Technical Field

The invention relates to a wired/wireless static/dynamic offshore charging station for water vessels at least partially electrically driven.

Background Art

There is a wide range of water vessels at least partially electrically driven which are gaining popularity and are becoming more available for a wider range of consumers. They may comprise a rechargeable power source. They may have an improved ecological impact and may be a sustainable form of marine transportation. Many people and companies are attracted to them because they want to decrease their personal impact on the environment through transport.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to propose an offshore charging station (OCS) for water vessels at least partially electrically driven comprising one or more chargers with one or more charging interfaces for wired/wireless static/dynamic charging/discharging and supported by various supporting constructions. The OCS may further comprise charging interface mounts, marine engineering constructions, facilities, operational security control elements, thermal management systems, marine attachments, payment terminals.

A further object is to propose the OCS in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with various power sources to provide an unidirectional and/or bidirectional power flow.

The OCS may provide wired/wireless data transmissions. A further object is to propose the OCS in a cloud-based communication system comprising one or more communication nodes being operators, the OCSs, the water vessels at least partially electrically driven, and marine rechargeable power sources comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a buoyant or nonbuoyant container and providing wired/wireless data transmissions.

A further object is to propose the OCS in a marine rechargeable power source system comprising a rechargeable power source being chargeable and/or dischargeable by the OCS, a source management system, a buoyant or nonbuoyant container. The marine rechargeable power source may further comprise power transfer intefaces, thermal management systems, power sources, payment terminals, mobility devices and may provide data transmissions, may be a swappable power source and the container may be conveniently shaped.

A futher object is to propose the OCS in a hydrogen powering system comprising a hydrogen production system and a hydrogen storage system.

A further object is to propose the OCS in a marine fuelling system comprising a fuel dispenser, a fuel storage system and a fuelling line system. A further object is to propose the OCS and the marine rechargeable power source in a modular system.

A further object is to propose an offshore swapping method making use of the OCS and the marine rechargeable power source, wherein power may be transferred while the water vessel at least partially electrically driven may be stationary or in a motion.

In a first aspect, the invention discloses an offshore charging station for a water vessel at least partially electrically driven, characterised in that it comprises: one or more chargers including or at least coupled with one or more charging interfaces to couple with said water vessel at least partially electrically driven to provide an unidirectional and/or bidirectional power flow, wherein at least one said charger is selected from the group consisting of AC chargers, DC chargers, inductive chargers, capacitive charges, magnetodynamic chargers, or combinations thereof; an offshore charging station supporting construction supporting mainly, but not exclusively said offshore charging station.

The offshore charging station may be configured to enable static and/or dynamic wireless charging and/or discharging using a wireless charging system, wherein at least one said wireless charging system may be selected from the group consisting of inductive charging systems, capacitive charging systems, magnetodynamic charging systems, or combinations thereof.

The offshore charging station may further comprise: one or more charging interface mounts, wherein at least one said charging interface mount may be selected from the group consisting of static mounts, dynamic arms, robotic arms, drones, robots, dynamic mounts, floats, level adjustable floats, bottom rest supporting constructions, level adjustable bottom rest supporting constructions, or combinations thereof, wherein said static mount may hold said charging interface in a position, and wherein said dynamic arm, said robotic arm, said drone, said robot, said dynamic mount may be able to delocalize said charging interface to enable charging and/or discharging, and wherein said float, said level adjustable float, said bottom rest supporting construction, said level adjustable bottom rest supporting construction may support said charging interface.

The offshore charging station may further comprise: a marine engineering construction supporting at least one element of said offshore charging station and further characterised by its constructional type, wherein at least one said constructional type may be selected from the group consisting of platforms, walls, columns, beams, roofs, or combinations thereof; and/or a facility operable at said offshore charging station, wherein at least one said facility may be selected from the group consisting of maritime rescue facilities, shopping facilities, work- shop facilities, recreational facilities, accommodation facilities, or combinations thereof; and/or an operational security control element operable at said offshore charging station, wherein at least one said operational security control element may be selected from the group consisting of security cameras, security control circuits, control elements operable to interrupt power supplies, or combinations thereof; and/or a thermal management system to thermally manage charging and/or discharging, wherein at least one said thermal management system may be selected from the group consisting of air tempering systems, liquid tempering systems, liquid tempering systems using offshore water as a thermal medium, or combinations thereof; and/or a marine attachment operable at said offshore charging station, wherein at least one said marine attachment may be selected from the group consisting of antennas, navigational aid constructions, recording instruments, mooring attachments, or combinations thereof; and/or a payment terminal enabling at least one payment selected from the group consisting of online payments, cash payments, mobile payments, chip card payments, magnetic stripe card payments, or combinations thereof, wherein an acceptation of said payment via said payment terminal may be in relation with functionning of said charger and/or of said facility. The offshore charging station may be provided as part of an offshore charging system characterised in that it may comprise: an offshore power cable to provide said offshore charging station with an unidirectional and/or bidirectional power flow, wherein said offshore power cable may be coupled with a power source, wherein at least one said power source may be selected from the group consisting of onshore power sources, offshore power sources, arrays of solar cells, fuel cells, wind energy to electric energy converters, wave energy to electric energy converters, water currents energy to electric energy converters, tidal energy to electric energy converters, motor generators, smart grids, or combinations thereof, and wherein at least one said offshore charging station supporting construction may be selected from the group consisting of floats, level adjustable floats, bottom rest supporting constructions, level adjustable bottom rest supporting constructions, or combinations thereof.

