WO2023285539A1

WO2023285539A1 - A safety system for a vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure

Info

Publication number: WO2023285539A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/069618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars PRÆST
Original assignee: Sh Group A/S
Priority date: 2021-07-15
Filing date: 2022-07-13
Publication date: 2023-01-19

Abstract

A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft having a body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for storing power for powering the vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft or an auxiliary function of the vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft. The dangerous goods may be arranged in a compartment having a port or on a deck. The safety system comprises a conveyor system for ejecting the dangerous goods out through the port such that the dangerous goods have a trajectory away from the body for preventing damage to the body when the dangerous goods are ejected.

Description

A safety system for a vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a safety system for a vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure. Particularly vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure having dangerous goods such as a battery in the MWh range for storing power for the propulsion of the vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure or powering a function or auxiliary machinery of the vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure. The dangerous goods may also be a fuel cell or explosives, or chemicals stored in a container or a frame.

The vessel, offshore or aircraft structure may be an electric vehicle using only batteries for its propulsion, or it may be a hybrid powered partly by a battery and partly by a combustion engine such as a diesel engine. Alternatively, part of the equipment onboard the vessel, offshore or aircraft structure may be powered by the battery. The battery may be installed in a battery compartment.

Specifically, offshore or aircraft structure may be a seagoing vessel in the form of a ferry, freight ship, naval ship or submarine. It may also constitute a floating structure such as an oilrig or wind turbine. The structure may be fixed to the ocean floor. Alternatively, the structure may be an aircraft such as an airplane or helicopter or airship.

A fire in the dangerous goods may be difficult to extinguish, and the fire may lead to an explosion. Flooding the compartment with the dangerous goods may not necessarily extinguish the fire, because chemical reactions release flammable vapor during the fire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide safety in the case of fire in the dangerous goods.

The above object and advantages together with numerous other objects and advantages, which will be evident from the description of the present invention, are according to a first aspect of the present invention obtained by:

A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft comprising a body, said body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for storing power, said safety system comprising: a port in said body, a port cover for opening and closing said port, said port cover movably mounted with respect to said body, a conveyor system for ejecting said dangerous goods out through said port, such that said dangerous goods having a trajectory away from said body for preventing said dangerous goods from contacting said body when said dangerous goods being ejected

According to a second aspect of the present invention the above objects and advantages are obtained by:

A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said vessel, offshore struc- ture, or aircraft comprising a body, said body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for generating power, said safety system comprising: a pivotable frame part for shielding said body from said dangerous goods when ejecting said dangerous goods from said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said pivotable frame part movably mounted with respect to said body such that said pivotable frame being between said body and said dangerous goods when ejecting said dangerous goods from said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, a conveyor system for ejecting said dangerous goods from said body, such that said dangerous goods having a trajectory away from said body for preventing said dangerous goods contacting said body when said dangerous goods being ejected.

At the moment when the dangerous goods no longer is in contact with the conveyor system/frame supporting the dangerous goods, gravity and fluid friction defines the trajectory. The initial state of the trajectory is defined by the velocity the dangerous goods leave the conveyor system and the angle it leaves the conveyor system.

The dangerous goods may be ejected having a velocity greater than zero, and at a non- zero angle relative to a horizontal surface (for example in steady waters - with no rolling of the vessel). The angle may be in the range -5 to -45 degrees such as -10 degrees. In other words, a trajectory may be down and away, i.e. it may have a component in a horizontal plane when the dangerous goods has been released (no longer in contact with the conveyor system/frame).

The weight of the dangerous goods may be supported by the frame from underneath the goods, i.e. the frame is supported by the floor, and the dangerous goods stands on the frame so that the frame carry the dangerous goods. There may be a number of support points, i.e. places on the frame where the weight of the dangerous goods presses down on the support points. The support points are be tween the top of the dangerous goods and the floor.

During ejection, the dangerous goods may slide off the frame. The frame may be ar- ranged such that it is between the vessel and goods in the first phase of ejection (when the goods start to slide).

The dangerous goods may include a “dangerous goods frame” which the dangerous goods are arranged in, i.e. a frame enclosing the dangerous goods. In this setting the “dangerous goods frame” is to be understood as being part of/integral with the danger ous goods.

When the dangerous goods are ejected it is the dangerous goods frame that is ejected with the dangerous goods inside.

The body may either be a hull such as a ship hull, submarine hull, airplane hull or a superstructure above the hull such as an oilrig superstructure.

The port is an opening or hole in either the hull or in the superstructure. The port cover acts like a door for opening and closing the opening. The port cover may close the port such that it is watertight, i.e. a watertight seal.

The port may be at either starboard side or port side or it may be at the stern or bow or underneath. The port cover may either be directly mounted to the hull or superstructure, or it may be mounted to a frame which in turn is mounted to the body of a vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure, for example a deck.

