Marine propulsion system

Abstract

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel having a vessel speed, has an electric motor providing torque and rotational speed, the torque and rotational speed being motor data of the electric motor. A drive unit is pivotable in relation to the marine vessel, the drive unit being powered by the electric motor. A trim arrangement adjusts a trim angle of the drive unit. A control unit being is connected with the electric motor and the trim arrangement, the control unit receives motor data from the electric motor and trim data from the trim arrangement. The control unit has a processing circuitry for comparing the motor data with the trim data. The control unit is configured to actively adjust the trim angle of the drive unit based on the motor data whereby an energy consumption of the electric motor at the same vessel speed can be optimized at any condition of the marine vessel.

1 . A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel having a vessel speed, comprising
 an electric motor providing torque and rotational speed, the torque and rotational speed being motor data of the electric motor,   a drive unit configured to be pivotable in relation to the marine vessel, the drive unit being powered by the electric motor,   a trim arrangement configured to adjust a trim angle of the drive unit,   a control unit being operatively connected with the electric motor and the trim arrangement,   the control unit is configured to receive motor data from the electric motor and trim data from the trim arrangement, the control unit comprising a processing circuitry configured to comparing the motor data with the trim data,   wherein the control unit is configured to actively adjust the trim angle of the drive unit based on the motor data whereby an energy consumption of the electric motor at the same vessel speed can be optimized at any condition of the marine vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the torque and/or the rotational speed of the electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor data comprises an energy consumption data associated with the energy consumption of the electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is comparing the motor data with the trim data for detecting if the energy consumption increases or decreases for a given speed in view of a predetermined energy consumption reference for the given speed, the processing circuitry is configured to send a message to the control unit for adjusting the trim of the drive unit if the energy consumption changes in view of the predetermined energy consumption reference for the given speed. 
     
     
         5 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is continuously comparing the motor data with the trim data until the detected energy consumption is substantially equal to the predetermined energy consumption reference for the given speed. 
     
     
         6 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply for supplying power to the electric motor. 
     
     
         7 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein an energy consumption sensor is arranged for monitoring an energy consumption of the electric motor. 
     
     
         8 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning unit, such as a GPS or similar, and/or a speed log or speed reading. 
     
     
         9 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel speed is substantially maintained by adjusting the torque and/or rotational speed of the electric motor as the trim angles are iterated. 
     
     
         10 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy consumption is maintained as the trim angles are iterated for obtaining a higher vessel speed at the same energy consumption. 
     
     
         11 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a detector unit being configured to detect the motion and movement of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is operatively connected with the detector unit, the control unit is configured to control and adjust the vessel speed in relation to the motion and movement of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect an environment in front and/or side of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 13 , wherein the control unit is operatively connected with the proximity sensor, the control unit is configured to control and adjust the vessel speed and/or the trim of the drive unit in relation to the detected surroundings in front or side of the marine vessel regarding wave heights and their frequency as well as direction of the same. 
     
     
         15 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data storage unit. 
     
     
         16 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 15 , wherein the control unit is operatively connected with the data storage unit, the control unit is configured to storing the latest optimized trim angle and/or the most common optimized trim angle for the marine vessel at certain speeds, improving the control loop by narrowing the range of iteration as time goes by. 
     
     
         17 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to indicate abnormalities in energy consumption at a certain speed caused by for instance a damaged propeller, one or more propellers hit by debris or obstacles in the water, marine growth on the hull of the marine vessel or the propeller, uneven weight distribution of the marine vessel, or added weight in terms of passengers/cargo. 
     
     
         18 . A marine vessel comprising a marine propulsion system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method for optimizing an energy consumption of a marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , comprising
 providing motor data of an electric motor, the motor data being torque and rotational speed of the electric motor,   providing trim data of a trim arrangement, the trim data being a trim angle of the drive unit, comparing the motor data with the trim data,   adjusting the trim angle of the drive unit based on the motor data whereby the energy consumption of the electric motor at a same vessel speed can be optimized at any condition of the marine vessel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising maintaining a vessel speed by adjusting the torque and/or rotational speed of the electric motor as the trim angles are iterated.