The offshore charging station may be characterised in that it may provide at least one data transmission selected from the group consisting of wired data transmissions, wireless data transmissions, or combinations thereof, wherein said data transmission may be in relation with charging and/or discharging said water vessel at least partially electrically driven.

The offshore charging station may be provided as part of a cloud-based communication system, characterised in that it may comprise: one or more communication nodes, wherein at least one said communication node may be selected from the group consisting of operators, said offshore charging stations, said water vessels at least partially electrically driven, marine rechargeable power sources, or combinations thereof; a cloud, wherein said communication node may be in wired and/or wireless communication with said cloud, and wherein said marine rechargeable power source may be characterised in that it may comprise: a rechargeable power source; a source management system to manage charging and/or discharging said rechargeable power source; a container containing at least said rechargeable power source and characterised by being buoyant or nonbuoyant, said marine rechargeable power source further characterised in that it may provide at least one data transmission selected from the group consisting of wired data transmissions, wireless data transmissions, or combinations thereof, wherein said data transmission may be in relation with charging and/or discharging said rechargeable power source and/or said water vessel at least partially electrically driven and/or with a power transfer between said water vessel at least partially electric all driven and said rechargeable power source. The offshore charging station may be provided as part of a marine rechargeable power source system, characterised in that it may comprise: a rechargeable power source being chargeable and/or dischargeable by said offshore charging station; a source management system to manage charging and/or discharging said rechargeable power source; a container containing at least said rechargeable power source and characterised by being buoyant or nonbuoyant.

In the offshore charging station said marine rechargeable power source may further comprise or may be at least coupled with a power transfer interface to transfer power to and/or from said rechargeable power source, wherein at least one said power transfer interface may be selected from the group consisting of charging interfaces to charge and/or discharge said water vessels at least partially electrically driven, charging interfaces to charge and/or discharge said rechargeable power sources, power transfer interfaces to transfer power between said water vessels at least partially electrically driven and said rechargeable power sources, or combinations thereof; and/or said marine rechargeable power source may further comprise or may be at least coupled with a power cable to transfer power to and/or from said rechargeable power source; and/or said marine rechargeable power souce may further comprise a thermal management system to thermally manage said rechargeable power source and/or said power transfer interface and/or said power cable, wherein at least one said thermal management system may be selected from the group consisting of air tempering systems, liquid tempering systems, liquid tempering systems using offshore water as a thermal medium, or combinations thereof; and/or said marine rechargeable power source may further comprise or may be at least coupled with a power source to charge and/or discharge said rechargeable power source, wherein at least one said power source may be selected from the group consisting of onshore power sources, offshore power sources, arrays of solar cells, fuel cells, wind energy to electric energy converters, wave energy to electric energy converters, water currents energy to electric energy converters, tidal energy to electric energy converters, motor generators, smart grids, or combinations thereof; and/or said marine rechargeable power source may further comprise or may be at least coupled with a payment terminal enabling at least one payment selected from the group consisting of online payments, cash payments, mobile payments, chip card payments, magnetic stripe card payments, or combinations thereof, wherein an acceptation of said payment via said payment terminal may be in relation with charging and/or discharging said water vessel at least partially electrically driven and/or with a power transfer between said water vessel at least partially electricall driven and said rechargeable power source; and/or said marine rechargeable power source may further comprise a mobility device providing said container with mobility, wherein at least one said mobility device may be selected from the group consisting of mobile containers, mobile buoyant containers, or combinations thereof, and/or said marine rechargeable power source may provide at least one data transmission selected from the group consisting of wired data transmissions, wireless data transmissions, or combinations thereof, wherein said data transmission may be in relation with charging and/or discharging said rechargeable power source and/or said water vessel at least partially electrically driven and/or with a power transfer between said water vessel at least partially electrically driven and said rechargeable power source, and/or said marine rechargeable power source may be configured to be a swappable power source for said water vessel at least partially electrically driven, and/or said container may be shaped to convene to said water vessel at least partially electrically driven.

The offshore charging station may be provided as part of a hydrogen powering system, characterised in that it may comprise: a hydrogen production system to produce hydrogen in a functional connection with said offshore charging station, wherein at least one said hydrogen production system may be selected from the group consisting of electrolysis systems, hydrocarbons reforming systems, alcohols reforming systems, sugars reforming systems, chemical processing systems, biological processing systems, biomass processing systems, thermal processing systems, photo processing systems, metal and water systems, or combinations thereof; a hydrogen storage system to store at least partially hydrogen produced by said hydrogen production system, wherein at least one said hydrogen storage system may be selected from the group consisting of compressed gas systems, liquified gas systems, chemical systems, electrochemical systems, physi-sorption systems, nanomaterial systems, intercallation in metals systems, intercallation in hydrides systems, inorganic gaseous systems, inorganic liquids systems, inorganic solids systems, organic gaseous systems, organic liquids systems, organic solids systems, or combinations thereof.

The offshore charging station may be provided as part of a marine fuelling system to provide a marine fuel in a functional connection with said offshore charging station, the system characterised in that it may comprise: a fuel dispenser, a fuel storage system; a fuelling line system, wherein said fuelling line system may transfer said marine fuel from said fuel storage system to said fuel dispenser.

