The present invention relates to an arrangement for a vessel, such as a ship, and more particularly to systems and methods for the operation of a vessel.
The maritime industry faces continuous demands for improved technology in relation to the operation of ships or other types of vessels, such as rigs or special-purpose vessels. This includes, for example, requirements for improved safety, improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions levels, resulting from both regulatory and market demands.
For example, various configurations of hybrid or full-electric propulsion systems have been proposed and/or developed. Also, alternative energy sources, such as LNG, are being investigated, as well as utilisation of renewable resources, both directly, for example through Flettner rotors, or indirectly through, for example, sustainable fuels such as hydrogen or biofuels.
The inventors are also involved in various such initiatives, and the present disclosure has the objective to provide systems and methods for the design and/or operation of ships which provides advantages over known solutions and techniques in terms of energy efficiency, safety, passenger or crew comfort, or other aspects.
In an embodiment, there is provided a vessel having a stabilization arrangement, the stabilization arrangement having a first tank and a second tank, each of the first and second tanks configured to hold a water column, and a first channel connecting a lower part of the first tank to a lower part of the second tank, wherein the vessel comprises at least one of:
In an embodiment, there is provided a vessel having an internal moon pool, a fluid channel extending from the moon pool to an outside of the vessel, a fluid turbine unit arranged in the fluid channel, the fluid turbine unit comprising a fluid turbine coupled to a generator.
In an embodiment, there is provided a vessel having a hull comprising at least one fluid channel, each channel having a first opening and a second opening to an outside of the hull, and each channel having a turbine unit disposed therein, the turbine unit comprises a fluid turbine coupled to a generator.
The detailed description below and the appended claims outline further embodiments.
Illustrative embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
According to the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
By means of any of the embodiments described above, it is therefore possible to generate power, such as electric power, from the oscillating fluid flow through one or more of the turbine units 113, 123, 133, 134. This energy may, for example, be utilised by the vessel, as described below.
One or more of the turbine units 113, 123, 133, 134 may further comprise a control unit 125 which is configured for regulating the torque acting from the generator 115 on the turbine 114. In this manner, the flow resistance through the turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134 can be regulated, and thereby the electrical power generated as well as the damping effect of the roll stabilization arrangement on the vessel. In an electric machine, for example, the torque can be regulated very accurately and very quickly. By permitting control of this variable, improved stabilisation performance can be achieved. Additionally, or alternatively, the amount of energy extracted from the oscillating fluid can be maximised for any operating conditions of the vessel.
The turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134 may further comprise a guide vane 126a, 126b arranged to guide a fluid towards the fluid turbine 114. This may be arranged so as to give a narrower or smaller flow path for the fluid past the turbine 114, and thereby improved performance in terms of, for example, power generated or controllability of the flow resistance.
The vessel 100 may have a power distribution network 151, illustrated in
By means of such an arrangement, one can, for example, reduce the load on the engine generators 152, 153, or the battery 154, by utilising power generated by the turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134. This therefore provides advantages of, for example, reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and/or longer battery life. The latter may be particularly advantageous on full-electric vessels (or hybrid-electric vessels with only minor emergency generator power).
In one embodiment, illustrated in a top view of the stabilization arrangement in
This allows each turbine unit 113, 143 to be optimised for the given flow direction, and avoids the need for the turbine unit 113, 143 to handle flow in both directions. An equivalent arrangement can be used for the air channel, i.e. the connection between the upper parts of the tanks 110, 111.
The tanks 110, 111 and the channels 112, 122, 142 may be arranged spaced in a direction abeam the vessel 100, e.g. located on either side of the vessel. In this case, the channel 112, 122, 142 may extend between the tanks 110, 111 perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (or nominal direction of travel) of the vessel 100. This is the configuration illustrated in the embodiments described above. In this configuration, the stabilization arrangement may reduce roll motion, and generate power based on the roll forces acting on the vessel 100.
