Arrangement and method for improving load response in a marine vessel

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for improving load response in a marine vessel, which vessel comprises a propulsion system ( 1 ) including an internal combustion engine ( 2 ), a generator ( 3 ), a main switchboard ( 4 ), and an electric propulsion unit ( 5 ). A power bank ( 6 ) is connected to the main switchboard ( 4 ), whereby the power bank ( 6 ) is arranged to store additional electric energy supplied by the generator ( 3 ) by way of the main switchboard ( 4 ). The additional energy stored in the power bank ( 6 ) is arranged to be used together with the electric energy supplied by the generator ( 3 ) in order to increase the load response to the electric propulsion unit ( 5 ) at a given time.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An arrangement for improving load response in a marine vessel, which marine vessel comprises a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the internal combustion engine, a main switchboard, a power bank connected to the main switchboard, and an electric propulsion unit, in which arrangement the power bank is arranged to store additional electric energy supplied by the generator by way of the main switchboard, wherein the internal combustion engine is arranged to primarily use gas as fuel or that the internal combustion engine is a dual-fuel engine, and in that the additional energy stored in the power bank is arranged to be used together with the electric energy supplied by the generator in order to increase the load response to the electric propulsion unit at a given time. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the marine vessel further comprises other energy consumers, such as hotel load, and in that the additional energy stored in the power bank is arranged to be used together with the electric energy supplied by the generator in order to increase the load response to said other energy consumers at a given time. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the power bank is a battery, a capacitor, a flywheel generator or any combination of these. 
     
     
         16 . A method for improving load response in a marine vessel, which marine vessel comprises a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine, a generator, a main switchboard, a power bank connected to the main switchboard, and an electric propulsion unit, in which method the internal combustion engine drives the generator and the generator supplies electric energy for driving the electric propulsion unit, whereby the generator further supplies additional electric energy to the power bank by way of the main switchboard, wherein the method employs an internal combustion engine primarily using gas as fuel or that the method employs an internal combustion engine in the form of a dual-fuel engine, and in that the additional electric energy stored in the power bank is supplied to the electric propulsion unit together with the electric energy supplied by the generator in order to increase the load response to the electric propulsion unit at a given time. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein marine vessel further comprises another energy consumer, such as hotel load, and in that the additional energy stored in the power bank is supplied to said other energy consumer together with the electric energy supplied by the generator in order to increase the load response to said other energy consumers at a given time. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a battery, a capacitor, a flywheel generator, or any combination of these is employed as the power bank.