The offshore charging station may be provided as part of a modular system, characterised in that it may comprise: a module, wherein at least one said module may be selected from the group consisting of said chargers, said offshore charging station supporting constructions, inductive charging systems, capacitive charging systems, magnetodynamic charging systems, static mounts, dynamic arms, robotic arms, drones, robots, dynamic mounts, floats, level adjustable floats, bottom rest supporting constructions, level adjustable bottom rest supporting constructions, marine engineering constructions, facilities, operational security control elements, thermal management systems, marine attachments, payment terminals, offshore power cables, arrays of solar cells, fuel cells, wind energy to electric energy converters, wave energy to electric energy converters, water currents energy to electric energy converters, tidal energy to electric energy converters, motor generators, marine rechargeable power source systems, hydrogen production systems, hydrogen storage systems, fuel dispensers, fuel storage systems, fuelling line systems, or combinations thereof, wherein said module may be modularly scallable and/or exchangeable and/or couplable with at least one element of said offshore charging station.

In a second aspect, the invention discloses an offshore swapping method, the method comprising the steps of: bringing by a water vessel at least partially electrically driven a first marine rechargeable power source according to one of claims 8, 9 and 12 within an operational range of an offshore charging station according to one of the preceding claims; swapping said first marine rechargeable power source for a second marine rechargeable power source according to one of claims 8, 9 and 12 provided by said offshore charging station.

The offshore swapping method may further comprise a step of: transferring power between said marine rechargeable power source and said water vessel at least partially electrically driven at least partially while said water vessel at least partially electrically driven be stationary or in a motion.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example. Only essential elements of the invention are schematically shown and not to scale to facilitate immediate understanding, emphasis being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station supported by an anchored float and comprising marine attachments and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an offshore array of solar cells and a marine rechargeable power source system comprising the array of solar cells.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an underwater offshore charging station supported by a level adjustable float and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an offshore power source.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station supported by a bottom rest supporting construction and comprising marine engineering constructions, a dynamic arm and a dynamic mount and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an offshore power source and with an offshore wind energy to electric energy converter and a marine rechargeable power source system comprising the wind energy to electric energy converter.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station supported by a level adjustable bottom rest supporting construction and comprising marine engineering constructions, a robotic arm and a drone and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an onshore power source and with an offshore fuel cell and the OCS is further provided in a hydrogen powering system comprising a hydrogen production system and a hydrogen storage system and further provided in a marine fuelling system comprising a hydrogen fuel dispenser, a hydrogen fuel storage system and a hydrogen fuelling line system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station supported by a float and comprising a marine engineering construction, a facility, operational security control elements, a payment terminal, and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an onshore power source and provided in a marine fuelling system comprising a fuel dispenser, a fuel storage system and a fuelling line system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of an offshore charging station provided in a cloud-based communication system comprising communication nodes being the offshore charging station, a water vessel at least partially electrically driven, a marine rechargeable power source and an operator.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station supported by a moored float and comprising marine engineering constructions and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an onshore power source. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station supported by level adjustable floats and comprising marine engineering constructions and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an onshore power source. FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station supported by a float and comprising marine engineering constructions and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an onshore power source.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station supported by anchored floats and comprising marine engineering constructions and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an onshore power source. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station supported by a bottom rest supporting construction and comprising marine engineering constructions and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an offshore wind energy to electric energy converter.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station similar to that shown in FIG. 11 provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an offshore array of solar cells. FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station similar to that shown in FIG. 11 provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with a wave energy to electric energy converter, a tidal energy to electric energy converter and a water current energy to electric energy converter. FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station supported by an anchored float and comprising marine engineering constructions and a wired and a wireless charger configured to enable static wireless charging and/or discharging and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable coupled with an offshore power source.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station similar to that shown in FIG. 14 comprising wireless charging interfaces and configured to enable dynamic wireless charging and/or discharging.

FIG. 16 is a schematic oblique view of a marine rechargeable power source comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a nonbuoyant mobile container, a charging interface, a payment terminal, a thermal management system and an array of solar cells.

FIG. 17 is a schematic oblique view of a marine rechargeable power source comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a mobile buoyant container, a charging interface, a power transfer interface, a power cable, a payment terminal, a thermal management system and an array of solar cells. FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of a marine rechargeable power source comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a mobile buoyant container, a charging interface, a payment terminal and a thermal management system. FIG. 19 is a schematic of a first step of an offshore swapping method, the step of bringing by water vessels at least partially electrically driven first marine rechargeable power sources - one buoyant and the other nonbuoyant - within an operational range of an offshore charging station.

FIG. 20 is a schematic of a second step of the offshore swapping method shown in FIG. 19, the step of swapping the first marine rechargeable power sources for second marine rechargeable power sources - one buoyant and the other nonbuoyant - provided by the offshore charging station.

FIG. 21 is a schematic of a third step of the offshore swapping method shown in FIGs. 19 and 20, the step of transferring power between the rechargeable power sources and the water vessels at least partially electrically driven while in a motion.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The following detailed description shows the best contemplated modes of exemplary embodiments. The description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, and in such a detail that a skilled person in the art can recognise the advantages of the invention, and can be able to make and use the invention. The detailed description is not intended to limit the principle of the presented invention, but only to show the possibilities of it.

The terms used in the claims and the specifications shall refer to their synonyms as well.

The term „inductive" shall also refer to resonant inductive, the term „capacitive" shall also refer to resonant capacitive.

The term „magnetodynamic" shall preferably not exclusively refer to magneto-mechanical systems using translational and/or rotational motion of a magnetic element or arrays of magnetic elements to wirelessly transfer power. The term „to couple" and derivatives shall refer to a direct or indirect connection via another device, connection, element, and the like.

The term „to support" and derivatives shall refer to a direct or indirect supporting function via another device, structure, element, and the like.

