US 11,682,907 B2
Thruster electric power systems and associated methods
John Røn Pedersen, Frederikssund (DK)
Assigned to NOBLE DRILLING A/S, Kgs. Lyngby (DK)
Filed by NOBLE DRILLING A/S, Kgs. Lyngby (DK)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/859,803.
Application 17/859,803 is a continuation of application No. 16/606,693, granted, now 11,390,365, previously published as PCT/DK2018/000011, filed on Apr. 18, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/486,915, filed on Apr. 18, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. PA 2017 00257 (DK), filed on Apr. 19, 2017; and application No. PA 2017 00345 (DK), filed on Jun. 11, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340248 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 3/38 (2006.01); B63J 3/04 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/32 (2006.01); H02J 1/06 (2006.01); B63H 21/17 (2006.01); B63J 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 3/381 (2013.01) [B63H 21/17 (2013.01); B63J 3/04 (2013.01); E21B 41/0007 (2013.01); H02J 1/06 (2013.01); H02J 3/32 (2013.01); B63J 2003/002 (2013.01); H02J 2310/42 (2020.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mobile offshore drilling unit having 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 comprising:
a main electric power bus;
at least one combustion generator electrically coupled to the main electric power bus;
a power management system configured to control the main electric power bus and the at least one combustion generator;
at least one thruster electric power system for powering at least one of said plurality of electric thrusters, and comprising:
a thruster electric power bus;
at least one energy storage unit;
an additional electric power bus connected to the thruster electric power bus via an interface device;
a circuit breaker electrically coupling the additional electric power bus to a main electric power bus; and
a thruster converter electrically coupling the at least one of said plurality of electric thrusters to the thruster electric power bus;
wherein power management system configured to control the circuit breaker to isolate the thruster electric power bus from the main electric power bus in case of loss of power on the main electric power bus.