Electronic system and method of automating, controlling, and optimizing the operation of failsafe energy storage for electric outboard motors and for marine hybrid propulsion systems

Abstract

A method of integrating, optimizing and combining in a marine electric or hybrid system, the operation and safety of one or more energy storage units, a combination of one or more electric outboard(s) and ICE outboard(s) in a propulsion systems through use of an Energy Management Computer. One aspect of the invention involves the application of logic programming to automate the optimization and the operation of the Internal Combustion Engines (STANDARD OUTBOARD) so that whenever the system requires their usage, they are operated at optimum efficiency conditions. For a STANDARD OUTBOARD to operate at peak efficiency a combination of a large energy storage unit used as a buffer combined with electric outboard(s) is used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy management computer system for a marine vessel, comprising:
 at least a first human actuable propulsion input device;   at least a first energy management input device configured to allow a user to select one of a plurality of different operating modes;   at least a first energy storage unit, the first energy storage unit having a corresponding charge level;   a first electric motor, the electric motor being configured to operate in at least first and second modes, the first mode being an electric generation mode in which the first electric motor generates electric power, the second mode being a propulsion mode in which the first electric motor operated as a propulsion motor to turn a first propeller for generating propulsion for the marine vessel;   an energy management control unit, the energy management control unit having a processor controlling the operation of the electric motor, ESU and being configured to control operation of an internal combustion engine and a generator, based at least in part on the selected operating mode, the energy storage unit charge level, house load and propulsion demands.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a first internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being configured to provide propulsion in a first mode cooperation with the first electric motor and in a second mode independently from the first electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a generator, the generator selectively supplying at least one of house power, propulsion power and energy storage unit recharge power based at least in part on the selected one of the plurality of operating modes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including at least one of a wind generator and solar panels coupled to the marine vessel and providing energy to the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a mode in which the first propeller is turned by power exclusively provided by the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating modes includes a mode in which a generator and the energy storage unit cooperate to provide power to the first propeller. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating modes includes an energy mode in which the energy storage unit, a generator, an internal combustion engine and the electric outboard cooperate to provide propulsive power to the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A method for operating a hybrid energy management system for a marine vessel, the method comprising:
 receiving a selected one of a plurality of operating modes;   using a generator to selectively supplying at least one of house power, propulsion power and energy storage unit recharge power based at least in part on the selected one of the plurality of operating modes;   operating an electric motor in an electric generation mode to generate electric power and as motor in a propulsion mode to turn a propeller; and   controlling the operation of the generator and the electric motor based at least in part on the selected operating mode, an energy storage unit charge level, a house load demand and a propulsion demand to drive the electric motor to generate the electric power when the electric motor is in the electric generation mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving a selected one of a plurality of operating modes includes receiving a selected mode in which the propeller is turned by power exclusively provided by the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving a selected one of a plurality of operating modes includes receiving a selected mode in which the generator and the energy storage unit cooperate to provide power to the propeller. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further including operating a second prime mover internal combustion engine controllable by the energy management control unit to turn a second propeller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising detecting speed or rpm of electric motor with at least one of GPS and a water flow measuring device and controlling a speed of the marine vessel with the detected speed for operations including water skiing and wake-boarding. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising determining if a propeller of the marine vessel is out of the water, determining if the marine vessel is inverted with a gravity switch, receiving an input from a user indicating a demand for propulsion power and stopping electric and internal combustion engine motors, contrary to the input received from the user, when it is determined that a propeller of the marine vessel is out of the water, or that the marine vessel is inverted. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising providing all house low voltage DC and house AC loads through efficient inverters and converters fed from the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         15 . In a vessel equipped with at least two electric outboard with or without one or many ICE powered outboard, a way to provide through a  3  axis joystick, translation of the vessel in all direction and angles by controlling the direction and the thrust of each of the multiple (at least two) motors. 
     
     
         16 . An energy storage unit comprising as watertight container, at least a plurality of battery cells disposed in the watertight container, a battery management unit, a contactor, a fuse, an overpressure valve and a high temperature safety valve, wherein the high temperature safety valve is configured to allow water ingress in the watertight container when a temperature of the battery cells or the watertight container exceeds a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         17 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein the high temperature safety valve comprises a water ingress valve and is configured to automatically open the water ingress valve and sound an alarm if the internal temperature of the energy storage unit rises above the predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 16  where the energy management system is configured to open the high temperature safety valve when a temperature of the battery cells or the watertight container exceeds the predetermined temperature which is lower than a temperature corresponding to a thermal run-away of the plurality of battery cells, thereby preventing a thermal runaway of the plurality of battery cells.