As used in the claims and the specification, the term „water vessel at least partially electrically driven" shall refer to manned and unmanned water vessels, and shall refer to overwater and underwater vater vessels, and shall refer to toys and models and the like as well.

As used in the claims and the specification, the terms „float", „level adjustable float" shall preferably not exclusively refer to an anchored float wherein said anchoring may be selected from the group consisting of static anchoring (e.g. with anchoring lines), dynamic anchoring, or combinations thereof, (the same applies to mooring, tethering, etc.) and shall further refer to any construction providing a charging station and/or a charging interface with buoyancy and shall refer to passive buoyancy control systems and active buoyancy control systems wherein flotation may be obtained by various active devices (variable ballast tanks, compressed air, propellers, jets, etc.), shall refer to combined systems and shall refer to built-in, attached, detachably attached, etc. floats in various configurations.

As used in the claims and the specification, the term „bottom rest supporting construction", „level adjustable bottom rest supporting construction" shall preferably not exclusively refer to a bottom rest supporting construction, wherein at least one said bottom rest supporting construction is selected from the group consisting of fixed constructions, compliant constructions, or combinations thereof.

As used in the claims and the specification, the term „level" as in „level adjustable float", „level adjustable bottom rest supporting construction" shall preferably not exclusively refer to a level wherein at least one said level is selected from the group consisting of levels situated between above water level and a water bottom, or combinations thereof.

As used in the claims and the specification, the term „level adjustable", shall preferably not exclusively refer to mechanical (e.g. sliding constructions, slack-line configurations), hydraulical, electromagnetical, pneumatic constructions, and shall refer to constructions powered manually, electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically, and shall refer to constructions powered by natural forces, e.g. buoyant force, gravitation force, etc., and shall refer to constructions controlled manually, computer controlled, remote controlled, natural phenomena controlled (e.g. controlled by tides), etc.

As used in the claims and the specification, the terms „onshore power source", „offshore power source" shall refer to power transmission systems, power distribution systems and shall refer to mobile systems and shall refer to „power grid" and the like as well.

As used in the claims and the specification, the term "motor generator” shall preferably not exclusively refer to electric energy generating systems using an electrical generator coupled with an engine (which can be a jet engine, an engine burning a hydrocarbon fuel, a gas generator, a turbine, etc.) and shall also refer to the term "power plant”, and the like, and shall also refer to mobile units, compact units, enclosed units, portable units, skid mounted units and shall also refer to thermal electric types and atomic types and shall also refer to floating and underwater types and shall also refer to power plants, power units comprising exhaust products (e.g. gases, fluids) treatments. As used in the claims and the specification, the term "rechargeable power source" shall refer to rechargeable batteries, capacitors, hybrid sources, energy storage elements, and the like.

As used in the claims and the specification, the terms "mobile container”, "buoyant container”, "mobile buoyant container” shall refer to any type of containers with built-in, attached, detachably attached, etc. devices providing the containers with mobility, respective buoyancy.

As used in the claims and the specification, the term "fuel " as in the marine fuelling system shall refer to any type of marine fuel, preferably not exclusively to hydrogen gases, hydrogen liquids, compressed natural gases, liquefied natural gases, biofuels, low sulphur fuel oils, emulsified fuels, methanols, including mixture type fuels.

As used in the claims and the specification, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well. The terms „to comprise", „to include", „to contain" and derivatives specify the presence of an element, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or groups and combinations thereof. The term ..consisting of ‘ characterises a Markush group which is by nature closed. Single members of the group are alternatively useable for the purpose of the invention. Therefore, a singular if used in the Markush group would indicate only one member of the group to be used. For that reason are the countable members listed in the plural. That means together with qualifying language after the group „or combinations thereof' that only one member of the Markush group can be chosen or any combination of the listed members in any numbers. In other words, although elements in the Markush groups may be described in the plural, the singular is contemplated as well. Furthermore, the phrase „at least one" preceding the Markush groups is to be interpreted that the group does not exclude one or more additional elements preceded by the phrase.

The invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station (101) supported by an anchored float (102) and comprising marine attachments (110, 111, 112, 113) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (103) coupled with an offshore array of solar cells (124) and a marine rechargeable power source system (114) comprising the array of solar cells (124).

The offshore charging station (101) can comprise a charger (105) [which can be an AC charger, a DC charger, an inductive charger, a capacitive charger, a magnetodynamic charger, or any combinations thereof]. The charger can be coupled with one or more charging interfaces (106). The anchored float (102) can be fabricated from any convenient material and use any anchoring system (107) attaching the OCS (101) to a water bottom (108) under water level (109) [and/or it can use any mooring system including dynamic mooring (not shown)]. The marine attachments can be an antenna (110), a navigational aid construction (111), a recording instrument (112) and a mooring attachment (113).

The marine attachments (110, 111, 112, 113) and the charger (105) can be coupled with the offshore power cable (103) which can be coupled [as a power cable to transfer power] with the marine rechargable power source system (114) which can comprise a buoyant container (115), which can support the array of solar cells (124) [which can be a solar panel], and contain a rechargeable power source (116) [which can be banks of rechargeable capacitors and/or batteries] which can be coupled with a power flow regulator (117) which can be controlled by a programmable controller (118) [which can include a processor, a memory and a communication unit]. The power flow regulator (117) and the controller (118) can perform a function of a source management system or it can be one or more separate units in various topologies. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an underwater offshore charging station (131) supported by a level adjustable float (132) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (133) coupled with an offshore power source (134).

