Ship unified electric-power systems

• Published in: Russian electrical engineering Vol. 88; no. 5; pp. 253 - 258
• Main Authors: Sen’kov, A. P., Dmitriev, B. F., Kalmykov, A. N., Tokarev, L. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Allerton Press 01-05-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Columns (structural); Consumers; Converters; Cost engineering; Electric equipment; Electric potential; Electric power supplies; Electric power systems; Engineering; Frequency converters; Fuel consumption; Machines; Manufacturing; Motors; Onboard; Power consumption; Processes; Propulsion; Qualitative analysis; Shipbuilding; Ships; Transformers; Weight reduction; ship unified power system; frequency converters; rowing electrical installations; ship power plant
• ISSN: 1068-3712; 1934-8010
• DOI: 10.3103/S1068371217050108

In the last two decades, rapid and radical changes connected with the improvement and application of electrical-propulsion installations (EPIs) have taken place in shipbuilding. The creation of high-power frequency converters, propeller–rudder columns, and the Azipod propulsion equipment has considerably improved the qualitative characteristics of EPIs. Currently, EPIs have found an application in all types of ships. The electric-power systems of electrically driven modern ships are constructed as unified electricpower systems (UEPSs) ensuring power supply both of EPIs and the many power consumers on a ship. This article considers the advantages and drawbacks of three variants of structures of ship UEPSs: a UEPS with a transformer consisting of the EPI widely applicable in ships; a UEPS made by
Wartsila
Corp., and a UEPS that St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University developed. It is shown that, in all three variants of UEPSs, the quality of supply voltage of propulsion electrical motors and shipboard consumers is about the same. However, the last two variants of UEPSs make it possible to omit transformers in the EPS, which makes it possible to reduce the cost, weight, and dimensions of ship electric equipment, decrease fuel consumption, and free up some onboard space.