The invention will now be explained in more detail below by means of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms than depicted below, and should not be construed as limited to any examples set forth herein. Rather, any examples are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

Fig. 1 illustrates the vessel, offshore- or aircraft structure as a ship 10.

The offshore or aircraft structure has a body comprising a hull 12 that extends between the bow 14 and the stern 16. On top of the hull/above the deck is the superstructure 13.

Fig. 1 illustrates that the dangerous goods 18 may be arranged in a compartment of the body. The compartment may be arranged towards the exterior.

A port in the body provides access to the dangerous goods from the outside such that the dangerous goods may be ejected, i.e. an opening in the body for moving the dangerous goods though the opening.

A port cover 20 is arranged to cover the port. The port cover is mounted either directly to the body or on a frame mounted to the body. The port cover may be moved between a position where it closes the port (closed state of the port/port cover) and a position where the port is open (open state of the port/port cover).

The port cover may be mounted to the body or a frame by means of hinges. The port cover may pivot around a horizontal axis or a vertical axis. In fig. 1 it is illustrated that the port cover is hinged below the dangerous goods, i.e. having a first hinge below the dangerous goods and a second hinge below the dangerous goods. In this way the port cover is between the body and the dangerous goods when the dangerous goods is ejected from the body for preventing that the dangerous goods collides with the body during ejection.

The port cover may also be hinged above the dangerous goods such that the port cover swings upwards.

Alternatively, the port cover may be a sliding door, i.e. mounted to the body by means of one or more tracks or arms.

A conveyor system is arranged to eject the dangerous goods from the body, i.e. to move the dangerous goods out of the dangerous goods compartment and drop it in the ocean before the fire spreads or the dangerous goods explodes.

The conveyor system is movable to an extended position (extended state of the conveyor system) so that the dangerous goods is moved to a position where it may be tipped from the conveyor system. The conveyor system also has a retracted state in which the dangerous goods is inside the body.

The safety system may comprise a lock for arresting the dangerous goods during intended normal operation, i.e. when there is no emergency. For example, when the conveyor system is in the retracted state. In this way, the dangerous goods is prevented from moving around.

The lock is unlocked in an emergency such that the dangerous goods may be ejected by the conveyor system.

The safety system may comprise one or more sensors for detecting fire in the dangerous goods as well as one or more sensors for detecting the position of the conveyor system and/or port cover.

The safety system may comprise a buoy connected to the dangerous goods for finding the dangerous goods after the dangerous goods has been ejected from the body. The buoy may be connected to the dangerous goods by means of a cable. The safety system may comprise a parachute connected to the dangerous goods for slowing the motion of the dangerous goods through the atmosphere when the dangerous goods has been ejected from the body.

When the dangerous goods constitute a battery for powering a function of the offshore structure or aircraft the safety system may comprise spring loaded contacts for establishing an electric contact between the battery and the off-shore structure or aircraft. In this way, the battery is electrically connected to the off-shore structure or aircraft without using a cable.

Fig. 2 illustrates the dangerous goods being ejected from the body.

The dangerous goods 18 is supported by a pivotable frame part 24. The pivotable frame part may be pivotably mounted to a boom 26 at a boom point 27. The boom constituting a conveyor for moving the dangerous goods out through the port.

The boom has a distal end facing the sea side, and a proximal end (opposite the distal end) facing away from the sea side (facing the interior of the body). The boom point may be arranged at the distal end of the boom.

The boom is expandable/extendable, i.e. it may move with its distal end out through the port. Thus, in the extended state of the conveyor system, the distal end is outside the body.

The boom may be guided by a track/rail, and it may have wheels for supporting the boom. The track may be an I-beam.

The dangerous goods may be arranged above the boom point with its center of gravity on the sea side of the boom point, i.e. such that when the conveyor system is in the extended state, the pivotable frame part pivots and the dangerous goods may slide off the pivotable frame part.

Until the conveyor system is in the extended state, the pivotable frame part supporting the dangerous goods may be secured from pivoting, for example by gripping the boom/ I-beam until the conveyor system is in the extended state, i.e. the I-beam profile may extend a length/distance and then have another cross-section (for example an inverse T-profile) - the distance corresponding to just short of the distance that the dangerous goods is moved from the retracted state to the extended state. Thus, when the I-beam profile cross-section ends, the pivotable frame part becomes free to pivot.

As an alternative to the above configuration, the pivotable frame part may be inclined while inside the body, i.e. the pivotable frame is not moved by a boom. For example, the pivotable frame part may have a distal end (closest to the sea side) and a proximal end (closer to the inside of the body than the distal end), and the proximal end may be raised to a position higher than the distal end such that the pivotable frame part has an inclination.