The offshore charging station (131) can comprise a charger (135) [which can be an AC charger, a DC charger, an inductive charger, a capacitive charger, a magnetodynamic charger, or any combinations thereof]. The charger (135) can be coupled with one or more charging interfaces (136) [which can be watertight wired connections or wireless charging interfaces]. The level adjustable float (132) can be fabricated from any convenient material and use any anchoring system (137) attaching the OCS (131) to a water bottom (138) under water level (139) [e.g. by means of an anchoring line and a suitable mechanism (e.g. electrical, hydraulical, mechanical) to level adjust the float (132)]. A dynamic anchoring system (140) can be used which can use any type of position sensors (141). The charger (135) can be coupled with the offshore power cable (133) which can be coupled with the underwater offshore power source (134) [which can be a smart grit with a substation]. A water vessel (142) [which can be an underwater drone] can be coupled in a bidirectional power flow with the charging interface (136) and become temporarily a part of the system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station (151) supported by a bottom rest supporting construction (152) and comprising marine engineering constructions (170, 172), a dynamic arm (160) and a dynamic mount (163) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (153a) coupled with an offshore power source (154) and another offshore power cable (153b) coupled with an offshore wind energy to electric energy converter (184) and a marine rechargeable power source system (174) comprising the wind energy to electric energy converter (184).

The offshore charging station (151) can comprise a charger (155) [which can be an AC charger, a DC charger, an inductive charger, a capacitive charger, a magnetodynamic charger, or any combinations thereof]. The charger (155) can be coupled with one or more charging interfaces (156). Charging interface mounts can be the dynamic arm (160) [which can be supported by a float (161) coupled with a rotating mechanism (162) which can cope with tidal and wave changes] and the dynamic mount (163) [which can similarly be supported by a float (166) coupled with a movable mechanism (165)] which can be able to delocalize the interfaces to enable charging and/or discharging. The charging interface mounts (160, 163) can be coupled with a column (170) which can be supported by a platform (172) on the bottom rest supporting construction (152) which can be of any type of a supporting construction (157) attaching the OCS to a water bottom (158) under water level (159). The charger (155) can be coupled with the offshore power cable (153a) which can be coupled with the underwater offshore power source (154) and with the power cable (153b) coupled with the marine rechargeable power source system (174) which can comprise a buoyant container (175), which can support the wind energy to electric energy converter (184), and contain a rechargeable power source (176) [which can be banks of rechargeable capacitors and/or batteries] a power flow regulator (177) which can be controlled by a programmable controller (178).

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station (201) supported by a level adjustable bottom rest supporting construction (202) and comprising marine engineering constructions (220, 222), a robotic arm (210) and a drone (213) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (203a) coupled with an onshore power source (204) [which can be an onshore power grid] and another offshore power cable (203b) coupled with an offshore fuel cell (214) and with an offshore array of solar cells (234) [which can be a solar panel] wherein the OCS can be provided in a hydrogen powering system (224) comprising a hydrogen storage system (226) [which can be a container (high pressurised, cryo- compressed, cryogenically liquefied, solid state physical storage/chemical storage) of various shapes and dimensions (e.g. cylindric, cubic) and from various materials (e.g. metals, composites, glass)] and a hydrogen production system (223) [which can be an acidic, alkaline, solid oxide, photo, photo-electrochemical electrolysis systems, hydrocarbons reforming systems, alcohols reforming systems, sugars reforming systems, chemical processing systems, biological processing systems, biomass processing systems, thermal processing systems, photo processing systems, metal and water systems].

The OCS (201) can be further provided in a marine fuelling system (244) which can comprise a hydrogen fuel dispenser (228) and a hydrogen fuelling line system (229) wherein the hydrogen storage system (226) can be part of a hydrogen fuel storage system (226). The hydrogen storage system (226) can be coupled with the fuel cell (214) which can use hydrogen to generate power which can be used by the OCS (201). The offshore charging station (201) can comprise a charger (205) [which can be a wired and/or wireless charger]. The charger (205) can be coupled with one or more charging interfaces (206). Charging interface mounts can be a robotic arm (210) (or a robot) and a drone (213) [which can be any type of the drone] which can be able to delocalize the interfaces (206) to enable charging and/or discharging. The charging interface mounts (210, 213) can be coupled with a column (220) which can be supported by a platform (222) on the level adjustable bottom rest supporting construction (202) which can be of any type of a supporting construction (207) [e.g. a fixed construction which can comprise a suitable mechanism (e.g. electrical, hydraulical, mechanical) to level adjust the platform (222)] attaching the OCS (201) to a water bottom (208) under water level (209). The charger (205) can be coupled with the offshore power cables (203a, 203b).

The hydrogen powering system (224), the fuelling system (244), the fuel cell (214), the array of solar cells (234) can be supported by a buoyant and/or bottom rest supporting contstruction [e.g. a buoyant container (225) which can further contain a power flow regulator (227) which can be coupled with the fuel cell (214), the hydrogen production system (223) and the offshore array of solar cells (234)].

