Modeling and Simulation of All-Electric Ships With Low-Voltage DC Hybrid Power Systems

TLDR

DC hybrid power systems promise low‑emission, fuel‑efficient vessels but create complex, interconnected systems that require modeling and simulation for design, analysis, and optimization. The paper reviews hybrid electric ship component modeling and proposes a unified bidirectional converter model to eliminate separate models. It models power‑electronic converters with nonlinear averaging techniques, develops a unified bidirectional converter representation, and builds a simulation platform for system‑level analysis. Simulations show power sharing among two diesel generators, a fuel cell, and an energy storage system across three operating modes.

Abstract

DC hybrid power systems are of interest for future low emission, fuel-efficient vessels. In spite of the advantages they offer onboard a ship, they result in a complex, interconnected system, which requires effective analysis tools to enable a full realization of the advantages. Modeling and simulation are essential tools to facilitate design, analysis, and optimization of the system. This paper reviews modeling of hybrid electric ship components including mechanical and electrical elements. Power electronic converters are modeled by nonlinear averaging methods to suit system-level studies. A unified model for bidirectional converters is proposed to avoid transitions between two separate models. A simulation platform using the derived models is developed for the system-level analysis of hybrid electric ships. Simulation results of power sharing among two diesel generators, a fuel cell module, and an energy storage system are presented for three modes of operation.