Power supply unit, power supply assembly, and water vehicle having a power supply unit or having a power supply assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to transportable and compact power supply unit for supplying a water vehicle, in particular an electrical power supply system of the water vehicle, with electrical energy and in particular for arrangement on the water vehicle, containing in a transport container or a plurality of transport containers that can be connected together, wherein the transport container or the plurality of transport containers can be transported as a single, coherent unit: at least one internal combustion engine that can be operated on gas, in particular a natural gas, at least one generator for generating power, which can be driven by the at least one internal combustion engine, at least one control device for the at least one internal combustion engine and/or at least one control device for the at least one generator, at least one fuel treatment device for the at least one internal combustion engine and/or at least one exhaust gas cleaning device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and at least one fuel storage device, wherein the fuel of the fuel storage device is a gas, in particular a natural gas, which is present preferably as liquefied gas, especially preferably as LNG.

Claims

1. A transportable, compact power supply unit for supplying electrical energy to an on-board electrical power supply system of a water vehicle, the unit being configured for arrangement on the water vehicle, the unit being in a plurality of transport containers that are able to be connected together and transported as a single, coherent unit, the power supply unit comprising; at least one internal combustion engine, which is able to be operated on natural gas, at least one generator for generating power which is able to be driven by the at least one internal combustion engine, at least one control device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and/or at least one control device for the at least one generator, at least one fuel treatment device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and at least one exhaust gas cleaning device for the at least one internal combustion engine, at least one fuel storage device, wherein the fuel of the fuel storage device is a natural gas, a first structural unit forming a fixed unit, and a second structural unit forming a further fixed unit, wherein the first structural unit contains the at least one internal combustion engine, the at least one generator for generating power which is able to be driven by the at least one internal combustion engine, the at least one control device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and/or the at least one control device for the at least one generator, and the at least one fuel treatment device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and the at least one exhaust gas cleaning device for the at least one internal combustion engine; the second structural unit contains the at least one fuel storage device, wherein the first structural unit and the second structural unit are able to be docked onto one another so as to be arranged adjacent to each other and detached from one another, and wherein the first structural unit and the second structural unit are each arranged in a transport container of the plurality of transport containers or in a plurality of the plurality of transport containers; wherein the structural units, both individually, and also when both are docked together, are configured with predetermined grid stowage dimensions of standardised transport containers, wherein said predetermined grid stowage are dimensions of ISO transport containers, wherein the structural units cannot be further disassembled in a modular manner for operation, transport and handling and always form a single fixed, unaltered unit for operation, transport and handling; wherein the first structural unit comprises a first compartment, which has the configuration of a standardised transport container with a length dimension that corresponds to a first grid stowage dimension, and in which are arranged at least the at least one internal combustion engine and the at least one generator for generating power is able to be driven by the at least one internal combustion engine; wherein the first structural unit comprises a second compartment, which has the configuration of a standardised transport container with a length dimension that corresponds to a third grid dimension, and in which is arranged at least the at least one fuel treatment device, and the at least one exhaust cleaning device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and/or a cooling device for cooling the internal combustion engine, and/or a storage means of storage for electrical conductors; wherein the second structural unit has the configuration of a standardised transport container with a length dimension that corresponds to a second grid stowage dimension; wherein the first and the second compartments of the first structural unit are connected with one another so as to be arranged adjacent to each other, forming a fixed unit wherein the first and the second compartments cannot be further disassembled in a modular manner for transport, handling and operation; wherein the second compartment is arranged above the first compartment; wherein the second structural unit is able to be arranged alongside the second compartment of the first structural unit, and wherein the sum of the second grid stowage dimension and the third grid dimension is less than or equal to the first grid stowage dimension; and wherein a connector device, which is pluggable, is provided for transferring fuel from the at least one fuel storage device of the second structural unit to the first structural unit, wherein the pluggable connector device is designed for the at least semi-automatic establishing of a connection for the transfer of fuel when the second structural unit is docked onto the first structural unit.

2. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first structural unit comprises a second compartment subdivided into two or a plurality of subcompartments, wherein each of the subcompartments has the configuration of a standardised transport container with a length dimension that corresponds to a fourth, fifth, and/or sixth grid dimension, and wherein in at least one of the subcompartments is arranged at least the at least one fuel treatment device, and/or the at least one exhaust cleaning device for the at least one internal combustion engine, and/or a cooling device for cooling the internal combustion engine, and/or a storage means for electrical conductors.

3. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first compartment and the subcompartments of the second compartment of the first structural unit connected with one another, forming a fixed unit.

4. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the subcompartments of the second compartment are arranged above the first compartment.

5. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second structural unit is able to be arranged between the subcompartments of the second compartment of the first structural unit, and wherein the sum of the second, fourth and fifth grid stowage dimensions is less than, or equal to, the first grid stowage dimension.

6. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein fuel is able to be supplied exclusively from the fuel storage device to the at least one internal combustion engine.

7. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 1, electrical connection means for connecting the power supply unit at least with an on-board electrical power supply system of the water vehicle that is to be supplied, forming a consumer load for the electrical energy generated by the power supply unit, wherein the electrical connection means are arranged in the first structural unit.

8. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is configured for supplying at least one on-board electrical power supply system of a water vehicle during a stay in port.

9. A power supply assembly, comprising a plurality of power supply units in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply assembly has connection means for electrically connecting the plurality of power supply units with one another, such that the power generated by the plurality of power supply units is able to be jointly supplied to the on-board electrical power supply system of a water vehicle wherein the on-board electrical power supply system forms a consumer load.

10. A water vehicle with an on-board electrical power supply system and a power supply assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the power supply assembly is connected with the on-board electrical power supply system for supplying electrical energy.

11. A water vehicle with an on-board electrical power supply system and a power supply unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply unit connected with the on-board electrical power supply system for supplying electrical energy.

12. The power supply unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the natural gas is a liquefied gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Examples of embodiments of the invention are represented in the figures and are described in detail below, wherein corresponding elements in all figures are provided with the same reference symbols, and any repetitive description of these elements is omitted. Here:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first example of embodiment of a power supply unit;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a second example of embodiment of a power supply unit;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a very schematic representation of the deployment of a power supply unit, in accordance with the example of embodiment in FIG. 1, on the deck of a container ship;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a third example of embodiment of a power supply unit;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a further perspective view of the example of embodiment in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a plan view onto the containers of the example of embodiment in FIG. 4; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the example of embodiment in FIG. 4,

PREFERRED FORM OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(9) In FIG. 1 a first example of embodiment of a power supply unit is designated with the reference symbol 100; this is constructed from transport containers, in particular from ISO standard containers. Here a 40-foot container, i.e., an ISO standard container with a length measurement that corresponds to a first grid stowage dimension of 40 feet, forms a first compartment 102 of a first structural unit 101 of the power supply unit 100. In this first stowage region 102 are arranged an internal combustion engine and a generator for generating power which can be driven by the internal combustion engine; in FIG. 1 these are very schematically indicated as a generator set, and are designated with the reference symbol 103. Furthermore a cable drum 104 is arranged in the first compartment 102 of the power supply unit 100, together with a connecting cable 106, which can be led out of the first compartment 102 through a cable opening 105, which can preferably be closed; via this cable electrical energy from the power supply unit 100 can be outputted to a consumer load.

(10) Positioned on top of the first compartment 102 of the first structural unit 101 of the power supply unit 100 and securely connected with the latter, here e.g. by means of welded-on brackets or connecting plates 107, is a 20-foot container 108, which forms a second compartment of the first structural unit 101. Optionally the 20-foot container 108 can also be bolted or riveted to the 40-foot container 102, or can be connected by other similar means of connection that are of a similar type or operate in a similar manner, however, this connection is not detached when the power supply unit 100 is in operation, or during transport and handling of the latter. In this second compartment 108 is arranged a very schematically indicated so-called gas processing unit 109.

(11) Other components of the power supply unit 100, such as e.g. control devices, can be provided in the first structural unit 101, but are not represented here in the interests of clarity. Similarly not represented are operative connections between the components of the power supply unit 100, which run within the first structural unit 101, such as e.g. electrical cables or fuel lines; these are preferably permanently installed and also cannot be disconnected in operation. An example of a very schematically represented exhaust gas duct is designated with the reference symbol 110; this is preferably configured such that it can be retracted or removed.