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station (251) supported by a float (252) and comprising a marine engineering construction (263), a facility (267), operational security control elements (268, 269), a payment terminal (270), and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (253) coupled with an onshore power source (254) and provided in a marine fuelling system (274) comprising a fuel dispenser (278), a fuel storage system (276) [which can be a fuel tank, cylinder, container] and a fuelling line system (279). The offshore charging station (251) can comprise a charger (255) [which can be a wired and/or wireless charger]. The charger (255) can be coupled with a charging interface (256). A charging interface mount can be a static mount (260) [which can be a charging column] which can hold the interface (256) in a position. The float (252) can be fabricated from any convenient material and use any anchoring system (257) [e.g. a sliding system] attaching the OCS (251) to a water bottom (258) under water level (259). The OCS (251) can comprise a wall (263) which can support the facility (267) operable at the OCS [which can be a shopping facility, e.g. a vending machine], the operational security control elements [which can be a security camera (268) with a security control circuit including a burglar alarm (269)], and the payment terminal (270) [which can enable online payments, cash payments, mobile payments, chip card payments, and/or magnetic stripe card payments]. The charger (255) can be coupled with the offhore power cable (253) via a control element operable to interrupt power supply (not shown) [which can be a remotely controlled switch]. The OCS can be provided in a marine fuelling system (274) wherein the fuelling line system (279) can transfer a marine fuel from the fuel storage system (276) to the fuel dispenser (278).

FIG. 6 is a schematic of an offshore charging station (301) provided in a cloud-based communication system comprising communication nodes which can be the offshore charging station (301), a water vessel at least partially electrically driven (302), a marine rechargeable power source (303) and an operator (304).

The communication nodes can be in wired and/or wireless communication (305) with a cloud (306) which can store their data. The operator (304) can via the cloud (306) operate the communication system. Each communication node (301, 302, 303, 304) and the cloud (306) can have a different operator.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an offshore charging station (331) supported by a moored float (332) and comprising marine engineering constructions (340, 341) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (333) coupled with an onshore power source (334).

The offshore charging station (331) can comprise a charger (335) [which can be a wired and/or wireless charger]. The charger (335) can include a charging interface (336). The charger (335) can be coupled with a column (340) which can support a roof (341). The moored float (332) can be fabricated from any convenient material and use any mooring system (337) [e.g. mooring lines] attaching the OCS to a quay wall (338) [or any onshore/offshore mooring point] at about a water level (339). The charger (335) can be coupled with the offhore power cable (333).

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (361) supported by level adjustable floats (362) and comprising marine engineering constructions (370, 372) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (363) coupled with an onshore power source (364).

The offshore charging station (361) can comprise chargers (365a, 365b, 365c) [which can be wired and/or wireless chargers]. The chargers (365a, 365b, 365c) can include charging interfaces (366a, 366b, 366c) and can be built in columns (370) which can be supported by a platform (372). The level adjustable floats (362) can be attached to a water bottom (368) under water level (369) [e.g. by means of sliding constructions (367) which can comprise a suitable mechanism (e.g. electrical, hydraulical, mechanical) to level adjust the floats (362)]. The chargers (365a, 365b, 365c) can be coupled with the offhore power cable (363).

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (401) supported by a float (402) and comprising marine engineering constructions (410) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (403) coupled with an onshore power source (404).

The offshore charging station (401) can comprise chargers (405) [which can be a wired and/or wireless chargers]. The chargers (405) can include charging interfaces (406). The chargers (405) can be coupled with columns (410) which can be mounted directly on the float (402) which can be provided at about water level (409) above water bottom (408). The chargers (405) can be coupled with the offhore power cable (403).

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (431) supported by anchored floats (432) and comprising marine engineering constructions (440, 441, 442, 443) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (433) coupled with an onshore power source (434). The offshore charging station (431) can comprise chargers (435) which can include charging interfaces (436). The chargers (435) can be attached to columns (440) which can be mounted on a platform (442) which can further support a marine building which can comprise a wall (443), a roof (441) supported by a beam (444) and which can house facilities operables at the OCS (431) [which can be maritime rescue facilities, shopping facilities, work-shop facilities, recreational facilities, accommodation facilities]. The platform (442) can be supported by anchored floats (432) which can use a dynamic anchoring system (437) [which can anchor and relocate the OCS (431); an alternative dynamical anchoring can be provided by one or more water vessels (not shown); the vessel can bear a power source coupled to the OCS with an offshore power cable (not shown)] . The platform (442) can be provided at about water level (409) above water bottom

(408). The chargers (435) can be coupled with the offhore power cable (433).

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (471) supported by a bottom rest supporting construction (472) and comprising marine engineering constructions (480, 482) and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (473) coupled with an offshore wind energy to electric energy converter (474).

The offshore charging station (471) can comprise a charger (475) which can include a charging interface (476). The charger (475) can be coupled with a column (480) which can be mounted on a platform (482) supported by the bottom rest supporting construction (472) which can attache the OCS (471) to a water bottom (478) under water level (479). The charger (475) can be coupled with the offhore power cable (473).

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (501) similar to that shown in FIG. 11 provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (503) coupled with an offshore array of solar cells (504).

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (521) similar to that shown in FIG. 11 provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (523) coupled with a wave energy to electric energy converter (524a), a tidal energy to electric energy converter (524b) and a water current energy to electric energy converter (524c). FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (541) supported by an anchored float (542) and comprising marine engineering constructions (560, 561, 562), a wired charger (545a) and a wireless charger (545b) [which can be an inductive charger, a capacitive charger, a magnetodynamic charger] configured to enable static wireless charging and/or discharging and provided in an offshore charging system comprising an offshore power cable (543) coupled with an offshore power source (544).

