Integrated electric ship power systems

Article By:

Krolick, Cyril F. Syntek Technologies, Inc., Arlington, Virginia.

Last reviewed:2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB051930

Electric propulsion for ships is not new. It has been employed since the early 1900s as a more efficient, lower-maintenance replacement for the traditional mechanical reduction gear used to link the relatively high rotational speed of ships' turbine and diesel engines and the much lower propeller speeds. What is new, however, is the concept of the integrated power system. In this arrangement, all of a ship's power is provided by engines driving generators that feed a common distribution system—as opposed to the more traditional arrangement, in which there are separate engines and transmission systems for propulsion and for auxiliary (lighting, elevators) or hotel (kitchen, housekeeping) loads. This is sometimes referred to as the central power station concept. The integrated power system permits greatly improved efficiency because engines can be optimally loaded for any given operating condition, and over the full operational profile (Fig. 1). Reliability is also improved because any engine/generator set can be used to power any electrical load on the ship.

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