Alternatively, or additionally, the tanks 110, 111 may be spaced in a longitudinal direction of the vessel 100. This is illustrated in
The turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134 can be a bidirectional turbine, i.e. a turbine configured for conversion of energy from an oscillating fluid stream. In one embodiment, the turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134 can be configured to have a fixed direction of rotation, independent of the direction of fluid flow through the turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134. This may be achieved, for example, by means of a Wells turbine or a Darrieus turbine. This provides the advantage that no moving parts are present in the channel 112, 122, 142 (with the exception of the rotary part of the turbine unit itself), which improves system reliability. In an alternative embodiment, the turbine unit 113, 123, 133, 134 may have a propeller 114 with variable pitch blades. The variable pitch blades may be actively controlled, or they may be passively controlled via the fluid stream, e.g. with a pivot so that the blades automatically turn in response to a change in fluid flow direction.
An embodiment with variable pitch blades is illustrated in
Preferably, the blades can be rotated at least 180 degrees. This allows the generator 115 to maintain a given rotational direction, while the blade pitch is used to account for directional changes in the flow. This allows a more optimized generator design, in that it does not have to be designed for oscillating operation with changes in the rotational direction.
The pitch may be actively controlled via the pitch controller based on a sensor reading of the fluid flow in the channel 130, 131. The sensor 127 may be a flow meter, or any other sensor capable of providing a signal which is indicative of the flow in the channel. Alternatively, the pitch can be passively controlled, i.e. that the fluid flow itself turns the blades as the fluid flow oscillates.
The vessel 200 has first and second fluid channels 211, 221 extending from the moon pool 210 to an outside of the vessel 200. The moon pool 210 is otherwise a substantially closed volume, being defined by the hull structure of the vessel 200 and the water 201 on which the vessel 200 floats.
A fluid turbine unit 213, 223 is arranged in each fluid channel 211, 221. With reference to
The fluid turbine unit 213, 223 may further comprise a guide vane 226a, 226b arranged to guide a fluid towards the fluid turbine 214. This may be arranged so as to give a narrower or smaller flow path for the fluid past the turbine 214, and thereby improved performance in terms of, for example, power generated or controllability of the flow resistance.
Again referring to
In one embodiment, illustrated in
In one embodiment, illustrated in
This ensures that air drawn into the moon pool 210 flows through the second channel 221 and past the second turbine unit 223, while air flowing out of the moon pool 210 flows through the first channel 211 and past the first turbine unit 211. This allows the turbine units 213, 223 to be optimised in their design for handling flow in one direction only, which allows for a more efficient design. (As opposed to a turbine unit having to be designed for flow in both directions.)
By means of any of the embodiments described above, it is therefore possible to generate power, such as electric power, from the oscillating fluid flow through one or more of the turbine units 213, 223. This energy may, for example, be utilised by the vessel, as described below.
The vessel 200 may have a power distribution network 251, illustrated in
By means of such an arrangement, one can, for example, reduce the load on the engine generators 252, 253, or the battery 254, by utilising power generated by the turbine unit 213, 223. This therefore provides advantages of, for example, reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and/or longer battery life. The latter may be particularly advantageous on full-electric vessels (or hybrid-electric vessels with only minor emergency generator power).
The turbine unit 213, 223 can be a bidirectional turbine, i.e. a turbine configured for conversion of energy from an oscillating fluid stream. In one embodiment, the turbine unit 213, 223 can be configured to have a fixed direction of rotation, independent of the direction of fluid flow through the turbine unit 213, 223. This may be achieved, for example, by means of a Wells turbine or a Darrieus turbine. This provides the advantage that no moving parts are present in the channel 211, 221 (with the exception of the rotary part of the turbine unit itself), which improves system reliability. In an alternative embodiment, the turbine unit 213, 223 may have a propeller 214 with variable pitch blades. The variable pitch blades may be actively controlled, or they may be passively controlled via the fluid stream, e.g. with a pivot so that the blades automatically turn in response to a change in fluid flow direction.
An embodiment with variable pitch blades is illustrated in
Preferably, the blades can be rotated at least 180 degrees. This allows the generator 215 to maintain a given rotational direction, while the blade pitch is used to account for directional changes in the flow. This allows a more optimized generator design, in that it does not have to be designed for oscillating operation with changes in the rotational direction.
The pitch may be actively controlled via the pitch controller based on a sensor reading of the fluid flow in the channel 211, 221. The sensor 227 may be a flow meter, or any other sensor capable of providing a signal which is indicative of the flow in the channel. Alternatively, the pitch can be passively controlled, i.e. that the fluid flow itself turns the blades as the fluid flow oscillates.