The safety system may be sequentially operated, i.e. in case of an emergency an operator may initiate the ejection sequence (and the ejection sequence may then run automatically). The sequence may start with unlocking the dangerous goods such that it may be moved by the conveyor system. The next step may be to open the port cover (if there is a port cover). The dangerous goods may then be moved by extending the conveyor system (to the extended state) and finally the dangerous goods may be tipped out from the body (into the ocean).

In case that the port cover opens up above the dangerous goods the port cover may be opened before the ejection sequence begins.

An actuator may move the boom to its position in the extended state. The actuator may be a hydraulic actuator having a cylinder and a piston being pushed out of the cylinder and pushing the boom outwards. It may also be a rack and pinion type actuator.

The actuator may in turn also provide the actuation of the port cover, for example, the boom may be connected to the port cover such that when the boom starts to move the boom pushes the port cover for moving the port cover to its position in the open state.

The actuator may function such that energy is stored and when an emergency happens (fire in the dangerous goods), the actuator/energy is released and it provides the energy to move the dangerous goods by means of the conveyor system. In this way, the safety system may function even if there is no electric power, for example because the dangerous goods is on fire. Thus, the conveyor system may comprise a catapult function for moving the dangerous goods. As an example, the piston may be arrested/secured and when released it moves out of the cylinder and pushes the boom.

The actuator and/or sensors of the safety system may be shielded from fire, for example by being encased or having a shield (such as a steel plate) between the dangerous goods and the actuator and/or sensors. This is particularly relevant for the actuator and/or sensors that are decisive for the ejection function.

In fig. 2 it is illustrated that the port cover is hinged above the dangerous goods, i.e. having a first hinge above the dangerous goods and a second hinge above the dangerous goods. Thus, the port cover pivots around a vertical axis, and is above the dangerous goods when the port cover is in the open state. The port cover may also be hinged at the sides such that the port cover pivots around a vertical axis.

Fig. 2 shows a set of two parallel booms moving in two parallel tracks, and having two pivot points, one on each boom, for supporting the frame holding the dangerous goods.

The dangerous goods may also be arranged on a platform or deck with immediate access to the outside, i.e. with no port cover such as a door or railing having to be opened first.

In such a case the dangerous goods may be supported by a pivotable frame part, similar to what is illustrated in fig. 2, i.e. in fig. 2 the port cover opens up and is above the dangerous goods when the port is open, and the pivotable frame part 24 pivots during ejection of the dangerous goods and is between the body and the dangerous goods for shielding the body from the dangerous goods during ejection.

Fig. 3 illustrates a conveyor system.

The conveyor system comprises a rail 25 which the dangerous goods slides on. The rail is mounted in the dangerous goods compartment.

In fig. 3 it is illustrated that the dangerous goods may be arranged in a frame 22 which slides on the rail. The frame may be ejected together with the dangerous goods. To bring the motion into effect, wheels may be used, i.e. the dangerous goods or frame may run on wheels on the rail.

The dangerous goods/frame may be pushed out of the body by means of a catapult. The catapult may comprise a shuttle 30 for pushing the dangerous goods. The shuttle may stand up against the dangerous goods, i.e. it may be L-shaped as a bracket and it may be reinforced, i.e. have a transverse beam.

A second rail may be arranged on the inside of the port cover 20 such that the dangerous goods may be transferred from the first rail to the second rail during ejection of the dangerous goods, i.e. when the port cover is in the open state. In this case the port cover is hinged for pivoting around a horizontal axis and is below the dangerous goods in the open state.

The angle of the port cover defines the initial angle that the dangerous goods will have as it leaves the conveyor system.

The second rail may be foldable such that it rises up from the port cover as the port cover is opened. In this way it may have the same height as the rail in the dangerous goods compartment and there is no height difference when the dangerous goods moves from the first rail in the dangerous goods compartment to the second rail on the inside of the port cover.

There may also be a (third) rail on the inside of the port cover which guides the dangerous goods, i.e. it rises up above the bottom of the dangerous goods/frame for preventing that the dangerous goods turns as it moves over the port cover.

Now follows a set of points, which constitute aspects of the present invention which may be considered independently patentable and as such the following sets form basis for possible future sets of claims:

1. A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft comprising a body, said body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for storing power, said safety system comprising: a port in said body, a port cover for opening and closing said port, said port cover movably mounted with respect to said body, a conveyor system for ejecting said dangerous goods out through said port, such that said dangerous goods having a trajectory away from said body for preventing said dangerous goods from contacting said body when said dangerous goods being ejected. 2. A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft comprising a body, said body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for generating power, said safety system comprising: a pivotable frame part for shielding said body from said dangerous goods when eject- ing said dangerous goods from said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said pivotable frame part movably mounted with respect to said body such that said pivotable frame being between said body and said dangerous goods when ejecting said dangerous goods from said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, a conveyor system for ejecting said dangerous goods from said body, such that said dangerous goods having a trajectory away from said body for preventing said dangerous goods contacting said body when said dangerous goods being ejected. 3. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, comprising a buoy connected to said dangerous goods preferably by means of cable for finding said dangerous goods after said dangerous goods being ejected.

4. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, comprising an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator for moving said conveyor system, said actuator preferably having stored power for moving said conveyor system without external power being supplied to said actuator.

5. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system having a retracted state and an extended state. 6. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, comprising a lock for arresting said dangerous goods when said conveyor system being in said retracted state.

7. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system having a conveyor part extending outside said body when said conveyor system being in said extended state.

8. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said body having a hull extending between a bow and stern and a superstructure above said hull.

9. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, comprising a container for storing said dangerous goods.

10. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said port cover having an open state and a closed state, said port being open when said port cover being in said open state, and said port cover movably mounted with respect to said body such that said port cover being below said port when said port cover being in said open state.

11. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said port cover movably mounted with respect to said body such that said port cover being above said port when said port cover being in said open state.

12. The safety system according to any of any of the preceding points, said conveyor system having a conveyor part extending outside said body when said port cover being in said open state.

13. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system supporting said dangerous goods, and said conveyor system preferably mounted to a deck in said body.

14. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said dangerous goods arranged in a compartment in said body. 15. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said port cover pivotably mounted with respect to said body for pivoting said port cover around a horizontal axis.

16. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system comprising a frame for supporting said dangerous goods.

17. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system comprising a boom, said boom being extendable out through said port.

18. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system comprising a boom point at a distal end of said boom, said frame pivotably mounted to said boom at said boom point.

19. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said distal end being outside said port when said conveyor system being in said extended state.

20. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said dangerous goods comprising a center of gravity, which when said conveyor system being in said extended state is located at the seaside of said boom point.

21. The safety system according to any of the preceding points, said conveyor system comprising a second conveyor part mounted to said port cover, such that said dangerous goods conveyed by said second conveyor part when said port cover being in said open state.

22. A method for ejecting dangerous goods from a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft when said dangerous goods being on fire, said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft comprising a body, said method comprising: providing said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft including said body, providing said safety system according to any of the preceding points, opening said port by moving said port cover to said open state, ejecting said dangerous goods from said body by conveying said dangerous goods out through said port by means of said conveyor.

Claims

1. A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft comprising a body, said body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for storing power, said safety system comprising: a port in said body, a port cover for opening and closing said port, said port cover movably mounted with respect to said body, a conveyor system for ejecting said dangerous goods out through said port, such that said dangerous goods having a trajectory away from said body for preventing said dangerous goods from contacting said body when said dangerous goods are being ejected.

2. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a buoy con nected to said dangerous goods preferably by means of cable for finding said danger ous goods after said dangerous goods being ejected.

3. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator for moving said conveyor system, said actuator preferably having stored power for moving said conveyor system without external power being supplied to said actuator.

4. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said conveyor system having a retracted state and an extended state.

5. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a lock for arresting said dangerous goods when said conveyor system being in said retracted state.

6. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said conveyor system having a conveyor part extending outside said body when said conveyor system being in said extended state.

7. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said body having a hull extending between a bow and stern and a superstructure above said hull.

8. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a container for storing said dangerous goods.

9. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said port cover having an open state and a closed state, said port being open when said port cover being in said open state, and said port cover movably mounted with respect to said body such that said port cover being below said port when said port cover being in said open state.

10. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said port cover mova bly mounted with respect to said body such that said port cover being above said port when said port cover being in said open state.

11. The safety system according to any of any of the preceding claims, said conveyor system having a conveyor part extending outside said body when said port cover be ing in said open state.

12. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said conveyor system supporting said dangerous goods, and said conveyor system preferably mounted to a deck in said body.

13. The safety system according to any of the preceding claims, said dangerous goods arranged in a compartment in said body.

14. A safety system for a vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft comprising a body, said body holding dangerous goods such as a battery for generating power, said safety system comprising: a pivotable frame part for shielding said body from said dangerous goods when eject ing said dangerous goods from said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, said pivotable frame part movably mounted with respect to said body such that said pivotable frame being between said body and said dangerous goods when ejecting said dangerous goods from said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft, a conveyor system for ejecting said dangerous goods from said body, such that said dangerous goods having a trajectory away from said body for preventing said danger ous goods from contacting said body when said dangerous goods are being ejected.

15. A method for ejecting dangerous goods from a vessel, offshore structure, or air- craft when said dangerous goods being on fire, said vessel, offshore structure, or air craft comprising a body, said method comprising: providing said vessel, offshore structure, or aircraft including said body, providing said safety system according to any of the preceding claims, opening said port by moving said port cover to said open state, ejecting said dangerous goods from said body by conveying said dangerous goods out through said port by means of said conveyor.