The offshore charging station (541) can comprise a charger (545a) which can include a wired charging interface (546a). The charger (545a) can be coupled with a column (560) which can support a roof (561) and be mounted on a platform (562) mounted on the anchored float (542). The wireless charger (545b) can be mounted into a float (552) which can be fabricated from any convenient material, use any anchoring system (not shown) [e.g. it can be moored to the float

(542) and/or to a water bottom (548)] and which can further support the wireless charging interface (546b) [which can be an inductive charging interface, a capacitive charging interface, a magnetodynamic charging interface] coupled with the wireless charger (545b). The anchored float (542) can be attached to the water bottom (548) under water level (549) [e.g. by means of anchoring lines (547)]. The chargers (545a, 545b) can be coupled with the offhore power cable

(543). FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an offshore charging station (591) similar to that shown in FIG. 14 comprising wireless charging interfaces (596b) and configured to enable dynamic wireless charging and/or discharging.

The wireless charger (595b) [which can be an inductive charger, a capacitive charger, a magnetodynamic charger] can be mounted into a float (592) and be coupled with the wireless charging interfaces (596b) [which can be inductive charging interfaces, capacitive charging interfaces, magnetodynamic charging interfaces] which can be supported by level adjustable floats (602) which can be level adjustable between at about water level (599) and a water bottom (598), and which can be fabricated from any convenient material and use any anchoring system (597) [e.g. a sliding system], and which can enable dynamic charging to a water vessel (not shown) in a motion.

Common features of FIGs. 1 to 15 Offshore charging stations (OCSs) can comprise thermal management systems to thermally manage charging and/or discharging [e.g. the systems can thermally manage the chargers and/or charging interfaces and/or charging cables] using air tempering systems, liquid tempering systems and/or liquid tempering systems using offshore water as a thermal medium. The systems can comprise ventilators, thermal exchangers, compressors, chillers, condensers, heaters, sensors, pumps, programmable controllers, thermal medium conducts, valves, etc.

The OCSs can provide wired/wireless data transmissions in relation with charging/discharging water vessels at least partially electrically driven. The data transmissions can be local [e.g. via charging interfaces, local wired/wireless networks] and distant [e.g. via offshore power cables, satellite connections, telephone techniques, etc.]. The data transmissions can include underwater acoustic techniques. The OCSs can use any type of communication interfaces, lines, techniques and protocols.

FIG. 16 is a schematic oblique view of a marine rechargeable power source (634) comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a nonbuoyant mobile container (632), a charging interface (636), a payment terminal (637), a thermal management system and an array of solar cells (644). The rechargeable power source (not shown) can be banks of rechargeable capacitors and/or batteries. The source management system (not shown) can manage charging and/or discharging of the rechargeable power source [it can comprise various circuit topologies including electrocomponents such as converters, inverters, voltage regulators, power factor corrections, rectifiers, filters, controllers, processors, etc.]. The mobile container (632) can be fabricated from any convenient material and can comprise any convenient mobile device which can be controlled by a convenient control system including a remote control. The charging interface (636) can be any type of a wired and/or wireless charging interface and the payment terminal (637) can be of any convenient type. The thermal management system (only ventilation grilles (638) shown) can be of any air and/or liquid tempering systems [it can comprise ventilators, thermal exchangers, compressors, chillers, condensers, heaters, sensors, pumps, programmable controllers, thermal medium conducts, valves]. The array of solar cells (644) can be a solar panel mounted on the container (632) and coupled with the source management system. FIG. 17 is a schematic oblique view of a marine rechargeable power source (664) comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a mobile buoyant container (662), a charging interface (666a), a power transfer interface (666b), a power cable (668), a payment terminal (667), a thermal management system and an array of solar cells (674).

The rechargeable power source (not shown) can be banks of rechargeable capacitors and/or batteries. The source management system (not shown) can manage charging and discharging the rechargeable power source. The buoyant container (662) can be fabricated from any convenient material and can comprise any convenient mobile device which can be controlled by any convenient control system including remote control. The mobile device (not shown) can be any type of jets, propellers, propelling devices, and the like.

The charging interface (666a) [to charge/discharge a water vessel at least partially electrically driven (not shown) and/or the rechargeable power source] can be any type of a wired and/or wireless charging interface, preferably waterproof. The power transfer interface (666b) can be any type of wired/wireless interface configured to transfer power between the rechargeable power source and the water vessel [which can be a traction power transfer for a traction motor of the water vessel, a power transfer for auxiliaries of the water vessel, and which can have different parameters from the charging/discharging power transfer via the dedicated charging interface (666a), alternatively the both interfaces (666a and 666b) can be provided in one combined power transfer/charging interface for a power transfer which can be used by the vessel as a charging/discharging power transfer and as the traction/auxiliary power transfer]. The power cable (668) can transfer power between the rechargeable power source and the vessel and between an external power source (not shown) and the rechargeable power source to be charged/discharged. The payment terminal (667) can be of any convenient type, e.g. contactless, and preferably waterproof.

The thermal management system can thermally manage the rechargeable power source and/or the both interfaces (666a and 666b) and/or the power cable (668) using air tempering systems, liquid tempering systems and liquid tempering systems using offshore water as a thermal medium. The liquid systems can use thermal exchangers (not shown) thermally coupled with ambient water. The array of solar cells (674) can be a solar panel mounted on the buoyant container (662) and coupled with the source management system. The marine rechargeable power source (664) can be provided in offshore water above water level (669).

FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of a marine rechargeable power source (704) comprising a rechargeable power source, a source management system, a mobile buoyant container (702), a charging interface (706), a payment terminal (707) and a thermal management system.