In an embodiment, illustrated in
A fluid turbine unit 313, 323 is arranged in each fluid channel 330, 331. With reference to
The fluid turbine unit 313, 323 may further comprise a guide vane 326a, 326b arranged to guide a fluid towards the fluid turbine 314. This may be arranged so as to give a narrower or smaller flow path for the fluid past the turbine 314, and thereby improved performance in terms of, for example, power generated or controllability of the flow resistance.
As the vessel 300 moves in the sea, an oscillating flow of water and/or air will be induced in the channels 330, 331. By means of the turbine unit 313, 323, it is possible to generate power, such as electric power, from this oscillating fluid flow through the channels 330, 331. This energy may, for example, be utilised by the vessel, as described below.
The channels 330, 331 may be arranged at a front part or an aft part of the vessel 300. This may be particularly beneficial to utilise the effects of pitch motion of the vessel 300. This may, for example, provide advantages in offshore stand-by vessels, which spend a lot of operating time weather vaning against incoming (often heavy) seas.
One or more of the turbine units 313, 323 may further comprise a control unit 325 which is configured for regulating the torque acting from the generator 315 on the turbine 314. In this manner, the flow resistance through the turbine unit 313, 323 can be regulated, and thereby the power generation through the turbine unit 313, 323 can be optimised. In an electric machine, for example, the torque can be regulated very accurately and very quickly. By permitting control of this variable, improved efficiency can be achieved and the amount of energy extracted from the oscillating fluid can be maximised for any operating conditions of the vessel.
The turbine unit 313, 323 may further comprise a guide vane 326a, 326b arranged to guide a fluid towards the fluid turbine 314. This may be arranged so as to give a narrower or smaller flow path for the fluid past the turbine 314, and thereby improved performance in terms of, for example, power generated or controllability of the flow resistance.
The vessel 300 may further have a power distribution network 351, illustrated in
By means of such an arrangement, one can, for example, reduce the load on the engine generators 352, 353, or the battery 354, by utilising power generated by the turbine unit 313, 323. This therefore provides advantages of, for example, reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and/or longer battery lifetime. The latter may be particularly advantageous on full-electric vessels (or hybrid-electric vessels having only minor emergency generator capacity).
In one embodiment, illustrated in
The turbine unit 313, 323 can be a bidirectional turbine, i.e. a turbine configured for conversion of energy from an oscillating fluid stream. In one embodiment, the turbine unit 313, 323 can be configured to have a fixed direction of rotation, independent of the direction of fluid flow through the turbine unit 313, 323. This may be achieved, for example, by means of a Wells turbine or a Darrieus turbine. This provides the advantage that no moving parts are present in the channel 330, 331 (with the exception of the rotary part of the turbine unit itself), which improves system reliability. In an alternative embodiment, the turbine unit 313, 323 may have a propeller 314 with variable pitch blades. The variable pitch blades may be actively controlled, or they may be passively controlled via the fluid stream, e.g. with a pivot so that the blades automatically turn in response to a change in fluid flow direction.
An embodiment with variable pitch blades is illustrated in
Preferably, the blades can be rotated at least 180 degrees. This allows the generator 315 to maintain a given rotational direction, while the blade pitch is used to account for directional changes in the flow. This allows a more optimized generator design, in that it does not have to be designed for oscillating operation with changes in the rotational direction.
The pitch may be actively controlled via the pitch controller based on a sensor reading of the fluid flow in the channel 330, 331. The sensor 327 may be a flow meter, or any other sensor capable of providing a signal which is indicative of the flow in the channel. Alternatively, the pitch can be passively controlled, i.e. that the fluid flow itself turns the blades as the fluid flow oscillates.
Embodiments described here may be particularly advantageous, for example, in stand-by or offshore supply vessels, which spend large amounts of operating time in stand-by mode. In this mode, the ship may control the yaw to weather vane into the incoming waves, thereby reducing roll, however the pitch motion may then be significant. The energy consumption of the vessel 100, 200, 300 may thereby be reduced during such stand-by mode. However the invention is not limited to any particular type of vessel, and may be employed in a wide variety of applications.
When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein; reference should be had to the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20170977 | Jun 2017 | NO | national |
20170978 | Jun 2017 | NO | national |
20170979 | Jun 2017 | NO | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/NO2018/050156 | 6/14/2018 | WO | 00 |