Thruster Power System Segmentation and Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional offshore drilling rig systems face challenges in managing transient and steady-state electric loads, requiring significant excess thruster capacity and complex testing to ensure reliability, which increases costs and complexity due to the need for multiple combustion generators and complex electrical coupling.
Innovation Solution
The thruster electric power system includes a DC electric power bus, DC-to-AC converters, energy storage units such as kinetic generators, batteries, and supercapacitors, which allow for independent operation of thrusters and auxiliary loads during power failures, reducing the need for excess capacity and simplifying testing by enabling thruster operation from energy storage during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple combustion generators with complex electrical coupling are used to ensure reliability during transient loads, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power system into separate DC and AC domains with independent power paths. The DC electric power bus serves thrusters independently from the AC bus that serves auxiliary loads, eliminating complex electrical coupling between combustion generators and reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces energy storage units as intermediaries between the AC power bus and DC thruster bus. These energy storage units decouple the thruster power path from the combustion generators, simplifying the electrical coupling architecture while ensuring reliable power delivery during transient conditions
2Power
If excess thruster capacity is installed to handle transient loads, then power delivery capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements energy storage units that are pre-charged during normal operation to store energy in advance. During transient load conditions, these pre-charged energy storage units immediately discharge to supplement thruster power, eliminating the need for excess thruster capacity while maintaining power delivery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the power system by introducing a DC electric power bus that operates independently from the AC bus. This parameter change allows thrusters to draw power directly from energy storage units during transients, reducing the required thruster capacity while simplifying system configuration
3Reliability
If complex testing procedures are implemented to ensure thruster reliability, then system reliability is improved, but loss of time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the power system with inherent reliability features through the DC bus architecture and energy storage integration. The system's modular design and independent power paths provide natural fault isolation and continued operation capability, reducing the need for extensive external testing while maintaining high reliability
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
This solution reduces the number of thrusters disabled by a single failure, decreases the required excess thruster capacity, and simplifies testing by allowing thruster operation from energy storage units, enhancing reliability and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
one or more energy storage units electrically coupled to the thruster DC electric power bus
Implementation Method 2
the one or more energy storage units include at least one of a battery storage subsystem and a supercapacitor
Implementation Method 3
one or more thruster direct current to alternating current (DC-to-AC) converters configured to electrically couple a respective electric thruster to the thruster DC electric power bus
Implementation Method 4
a first transformer electrically coupled to a first alternating current (AC) electric power bus
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile offshore drilling unit includes a plurality of electric thrusters to dynamically position the drilling unit, and a microgrid electric power generation system for providing power to the plurality of electric thrusters, the microgrid electric power generation system including at least one combustion generator electrically coupled to a main electric power bus and at least one thruster electric power system, the thruster electric power system including a thruster electric power bus, an additional electric power bus connected to the thruster electric power bus via an interface device, and a circuit breaker electrically coupling the additional electric power bus to a main electric power bus for isolating the thruster electric power bus from the main electric power bus in case of loss of power on the main electric power bus.