The marine rechargeable power source (704) can be similar to that shown in FIG. 17. The container (702) can be torpedo shaped and can be able to function underwater. The mobile device can be a propeller and the charging interface (706) can be a watertight wired connection or wireless interface, preferably watertight. The payment terminal (707) can be of any convenient type. The thermal management system can be preferably a liquid tempering system and can be thermally coupled with ambient water. The marine rechargeable power source (704) can be provided in offshore water under water level (709). Common features of FIGs. 16 to 18

The marine rechargeable power sources (634, 664, 704) can be configured to be a swappable power source for water vessels at least partially electrically driven [e.g. can comprise compatible interfaces (636, 666a, 666b, 706), various compatible coupling devices (not shown) /e.g. detachably attachable/, compatible communication interfaces (not shown), etc.]. Thermal management systems can thermally manage the respective rechargeable power sources and/or the power transfer interfaces (636, 666a, 666b, 706) and/or the power cable (668) using air tempering systems, liquid tempering systems and liquid tempering systems using offshore water as a thermal medium.

FIG. 19 is a schematic of a first step (S731) of an offshore swapping method, the step of bringing by water vessels at least partially electrically driven (743a, 743b) first marine rechargeable power sources (741a, 741b) - one buoyant (741a) and the other nonbuoyant (741b) - within an operational range of an offshore charging station (751) in offshore water (759).

FIG. 20 is a schematic of a second step (S732) of the offshore swapping method shown in FIG. 19, the step of swapping the first marine rechargeable power sources (741a, 741b) for second marine rechargeable power sources (742a, 742b) - one buoyant (742a) and the other nonbuoyant (742b) - provided by the offshore charging station (751) in offshore water (759).

FIG. 21 is a schematic of a third step (S733) of the offshore swapping method shown in FIGs. 19 and 20, the step of transferring power between the second marine rechargeable power sources (742a, 742b) and the water vessels at least partially electrically driven (743a, 743b) while in a motion (744a, 744b) [or stationary] in offshore water (759).

Common requirements Offshore charging stations (OCSs) situated in seas or in oceans may be object of various tidal ranges varying from near zero to about 16 metres (53,5 feet) and averaging about 0.6 metres (2 feet) in the open ocean. In that case, level adjustable floats or level adjustable bottom rest supporting constructions may be designed to cope with a tidal range in a selected area for placement of the OCS. Pasive (e.g. slack-line anchorages, sliding anchorages, etc.) and active anchorage systems (systems with active components) may be used to provide level adjustability.

The OCSs operated/temporarily operated under water level may provide atmospheric pressure in its inner space (e.g. in the container which can be filled with dry air, nitrogen, etc.) which may be advantageous for its electronic components or it may be kept at another pressure.

The OCSs may further include further components enhancing their functionality such as installation spaces, connecting boxes, electricity meters, main switches, input/output terminals, fuse distributions, etc. The electronic control and communication components may be housed in electromagnetically shielded spaces. All electrical and electronical equipment may be particularly protected against moisture, salt water and grid to prevent failure of power and electronic components. External controls may be suitably adapted to function in offshore conditions. Subsea plugs, isolation bushings, cathodic protection and special resistive materials and anticorrosive surface treatments may be used. Common requirements on offshore charging stations in cold areas

The offshore charging stations may be situated offshore in the Arctic, the Antarctic, subpolar and cold seas. In that case, components of the OCSs may be designed to be conform with cold/extremely cold/temporarily cold conditions. Offshore charging station supporting constructions may be specifically designed to be posed on a solid base (e.g. ice). A special insulation of offshore power cables (which may be posed on ice), power cables may be provided. A special thermal insulation of marine rechargeable power sources (e.g. rechargeable power sources in containers) may be provided. Thermal management systems of the OCSs and the marine rechargeable power sources may require heating systems.

No limitations are intended others than as described in the claims. The present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that various modifications of the OCS can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The elements desribed in this specification and the used terminology reflect the state of knowledge at the time of the filling of this application and may be developed in the future.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention may provide an offshore charging station (OCS) to water vessels at least partially electrically driven. Offshore charging may increase operational ranges of the vessels and reduce the necessary on-board battery capacity. Offshore charging may relieve port traffic.

The OCS providing a bidirectional power flow may help to improve a performance of a power grid at peak load times and bring economic benefits. A level adjustability of the OCSs and/or primary interfaces into levels under water level may protect them in case of a malevolent attack, bad weather conditions, may help to avoid conflicts with sea transport and fishing and may position the OCS and/or the primary interface in according to water vessels' charging/discharging requirements. The OCS in a cloud-based communication system may bring efficiency, flexibility and lower costs of an OCS management.

The OCS in a marine rechargeable power source system may provide a compact power source and may be utilised in the proposed swapping method.

Hydrogen powering system using renewable sources (arrays of solar cells, wind energy to electric energy converters, wave energy to electric energy converters, water currents energy to electric energy converters, tidal energy to electric energy converters) may provide a power reserve to be used for electricity production and supply by the OCS (e.g. in peak load times) or may be a principal power source.

The system may be functionally combined with a marine fuelling system and provide hydrogen fuel or another marine fuel for offshore applications.

Certain LNG fuelled hybrid electric water vessels might not be allowed to bunker in a port. In such cases, a possibility of offshore charging and refuelling at a same station may be beneficial which similarly applies to hybrid water vessels using other marine fuels.

The proposed modularity may concern all elements of the OCS and can bring functional and financial benefits to the parties. Modular designs may use various degrees of modularity [e.g. component sloitability, platform systems, holistic approach, etc.]. Modules may be catalogued. The proposed swapping method and the offshore dynamic charging provided by the OCS may increase operational ranges of the water vessels at least partially electrically driven and may save time otherwise necessary for charging.