Power electronics and future marine electrical systems

TLDR

Marine electrical systems will be radically transformed by power electronics, with emerging wide band‑gap materials, silicon‑carbide devices, and integrated power systems enabling new propulsion, distribution, and auxiliary functions, yet these technologies remain poorly understood. The paper introduces emerging power‑electronics concepts, assesses their impacts, and proposes simplified design methods for marine electrical systems. The authors present new design methods that simplify the development of marine electrical systems.

Abstract

Tomorrow's marine electrical systems will be profoundly different from today's systems. Power electronics is making major impacts on virtually every marine system including propulsion, power distribution, auxiliaries, sonar, and radar. Newly emerging materials, components, and system concepts (such as wide band-gap materials, silicon-carbide-based power semiconductor devices, power electronics building blocks (PEBBs), and integrated power systems) are, and will continue, enabling future marine systems as different from today's systems as steam ships were to sailing ships. However, these enabling technologies and concepts are not well known and have been difficult to understand. This paper will introduce these new concepts and technologies, identify potential impacts, and explore new design methods to simplify marine electrical system development.