(12) Similarly positioned on top of the first compartment 102 of the first structural unit 101 of the power supply unit 100, and not securely connected with the latter, but rather detachably docked, is a further 20-foot container, which forms a second structural unit 111. In this second structural unit 111 is installed a fuel tank, preferably a gas tank 112 for storing liquefied natural gas, the so-called LNG. When docking the second structural unit 111 onto the first structural unit 101, in addition to the mechanical connections, a duct connection is also made for supplying gas to the generator set 103, in particular to the gas processing unit 109. The mechanical connections are preferably formed by means of standardised connecting elements of the containers, in particular by the standardised container corners 113 and locking devices that are usual in the case of ISO containers, wherein these are preferably arranged on the upper face of the first structural unit 101. Other connections that can be detached are also possible. The configuration of the mechanical connections by means of the standardised connecting elements enables not only simple docking and detachment, but also offers sufficient mechanical stability in order e.g. to move the whole power supply unit 100 including the gas tank 112 by means of a container bridge or a van carrier as one item without any problems.

(13) FIG. 2 shows, in a variation of FIG. 1, a second example of embodiment of a power supply unit, which is identified with the reference symbol 200. This has a first structural unit 201, with a second compartment 208, which compared with the first example of embodiment in FIG. 1 now consists of a first and a second subcompartment 218 and 219 respectively, whereas the first compartment 102, together with the second structural unit 111 with its components, remains unaltered compared with the example in FIG. 1. The gas processing unit, now designated with the reference symbol 209, can optionally be located in the first subcompartment 218 or in the second subcompartment 219, or is installed in a distributed manner across the subcompartments 218, 219. One or both subcompartments 218, 219 optionally also contain control devices, not represented in FIG. 2, for the power supply unit 200.

(14) In the example of embodiment of the power supply unit 200 the second structural unit 111 with the gas tank 112 is positioned on top of the first compartment 102 of the first structural unit 201 in the gap between the subcompartments 218, 219, i.e. it is docked on the first compartment 102 of the first structural unit 201. Apart from a spatially offset arrangement of components that are required, and/or provided for this example, such as locking devices and a fuel input socket, this is identical to the example in FIG. 1. The advantage of the arrangement in FIG. 2 lies in the fact that, if required, one or a plurality of freight containers can be placed on top of the subcompartments 218, 219, e.g. a container with the same grid stowage dimension as that of the first compartment 102 of the first structural unit 201, i.e. with the first grid stowage dimension. In a preferred, but not exclusive, example the said first grid stowage dimension is 40 feet, the second grid stowage dimension of the second structural unit 211 is 20 feet and the subcompartments 218, 219 have a fourth and a fifth grid dimension of 10 feet in each case.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a highly schematic representation of a deployment of a power supply unit 100 in accordance with the example of embodiment in FIG. 1 on the afterdeck of a container ship 114, the hull 115 and deckhouse 116 of which are indicated in outline. A water level is designated with the reference symbol 117, e.g. a water level in a port basin, in which the container ship has moored for handling cargo, i.e. for loading and unloading freight containers 118, which serve to convey freight in the usual manner. The power supply unit 100 has been set down as a self-contained unit on the afterdeck of the container ship 114, on or alongside the ship's cargo consisting of freight containers 118, and there has been electrically connected to an on-board electrical power supply system, not represented, of the container ship 114. Although the power supply unit 100 occupies a freight container site on, or, on occasions, even under the deck of the container ship, this does not significantly impair the loading and unloading activity. After completion of the loading and unloading activity the power supply unit 100 is removed once more from the container ship 114 and set down, e.g. on the quay. There it can similarly, insofar as this is required, be stacked together with other standardised freight containers; also a plurality of power supply units 100 can be stored in readiness on the quay one upon another in a space-saving manner.

