each internal combustion engine (2, 3, 4), each electric generator (5, 6, 7), each electric motor (10, 11, 12, 18) and/or each internal combustion engine, each ship's propeller (13, 14, 15, 19), the input-side units of the ship's network (17) and each energy distribution unit (8, 9), each internal combustion engine (2, 3, 4), each electric generator (5, 6, 7), each electric motor (10, 11, 12, 18), and/or each internal combustion engine, each ship's propeller (13, 14, 15, 19), the input-side units of the ship's network (17) and each energy distribution unit (8, 9) are controllable.In order to reduce the maintenance and repair costs in the event of any malfunctions and irregularities in the operation of the energy supply and operating system (1) for ships, as well as the economic outlay for operation, it is proposed that the control device (23, 24) has a control unit (23) and a diagnostic unit (24) in which the transmitted operating data and the control signals output by the control unit (23) can be recorded and stored in a storage medium, and which can be accessed remotely via the Internet and/or suitable data paths, and that the diagnostic unit (24) is assigned an evaluation unit by means of which an optimized operating sequence for each internal combustion engine (2, 3, 4) can be calculated, taking into account the recorded operating data and control signals and a current requirement profile for each internal combustion engine (2, 3, 4).