(16) In FIGS. 4 to 7 a further example of embodiment of a power supply unit 300 is represented. FIGS. 4 and 5 show views in perspective, and FIG. 7 shows a side view. In the example of embodiment two storeys 3001, 2002 of transport containers are arranged one above another, which together form the power supply unit 300. In FIG. 6 a plan view is presented in each case, onto the upper container storey 3001, and onto the lower container storey 3002. The two container storeys 3001, 3002 are located laterally flush with one another, i.e. they have essentially the same total length.

(17) The power supply unit 300 is constructed from transport containers, in particular at least in part from ISO standard containers. Here an individual container, which can, for example, be designed as a 40-foot container, i.e., as an ISO standard container with a length measurement that corresponds to a first grid stowage dimension of 40 feet, forms a first compartment 302 of a first structural unit 301 of the power supply unit 300. In this first compartment 302 are arranged an internal combustion engine 1031 and a generator 1032 for generating power which can be driven by the internal combustion engine 1031; together these form a generator set 103. Furthermore, in the first compartment 302 of the power supply unit 300 there are arranged an operating unit 303 for operating the power supply unit by a user, air supply devices 304 for the supply of (fresh) air to the first compartment 302, fire-extinguishing equipment 305 in the form of CO.sub.2 bottles, cooling water interface connections 306, batteries 307 for the intermediate storage of power for supply to a control device, and/or for purposes of starting the power supply unit 300, and a fuel treatment device 310. By means of a fuel treatment device, the fuel can be treated for supply to the internal combustion engine. In particular by this means liquefied gas, in particular LNG, can be converted into the gaseous state, before it is supplied to the internal combustion engine.

(18) Furthermore, the first structural unit 301 has a second compartment 308, consisting of first, second and third subcompartments 318, 319, 320. In the first subcompartment 318 is connector device 311, preferably designed in the form of a coupling, for the purpose of transferring fuel from a fuel storage device to the first structural unit 301. The first subcompartment 318 is arranged above the fuel treatment device 310, and the hoses featured in the connector device 311 run downwards into the first compartment 302 to the fuel treatment device 310 (see in particular FIG. 7). As a result the hose length required is relatively short. The second subcompartment 319 comprises a cooling device 312 for cooling the internal combustion engine 1031. The cooling device can, for example, comprise a condenser, a fan, and/or a coolant circuit. The third subcompartment 320 comprises a means of storage for electrical cables. In the present example the means of storage comprise a cable drum 104 with two connecting cables 106, arranged on top of the drum, which can be led out of the first compartment 302; from the power supply unit 100 electrical energy can be outputted via these cables to a consumer load. Connectors 1061 are provided at one end of the connecting cables 106; via these the connecting cables 106 can be connected to a consumer load, or to other cables 106. Moreover, in the third subcompartment 320 power switches designed as circuit breakers are provided in a control cabinet 313. The three subcompartments 318, 319, 320 are in each case formed by individual transport containers, which are securely connected with the container forming the first compartment 302. Likewise, the two containers of subcompartments 319 and 320 can be securely connected with one another. The two subcompartments 319, 320 could also be provided within one transport container.

(19) In the example of embodiment of the power supply unit 300 the second structural unit 111 with the gas tank 112 is positioned on top of the first compartment 302 of the first structural unit 301 in the gap between the subcompartments 318 on the one side, and the two subcompartments 319 and 320 on the other side, wherein the second structural unit 111 is laterally bounded by the first subcompartment 318 and the second subcompartment 319. In the present example the second structural unit 111 is detachably connected with the first structural unit 301 and docked onto the latter by means of locking devices, not represented, in particular so-called twist locks. By this means a second structural unit 111 with an empty gas tank 112 can easily be replaced with another second structural unit (not represented here) with a full gas tank.

(20) Taken together with the second structural unit 111, the containers of the second compartment 308 have the same grid stowage dimension as the containers of the first compartment 302. Furthermore, the two containers of subcompartments 319 and 320 can each have the same grid stowage dimension. In a preferred, but not exclusive, example the first grid stowage dimension of the first compartment 302 is 40 feet, the second grid stowage dimension of the second structural unit 211 is 20 feet, the fourth and fifth grid stowage dimensions of the subcompartments 319 and 320 are 9 feet, and the sixth grid stowage dimension of the subcompartment 318 is 2 feet.